Makynna Eden Tumlinson came into the world in Texas with only a 2% chance of surviving. Doctors warned her family that she might be stillborn. Eighteen years later, she had been a cheerleader, student council president, and prom queen at her school.
On June 3, Makynna exchanged her last words with her mother, Stephanie, before getting into her Chevrolet Cruz. She was heading to her first summer job when she lost control of the vehicle and rear-ended a commercial truck. She died at the scene. The truck driver was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
“When she was born, they gave us a 2% chance that she would survive”, her mother said. “She exceeded all expectations.” Now the parking spot Makynna used at her school is covered with flowers, stuffed animals, and candles. And her mother keeps repeating, still unable to fully process what happened: “I can’t stop thinking that this is a nightmare I’m going to wake up from and that she’s going to walk through the door.”