Wyoming Woman Survives Crash Thanks to Life-Saving Trauma Care

Hannah Knopp credits expert team at Intermountain Health St. Vincent Regional Hospital and generous blood donors for her recovery

When Brittany Knop left her home in Lovell, Wyo., on Dec. 20 to finish some last-minute Christmas shopping for children in need in her community, she did not expect the day would end with a fight for her life.

Knop was involved in a serious motor vehicle crash outside of Cody, suffering multiple fractures and internal injuries. She was transported to Intermountain Health St. Vincent Regional Hospital’s Level I Trauma Center in Billings, where the care team worked quickly to stabilize her.

Knop would undergo numerous surgeries in the days following the crash. Surgeons first addressed internal injuries and then repaired fractures of her femur and pelvis. The severity of her injuries required extensive blood transfusions, 18 units in total which is nearly twice as much blood than is in an average body.

The last thing Knop recalls before the accident was driving toward Cody. Her next memory is waking up days later in the intensive care unit after her final surgery on Christmas Eve.

“I woke up on Christmas Eve in the ICU in Billings, and one of the first things I said was, ‘did kids get their gifts?’,” she shared. She was relieved to find out that not only were her friends and co-workers primarily concerned with her health and recovery, but they pitched in to finish her shopping as well.

Once stabilized and alert, her recovery began.

“Right after my fourth surgery, they started sitting me up in bed,” Knop said. “It was painful, but I knew I needed to do it if I wanted to walk again.”

As therapy progressed, so did her determination. Knop said encouragement from therapists and caregivers helped her push through the hardest days.

“One therapist told me I just looked determined,” she said. “That stuck with me and got me through the next few days.”

Knop remained hospitalized at St. Vincent for more than three weeks before transferring to a rehabilitation facility, where she continued physical therapy. She returned home in mid‑January and now continues her recovery with daily exercises focused on rebuilding strength and mobility. Just more than two months later she is hoping to begin weight-bearing movement and work towards walking again.

Before the accident, Knop was a regular blood donor, and she said the transfusions she received are deeply meaningful.

“I was a blood donor before all of this,” Knop said. “I donated every chance I got. I even dragged my boyfriend into donating with me. I wouldn’t be around today without blood donors.”

Knop’s survival and ongoing recovery are a testament to the capabilities and care of the trauma team at St. Vincent. As a Level I Trauma Center, St. Vincent provides comprehensive, around‑the‑clock care for the most critically injured patients. The designation recognizes advanced surgical capabilities, specialized trauma teams and a commitment to improving outcomes through research, education and injury prevention.

For patients like Knop from across Montana and northern Wyoming, that level of care is lifesaving.

Knop remains grateful for the caregivers who treated her and was appreciative for the opportunity to reunite with them and share her gratitude.

“I wanted to say thank you to my therapists, my nurses, and all of the people who helped fix me and put me back together,” she said.

“We are proud and humbled to be able to provide this level of critical care to region,” said Dr. Barry McKenzie, Trauma Medical Director at St. Vincent. “We are so grateful to see patients like Brittany on the road to recovery and taking the time to say thank you.”

And Knop’s message to the community is clear.

“Donate blood,” Knop said. “You never know whose life you’re going to save.”

Her sentiment is echoed by the team at St. Vincent.

"We rely on community blood donations every single day to provide lifesaving care,” said Dr. McKenzie. “That’s why we regularly host blood drives at St. Vincent in partnership with Vitalant, to encourage our community to become donors.”

Individuals can sign up for the next St. Vincent blood drive or register to become a donor at vitalant.org

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About St. Vincent Regional Hospital

Founded on our mission of compassionate care 125 years ago, St. Vincent Regional Hospital, part of Intermountain Health, has grown into one of Montana’s largest comprehensive hospitals, serving the healthcare needs of over 400,000 people in our four-state area. Continuing to respond to the needs of our community, we have been recognized as an innovator in trauma, heart, neurological and cancer care. At St. Vincent and Intermountain Health, our 12 primary care clinics, and specialty clinics in and around the Billings area, our goal is to help you live the healthiest lives possible. This also includes caring for the region's youngest patients. We opened the region's first Pediatric Intensive Care Unit staffed 24/7 by Pediatric Intensivists and the only Pediatric Surgery program serving eastern Montana, northern Wyoming, and the western Dakotas.