A Utah missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints suffered life threatening injuries after a car struck her while she served in the Tennessee Knoxville Mission. According to social media updates from her family and local Church leaders, Sister Addison Worwood suffered severe brain trauma and underwent multiple surgeries to control bleeding and relieve pressure inside her skull.
Addison can respond and move her arms and legs but has not yet followed commands, her mother, Jennie Worwood, reported Thursday. Doctors continue to monitor her closely during what the family described as a critical 24-to-48-hour recovery period.
Doctors Treat Extensive Brain Trauma
Surgeons removed part of Addison’s cranium on one side to make room for swelling and bruising in her brain. They also sutured another section to stop bleeding and secured it with a titanium plate.
Addison suffered additional fractures to her face and hip, which doctors plan to repair after her neurological condition improves. Plastic surgeons treated a laceration on her nose and face during her brain surgery.
Doctors have reduced Addison’s sedation but continue to administer several pain medications to keep her comfortable. She remains on a ventilator in the surgical intensive care unit, where staff are closely monitoring her heart rate and blood pressure.
“She will remain in the surgical intensive care unit until she is able to breathe on her own and she recovers from her brain surgeries,” her mother wrote.
Family and Church Leaders Ask for Prayers
Joel Gardiner, president of the Nephi Utah Stake, shared the first public details Wednesday and invited members of the stake, along with their friends and neighbors, to fast and pray for Addison. He also asked them to remember her missionary companion, the driver involved in the accident and Addison’s parents, Jennie and Riley Worwood.
“We appreciate your faith, support and love,” President Gardiner wrote. “We trust that our Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ will sustain all during this difficult time.”
Hallie Jorgensen, Addison’s sister, later asked others to join her in praying for a miracle for her “sister and best friend” and for their parents. “I don’t know that I have ever pleaded so much with my Heavenly Father on someone else’s behalf,” Jorgensen wrote.
Addison’s mother thanked those who have fasted and prayed for her daughter and said the support has sustained the family. “The love and prayers from so many are carrying us right now,” she wrote Thursday.
Church Members Assist the Worwood Family
In a separate post Thursday, Addison’s mother described several acts of service that helped the family reach Tennessee and navigate her daughter’s treatment. She said Dr. Ford, a physician in Addison’s local ward, welcomed the family into his home, provided transportation and served as a liaison.
A private individual also offered the family a flight on a private jet, allowing them to reach Addison sooner. Her mother said missionaries helped her recognize these acts and other developments as “little miracles.”
“We are truly surrounded by earthly angels,” she wrote. “I’ve preached that but have never experienced it to this capacity and there are no words good enough to express how we are being held.”
A message shared with missionaries in the Tennessee Knoxville Mission said a Latter-day Saint doctor gave Addison a priesthood blessing when she arrived for treatment. Another Latter-day Saint doctor served as her anesthesiologist during an extended surgery.
The message also said missionaries across several missions had prayed for Addison and that Church leaders had prayed for her by name during a meeting attended by three Apostles. Her name would also be placed on the prayer roll during a temple meeting of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, according to the message.
Nephi Community Organizes Show of Support
Members of the Nephi community have organized a late-night hike to support Addison’s mother, who regularly participates in local group hikes. Organizers dedicated their previously planned Homecoming Harvest Moon Ladies Hike to her and invited participants to contribute small items for a basket of support.
The group plans to meet at 10 p.m. Friday, September 25, following the local homecoming football game, before traveling to the trailhead. Organizers described the round-trip hike as approximately 6.5 miles and encouraged participants to bring lights.
As Addison remains in intensive care, her family continues to ask others to join them in prayer and fasting. Her mother expressed hope that her condition will improve incrementally as doctors monitor her recovery from the surgeries and determine when they can address her remaining injuries.
Share your prayers and encouragement with Addison and her family in the comments below!
Holly Wallace is a writer and storyteller drawn to meaningful questions and overlooked details. Her work explores Latter-day Saint life and culture through faithful inquiry, inviting readers to pause, consider, and engage more deeply with what matters most.
Will be praying for you sister and your family here in Georgia. The lord healed me, he is right there with yall.
Our family will pray your daughter.we are in Perth Australia.
Lifting up Addison in prayer for a miraculous recovery and prayers for her family that God’s mercy and grace will sustain and comfort them.
Praying for this beautiful sister missionary. God bless her and her family. This must be so hard on them. May His Tender Mercies continue to bless this family and missionary. My ward is having Fast and Testimony meeting this Saturday. We will keep Sister Addison and her family in our prayers as we fast. I recommend all wards who are fasting this Sunday due to conference being the following week, please remember this beautiful missionary in your prayers. Many prayers can equal many mighty miracles.
I need to edit my comment. We are having Fast Sunday this month, though many do start their fasts on Saturday.
Praying for Addison with our YSA group in Florence Italy!
Thinking of and praying for Addison and her whole family in Germany.
Lifting up Addison and your family in prayer. Praying that the Lord’s power to heal and succor will cover you all right now and forever.
Praying for God to wrap his loving arms around her and heal her from the inside out.i say this in the name of Jesus Christ Amen
God bless you Sister Worwood along with your companion, your family and friends at this time of need.
Sister Worwood we are with you in spirit and are praying for your full and complete recovery the healing of your temporal body, and for the comfort of all those affected. We are in the Philippines. God be glorified through this.
I placed Addison’s name on The Richmond Virginia Temple Prayer Roll and she will be in my prayers as will her family. May you feel the love that is coming to you from all over the world and may it help you through this great trial. Bless you.