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September 9, 2010

MTV reality star Erica "Rikki" Mongeon is recovering after an extreme car accident left her with severe brain injuries. Rikki -- who starred on the show "A Double Shot at Love" with her sister Vikki -- collided with a semi in March of this year. As a result, the reality start underwent "extreme brain surgeries that saved her life," reports TMZ.

Rikki experienced dangerous swelling in her brain due to the injuries she sustained from the crash. Doctors removed two sections of her skull.

Rikki sister said that her skull was reassembled on June 24. Prior to the surgery, she wore a brain-protecting helmet.

"Rikki still has trouble with fine motor skills in her left hand and some of her facial expressions," Vikki told the site. "She also has frontal lobe syndrome which messes up her memory."

Immediately after the accident, the starlet felt a bump on her head. She went to the hospital where doctors found bleeding in her brain and immediately induced her into a coma.

MayoClinic.com, has tips for helping prevent brain injuries:

• Always wear a seat belt in a motor vehicle. Small children should be secured in child safety seats or booster seats. Depending on their size, older children may be adequately restrained with seat belts.
• Never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• Store firearms, unloaded, in a locked cabinet or safe. Store bullets in a separate location.
• Wear a helmet while riding a bicycle, skateboard, motorcycle, snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle. Also wear head protection when you bat or run bases, ski, skate, ride a horse, or play a contact sport.
• Avoid falls by installing safety features in your home — such as handrails on stairways, nonslip mats in the bathtub and grab bars in the bathroom. An exercise program can improve your strength, balance and coordination. Regular vision tests also can help lower the risk of falling.

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