Carrying hope forward: a daughter's steadfast journey with TIRR Memorial Hermann

When Mahi Korpe was 11, her entire world changed in an instant. Her dad, Rahul Korpe, was hit by an intoxicated driver in 2020. The crash caused a traumatic brain injury so severe that he lost the ability to walk, talk, eat, or move on his own. Overnight, her father, who had been the family’s strength, full of life, laughter, and warmth, was fighting for survival. In those first days, the family didn’t know if they would ever hear his voice again or share another moment together.

That was before the Korpe family found TIRR Memorial Hermann.

Kahi remembers walking through those hospital doors for the first time to see her dad. Her mind was full of questions. She never thought that she would enter a rehabilitation center to see one of the most vital parts of her life in critical condition. Inside, she found something unexpected: people who refused to see her dad only as a patient with a devastating injury. They saw him as a father, a husband, a man with a story still unfolding.

In those early weeks, every small improvement felt like a miracle. A flicker of movement in his fingers. A blink of recognition. A faint smile when they played his favorite Bollywood song. Those moments were reminders that he was still there and worth every ounce of fight they had left. TIRR Memorial Hermann became more than a hospital. It became a second home, a lifeline, and a place where hope always prospered.

Now, four years later, her dad is continuing to move forward in his journey. He has begun using LiteGait to take supported steps. He’s learning to communicate through an assistive device, facial expressions, and hand signals they’ve developed as a family. They’ve created their own language, including long blinks for “yes,” and a squeeze of the hand for “I love you.” Sometimes, no words are needed at all.

This journey has shaped Mahi into more than a daughter. She's become a caregiver, an advocate, and a fighter not just for her dad, but for anyone who feels unseen in their struggle. Mahi and her older brother share the role of being their dad’s voice, making sure his needs and dignity are always honored. They’ve learned that leadership doesn’t have to be loud. It can be steady, quiet, and deeply present.

That’s why Mahi volunteers at TIRR Memorial Hermann today.

As a 17-year-old senior in high school, she spends her free time giving back to the very place that gave her family back its heartbeat. She wants families coming out of TIRR Memorial Hermann to know that everything will be okay. That progress can come in many forms, and that every small step forward matters.

Now, Mahi volunteers at the hospital.Photo courtesy of Memorial Hermann

Through her volunteer work, Mahi has learned that healing is never just physical; it's emotional, mental, and shared. It takes families, caregivers, therapists, and communities coming together, choosing compassion over convenience and inclusion over isolation.

TIRR Memorial Hermann didn’t just help heal her dad. They helped shape Mahi's future. They showed her that hope is a muscle. Even though it tears when pressure is placed onto it, it will take time to regenerate, heal, and come back stronger.

Now, it’s her turn to carry that hope forward one smile, one kind word, one small act of care at a time. Because healing doesn’t happen alone. It happens together.

Learn more about the Brain Injury Program at TIRR Memorial Hermann.

Mahi’s dad, Rahul, experienced a traumatic brain injury nearly six years ago. He underwent inpatient rehabilitation at TIRR Memorial Hermann in the Texas Medical Center during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Rahul has continued his rehabilitation journey at Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital, a Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Network location. Mahi is set to graduate from high school in May 2026 and looks forward to attending Rice University this fall.

TIRR is a registered trademark of TIRR Foundation.

always be prepared

Texas tax-free weekend lets shoppers stock up on emergency supplies

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Emergency supplies like first aid kits that cost less than $75 are eligible for a tax break this weekend.

The best time for Texas residents to stock up on supplies to prepare for natural disasters is coming up this weekend. The annual statewide Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday runs from April 25-27, when Texans will be able to purchase critical emergency supplies — plus household necessities like batteries and fire extinguishers — tax-fee.

Shoppers can purchase certain emergency supplies tax-free starting at 12:01 am on Saturday, April 25, and the "holiday" runs until midnight on Monday, April 27. There is no limit on the number of qualifying items that can be purchased during the weekend, and purchases can be made in store, online, through the mail, and via custom order.

Saving on emergency supplies
Emergency preparation supplies must be purchased under certain price brackets to qualify for the tax exemption. For example, portable generators must have a sales price less than $3,000 to qualify for a tax break. Ladders and hurricane shutters that cost less than $300 also qualify.

Delivery, shipping, handling, and transportation charges are included in the sales price, according to the Comptroller. So if a shopper buys a $299 rescue ladder and is charged a $10 delivery fee, the total sales price for the purchase is $309, and tax would need to be paid for that sales price.

Additional items that qualify for a tax break as long as they cost less than $75 include:

Axes
Batteries – single or multipack (AAA cell, AA cell, C cell, D cell, 6 volt or 9 volt)
Carbon monoxide detectors
Fire extinguishers
First aid kits
Fuel containers
Ground anchor systems and tie-down kits
Hatchets
Ice products – including reusable and artificial ice
Light sources – including those that are battery operated or portable self-powered sources; candles, flashlights, and lanterns
Mobile telephone batteries and mobile telephone chargers
Non-electric can openers
Non-electric coolers and ice chests for food storage
Radios – including portable self-powered radios, battery operated radios, two-way radios, and weather band radios
Smoke detectors
Tarps and other plastic sheeting

The full list of qualifying items is available on The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts' website.

As a reminder, over-the-counter items like antibacterial hand sanitizer, soap, and spray and wipes are always exempt from sales tax if they are labeled with a "Drug Facts" panel in compliance with Food and Drug Administration regulations.

Non-qualifying items that will still be taxed
Medical masks, face masks, and gloves of any kind do not qualify for a tax exemption. Other taxable items including toilet paper, cleaning supplies (such as disinfectants and bleach wipes), vehicle or boat batteries, chainsaws, plywood, extension ladders, and stepladders. Camping equipment and supplies, including stoves and tents, are also not eligible for a tax break.

Additionally, any repair or replacement parts for emergency preparation supplies do not qualify for tax exemptions, and neither do any services that are performed on or related to those supplies.

What to do if a qualifying item is taxed during the holiday
If customers buy a tax-exempt item between April 25-27 and are still taxed, they may request a refund from the seller on the tax paid for the item. The seller can grant the refund to the buyer, or provide them with Form 00-985, Assignment to Right to Refund, which would allow the customer to file a claim for their refund through the Comptroller's website.

tax free weekend emergency supplies texas