It was early morning on September 12th, 2019 when I was heading home from the gym to take my daughter to school and me to work when I was hit at high speed. Four teenagers had stolen a car, running from the cops, and collided with my car. I was trapped, unconscious, for over 30 minutes while the paramedics tried to get me out. I was flown to my trauma hospital where I had 3 surgeries in the first 12 hours.
I had 5 total surgeries, countless procedures. I needed to learn to walk and talk again. I spent 7 weeks in the hospital. I wasn’t allowed out of bed for 5 weeks. When they finally let me out of bed to walk was a turning point in my recovery. Still, my recovery was long, jagged, and filled with complications. The recovery road is not a sprint it is a marathon. The mental scars are sometimes worse than the physical. It’s takes tremendous strength to handle both simultaneously. The recovery road will push you to your limits so I just remind myself of immediate post accident and it’s not as bad as that.
I will be on lifelong seizure medication. I currently have issues with autonomic nervous system which causes issues with my blood pressure. Day by day is all you can do. I have good days and bad ones
My family was there for me during my recovery and was awesome. My daughter helped me stay focused. I learned how strong I am, how determined I can be.
The experience gave me a whole new appreciation and perspective on life. No one understands this journey of recovery besides other trauma survivors. They just understand. You don’t feel like you’re just complaining to someone that has no idea. You communicating, venting to someone who has been through it.
At the start of my journey, I wish I knew just because the trial is over doesn’t mean you don’t relive it daily. It’s a lifelong journey. Don’t make it all negative.
And for those in the community, I wish they would stop looking at the timeframe. Just because someone’s accident happened years ago doesn’t mean they don’t deal with complications daily.
I was supposed to do a 1/2 marathon that was already registered before my accident but I wasn’t back to running yet so I didn’t do that marathon. I told myself I wanted to do it post accident. A little over a year after I learned to walk again, I did the half marathon.
This year, I wrote a book titled “In the Blink of An Eye” a story by Kaitlyn Daly. I shared my story, my struggles and setbacks, what has helped me and what I learned. I did this for the next survivor that needs hope. It does get better. It might look different now, but it does get better. You don’t realize how strong you are until you’re not given a choice. Your trauma is a chapter in your book it’s not the ending. Turn the page and make the next chapter great.