Youtube video by MADD RI.
On January 11, 2022, I was hit head on by a drunk driver traveling on the wrong side of a local highway. My injuries were quite extensive, including multiple breaks to all four limbs as well as internal injuries. Due to the extent of my injuries, I had to be airlifted to a trauma one hospital. My family wasn’t sure if I was going to survive. Thankfully, I had an amazing team of trauma surgeons who, over eight days and four separate trips to the operating room, not only successfully put “humpty dumpty back together again,” but also saved my right foot. For the first ten days, however, my family was not able to see me because I tested positive for Covid. Since I was either undergoing surgery or sleeping, the restrictions on visitors were far worse for my family than for me. They couldn’t physically see me, so they didn’t have a true understanding of my condition. Thankfully, the staff at RI Hospital arranged two Facetime sessions so they could at least see my bruised and swollen face and hear my voice.
While at Rhode Island Hospital, I was unable to move or use any of my limbs. Initially, I had to be fed and have my teeth brushed by someone else; I couldn’t move any of my body except my head as I lay in bed. My legs were in casts and braces holding them straight, my arms were wrapped, and all limbs were being held in place by yellow foam blocks we affectionally called “Sponge Bobs”. From Rhode Island Hospital, I was transferred to Vanderbilt Rehabilitation Center in Newport, RI, where I was finally able to have visitors. Due to Covid restrictions, I was only allowed one visitor at a time and was limited to two people per day. It still took a while for several of my family members to be able to see me. Although it was wonderful to see my family, it was exhausting especially since Vanderbilt didn’t waste any time starting me on somewhat aggressive physical and occupational therapy. I was doing well and making strides. However, on February 4th, it was time to move to Scallop Shell, a sub-acute rehabilitation facility which was much closer to home. There I remained until May 4th; the wonderful day I was able to go “home”.
During my stay at Scallop Shell, I was able to start bending my knees, working on my range of motion, and slowly gaining strength and movement in my right hand and both arms. Again, my days consisted of a great deal of sleep as my body continued to heal. On April 7th, I was finally allowed to begin weight-bearing, and I took my first steps one week later. I had to learn to walk again, but it felt so good to be upright. The transition from the wheelchair to using a walker was a major milestone. Once I could walk a certain distance with the walker, I was finally able to be released. I put home in quotations above because I never actually returned to live in my own house. Rather, I moved in with my boyfriend where I was closer to most of my family, my physical therapist’s office, and had a fabulous water view which I believe helped improve my mental health.
My family was an incredible support during my recovery. My boyfriend, Ray, kept it all together starting on that first night by ensuring my children, Kyle and Steph, had the emotional support they needed and that my brothers and sisters-in-law were updated every step of the way. Throughout my time at hospitals and rehabilitation facilities, my family did an amazing job of keeping me feeling involved and connected with “the outside”. At least one member of my family brought me lunch and dinner every day of the three months I was at Scallop Shell. When I was ready, my friends started to join in the rotation but had been lending support to my family from day one.
We live in an area where we say everyone is only one degree of separation. We’re all connected in some fashion. My community has been unbelievable in the support they have shown me and my family. After my release from the rehabilitation facility, the Narragansett Lions Club held a fundraiser on my behalf. When I entered the event, I was overwhelmed by the number of people in attendance. I was told it was one of the largest crowds at that location and financially one of the most successful fundraisers of its type for the organization. I was blown away.
As a result of the fundraiser, I had the opportunity to meet Mike and Nicki, the paramedic and nurse from my med-flight the night of my accident. This meeting, which was facilitated by a series of serendipitous events referred to by Mike as “Universe Juice”, became a healing experience for all involved. Mike and Nicki shared how witnessing my recovery positively impacted their own healing process as first responders. The experience inspired them to encourage sharing stories like mine within their community to uplift and energize their colleagues. The reunion not only touched me and my family but also Mike and Nicki, emphasizing the profound impact of such connections on both survivors and first responders.
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation has a campaign called, “The Ripple Effect.” Going through this ordeal, I now understand the far-reaching impact of accidents caused by drunk drivers. It affects not only the victim and their family, but friends, first responders, trauma teams, hospital personnel, rehabilitation professionals, friends, the immediate community, and beyond to people who are not even known to those directly involved. So many people are touched in so many ways. For first responders, the impact shows through the higher percentage of alcohol and drug abuse, suicide ideation, and suicide rates. Many responders have told me that they seldom get closure from the traumatic events to which they respond. Not only do they often not know the outcome of calls, but they have little to no time in between calls to properly process what they have seen.
Immediately after my accident, people commented how lucky I was to have survived; that God wasn’t done with me yet, I had a purpose. For the life of me, I couldn’t imagine why I had to go through all this to find that purpose, but I did. I think the defining moment came when I met with Mike and Nicki and realized that I had an opportunity to help so many others heal. Thus, the idea of a non-profit organization, appropriately called Universe Juice, was conceived. The mission of Universe Juice is to facilitate meaningful connections between first responders and trauma survivors or families who have lost loved ones. Reuniting survivors and families with their first responders and/or life-saving medical teams is my new purpose in life. Through this organization, the ripple effect of healing can be realized.
Our hope is to shine a light on the lives of those we serve. We want to help survivors and families through their healing, while at the same time help first responders realize the critical importance of their life’s work and the positive impact they have on others. If we can help one first responder or medical professional steer clear of the dark path that may haunt them, our mission has been served. In just two reunions to date that we have organized, we have already touched the lives of over 70 first responders and 25 family members. We’ve been told by responders how much these reunions have helped them heal. This is the outcome we are seeking with our program…healing for survivors, families, first responders, and medical teams.
Three and a half years after my accident, people in the community are still rallying around me and my recovery. Just recently, they continued showing their support for me and for Universe Juice, by making our first annual fundraiser a huge success. In addition to the financial support we have received, the support and enthusiasm for our mission has been incredible, encouraging, and motivating.
Something terrible happened to me. I am a victim of a crime, but I survived and came out to be a stronger, wiser person. Being a survivor is being one of the lucky ones. Not only am I alive, but I was able to overcome many of the obstacles that were put in front of me. I’m thankful that I’m here to see my children get engaged and am looking forward to their weddings. Hopefully I’ll be around long enough to meet, love, care for, and play with my future grandchildren. I prefer to say that I’m a survivor rather than a victim because I am strong and nobody brought me down completely.
When I learned about the Trauma Survivors’ Network, I realized this was a group I could connect with in so many ways. First and foremost, I am a trauma survivor. I can relate to the journey of other survivors. We can connect with how we fought through recovery and rehabilitation. We’ve learned that we are fighters and how much a positive attitude is a major part of the battle to heal, both physically and emotionally. We’ve learned how important a strong support system is, and that, sadly, not everyone has the support system we may be lucky enough to have. We’ve learned that healing comes in many forms. With that in mind, I wanted to share my services to provide some support and healing to other survivors; reuniting them with their first responders and/or medical team to say thank you. I always knew I wanted my life’s work to involve helping others. Although it was a horrible event that led me here, I’m doing what I believe my purpose was meant to be.
