I have been told it was a beautiful, clear sunny "Palm" Sunday afternoon. While traveling on my way to work{Nursefinders Homehealth Agency}. My 1997 Ford Explorer unexplainably overturned/rolled on its side into a patch of Palmetto bushes, which then caused the Explorer to make impact with a very large tree, with its roof. The cause of my accident is a mystery. I was not in the wrong. Its was simply unexplainable. My condition and injuries were near fatal. I was incapacitated and comatose immediately. I was airlifted to the nearest Trauma Center. I suffered severe spinal cord and back injuries, resulting in a 14 1/2 hour reconstructive back surgery. I received four skull fractures, my brain was swelling and bleeding in several areas. It was necessary for an ICP...Intracranial Pressure Monitor to be installed in my skull to monitor the swelling. I also suffered multiple broken ribs, broken right collar bone, multiple fractures to my neck, a collapsed lung, and partial movement paralysis in the right side of my body. Due to the nerve damage I have also suffered sensory and temperature paralysis in the left side of my body. I was totally dependant on life support while in the coma for 21 days. I was tube fed and had to have a chest tube installed into my lung to drain the fluid. Upon emerging from the coma I was transported to inpatient rehab, Where I remained for approx. 6 weeks. I underwent vigorous physical, occupational, speech cognative, and social therapy. After discharge I started out patient therapy. I was a totally different person. Not only did I have to relearn to walk and talk and how to care for myself again, but I had to relearn who I was again. I was married at the time , we have a child together. At the time of my injuries my son, Tyler, was only 14 months old. I believe it put him through worse trauma then the adults. He is and has always been a "momma's boy" When suddenly mommy was gone, he more or less went through "mommy withdrawl" He stopped eating, sleeping patterns changed and he looked lost and cried alot.

About a year after my accident, my husband went and filed for a divorce. He told my counciler...He wanted a "normal life". He couldn't deal with my being deemed legally disabled by Social Security Disablity. I wanted it over as well. He had become verbally and physically abusive. I had to call the Sheriffs Dept. on him and that was the day he was ordered to move out of the home. Calling the cops on my ex-husband doesn't look good on him...He is a cop!!! I will tell anyone, I would never turn the clock back and change what has happened to me. I believe the good Lord makes things happen for a reason. He has blessed me greatly, I was never expected to have any quality of life, I am doing awesome! Sure I walk with a limp, I have scars from my surgeries, and I am on certain medications That I will need for the rest of my life. But I could be dead or not walking at all. I take care of myself and my son, I drive, I cook, I do anything any normal woman does:)

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