I was a junior in college, just 1 year and 1 week away from graduating. But on April 20, 1996-my life as I would know it; would never be the same. I went home to Mt. Washington, and at 3 am, I began having trouble breathing. I quickly grabbed my inhaler and after 5 minutes w/o any relief I awoke my parents.

They rushed me to the closest hospital, where I fainted and began to turn blue in route. Upon arrival to the hospital, my mom beeped her horn and the ER staff quickly rushed a gurney to the car. The attending physician had pronounced me clinically dead. After attaching all the necessary equipment, they found that I was w/o oxygen to my brain for 7 minutes, I began to seize and later lapsed into a three-month coma.

These 3 months proved very trying for both my family and friends. Every night the waiting room was packed with people, some just strangers who had heard about my story trying to keep hope alive-when all hope seemed was lost. That was all we had to pretty much hang on to-faith and hope.

Daily bedside debates were rampant. Doctors were urging my parents to be realistic and look at the bigger picture, and consider harvesting my organs. My brother said that when I heard this, I squeezed his hand tightly and a tear ran down my cheek. The doctor s claim that was just an involuntary reaction. They also said that if I ever woke up, I would be in a Persistent Vegetative State.

In late June, what the hospital can solely call a miracle, and what medical knowledge to this day cannot define, I woke up. On July 4th, they removed my trachea tube, allowing me to breath on my own for the very 1st time. I guess this gives Independence Day a whole new meaning for me.

I, along with my family and friend s Christian faith illustrate another side to the great right-to-die debate, what can be better known as the struggle for the right-to-hope.

Life after a brain injury will never be what life used to be. I believe that my waking up was more of a spiritual awakening than anything else. It has drawn me closer to both my faith and God. It has given me a deeper appreciation of life and how valuable it is and how it can be taken away from you any second. My family has been my backbone and support, for without them-I really wouldn t be here.

I founded my own support group, Faith filled Decisions where I talk to families who have children or loved ones on life support. My ministry has spanned locally, nationally and globally to Australia, the Philippines, Colorado, Ohio, Hawaii, and Florida. I think that families find comfort in seeing an actual survivor of a hopeless case.

I am a believer in finishing what I start. In late 2001, I figured that I should try to pursue my dream and reapply to LMU. On May 24, 2002 my dream became a reality when I received an acceptance letter.

Although my 1st semester back at LMU was a little trying; with all the adjustments in a red sporty wheelchair-I just look back at the road that I have traveled to get to where I am today. And with God s Grace-I graduated on May 08, 2004. I never envisioned that I would be living my twenties (and now 30s) in a wheelchair, but I never allowed my disability to become my inability. I have recently returned to Loyola Marymount and also earned a certificate in Pastoral Care and am a current Graduate Student studying Pastoral Theology.

I no longer focus on what the wheelchair confines me to, rather-what good has come out of my traumatic ordeal. I have founded my own support organization that ministers to other families who have children or loved ones on life support. I flew to Clearwater, FL to support the family of Terri Schiavo for I feel no family should suffer the way that mine had.

I was also appointed by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to the Mayor s Commission on Disability.

There s only so much that one can be taught in school, but through my own life experiences, I have gained a knowledge that no one can ever teach me, and that s about believing in yourself, daring to dream, and to take the road less traveled.

My Faith grows stronger daily as I begin to appreciate and accept that I was given a second lease on life. I no longer look at the past, but the road that I have traveled to get to where I am today. That only builds a stronger foundation in my Faith, my family, and my God.

God works in mysterious ways. Like I said, Medical knowledge still cannot define why I am alive today. Maybe it was luck; maybe fate, or maybe an Angel touched me. No one can predict Our Lord s path or plan for us, we can only pray and try to work our lives to mirror his image and follow in his footsteps.

Email Theresa