Real Stories. Real Advice. Real Moms.
texting and driving : my story
I was in a massive car accident in January which has changed my life completely. I'm in no way embarrassed of my story nor is it hard to talk about. I've always been told dont text while you drive, and not to drive when your upset, but like every other teenager I didn't listen. On January 11, 2009, I had the wake up of a life time. At the time, I had a jealous boyfriend that liked to start arguements. It was around 6 o'clock that Sunday morning when he woke me up to start a fight; the fight quickly got out of hand. As the fight escalated, my friend came to check on me to see what was going on, I told her not to worry about a thing just go back to bed. The fight got physical, so I left. I told my friend I was going around the block and I'd be right back to get her, I wasn't going to let her in the car with me while I was that upset. I
recieved text after text from her and my ex, and the little I remember, none of the messages were very nice from either party. No one saw the wreck, only the aftermath. The conclusion that was drawn: while texting my black Honda two-seater hit a patch of ice, which then made me hit a parked car, and as I was told I must of tried to correct myself which in result made the car flip until it hit a rock wall about 50 feet from the house I was at. The EMT note stated that it took 30 mins to an hour to remove my body from the demalished vehicle and once they took my blood pressure my top number was at 40. I wrecked on a Sunday and don't have any memory of being awake until that Wednesday. I was later told about the accident and the parts of my body that it affected. Both femurs were broken and are now held in place by rods and screws. Both of my knee caps were broken and have been wired
together. On my right lower extremity, my tibia was not only broken but was missing 6 cm of bone and 13x8cm of muscle and skin (now accompanied by a metal rod) ; also, my fibula was broken and now is accompanied by a metal rod that resembles a hook at the end going into my ankle, to finished off my right leg I have plates and screws inserted into my ankle, and a muscle and skin graft was taken from my stomach and thigh to replace what was no longer there on my shin. I also had 7 fractured ribs on my right side, a fractured pelvic bone, a bruised liver, and 2 fractured disks in my neck. The night of my accident, after my emergency femur and knee surgery, after my parents finally started to understand what happened to their 18 year old daughter, I had a stroke. My stroke affected the right side of my body, the doctors said I wouldn't be able to talk due to the stroke, so imagine the shock when I woke up speaking. Unfortunately, it did affect
my arm, hand, and fingers. We aren't sure what percent the stroke affected my right leg, due to the fact that I couldn't move it or stand on it because of the trauma. I had 3 surgeries in the first month and my last surgery in march. I was told it would be a year before I'd walk. I regained the ability the walk with a walker by Easter and was walking with no assistance by mid-June. I feel as though this is a topic that is extremely important. Most of my injuries are completely visible if i have on a tank top and shorts. I believe you need physical evidence to believe in something. I'm willing to be that example to help people who either have been through it and to raise aweness that no ones invincible
recieved text after text from her and my ex, and the little I remember, none of the messages were very nice from either party. No one saw the wreck, only the aftermath. The conclusion that was drawn: while texting my black Honda two-seater hit a patch of ice, which then made me hit a parked car, and as I was told I must of tried to correct myself which in result made the car flip until it hit a rock wall about 50 feet from the house I was at. The EMT note stated that it took 30 mins to an hour to remove my body from the demalished vehicle and once they took my blood pressure my top number was at 40. I wrecked on a Sunday and don't have any memory of being awake until that Wednesday. I was later told about the accident and the parts of my body that it affected. Both femurs were broken and are now held in place by rods and screws. Both of my knee caps were broken and have been wired
together. On my right lower extremity, my tibia was not only broken but was missing 6 cm of bone and 13x8cm of muscle and skin (now accompanied by a metal rod) ; also, my fibula was broken and now is accompanied by a metal rod that resembles a hook at the end going into my ankle, to finished off my right leg I have plates and screws inserted into my ankle, and a muscle and skin graft was taken from my stomach and thigh to replace what was no longer there on my shin. I also had 7 fractured ribs on my right side, a fractured pelvic bone, a bruised liver, and 2 fractured disks in my neck. The night of my accident, after my emergency femur and knee surgery, after my parents finally started to understand what happened to their 18 year old daughter, I had a stroke. My stroke affected the right side of my body, the doctors said I wouldn't be able to talk due to the stroke, so imagine the shock when I woke up speaking. Unfortunately, it did affect
my arm, hand, and fingers. We aren't sure what percent the stroke affected my right leg, due to the fact that I couldn't move it or stand on it because of the trauma. I had 3 surgeries in the first month and my last surgery in march. I was told it would be a year before I'd walk. I regained the ability the walk with a walker by Easter and was walking with no assistance by mid-June. I feel as though this is a topic that is extremely important. Most of my injuries are completely visible if i have on a tank top and shorts. I believe you need physical evidence to believe in something. I'm willing to be that example to help people who either have been through it and to raise aweness that no ones invincible
Tags: advice, distraction, driving, encouragement, life, seeking, story, teenage, texting
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sara Broers on -
You have an awesome story to share- A wake up call to All of us! You would be a great advocate for teens and driving in general................
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Permalink Reply by lindsey harden on -
i want to turn this negative experience in my life into a positive one; however, i dont even know how to start. I guess im not taken seriously because of my age or perhaps i havent found the right person to use my story productively. The best i can do right now is just get my story out there, thanks for reading and i hope it helps!
Sara Broers said:You have an awesome story to share- A wake up call to All of us! You would be a great advocate for teens and driving in general................
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Permalink Reply by Ilallely T. Resendiz on -
I think you are very brave for telling you story. I admire you for getting out there and telling people of all ages that this is and issue that must be taken into account. Don't give up on it let more know that you are serious. I am only 21 and your age shouldn't stop you from letting people take you serious. I hope you accomplish getting your message out there.
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Permalink Reply by DEANNA on -
Slap me in the face! I really try not to dial, text, tweet, etc while driving, but somehow I find myself doing it. I am glad to hear you are still with us today to write this post. Wishing you a speedy and full recovery!
Mommygaga.com
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Permalink Reply by Chris on -
That is very commendable that you are sharing your story with others and willing to be an example. Keep up the good work. Little do you know, you are saving lives.
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Permalink Reply by Keonte' on -
OMG! The pictures are a wake-up call alone. It's funny how parents spend so much time worrying about the safety of their child(ren), but all the while they forget to put down the cellphone. This is so dangerous. I wish there was a button that you could push on your phone while you were in the car that would send all calls to voicemail stating that you were driving, and would return the call later.
Thanks for sharing this story. It is an inspiration to all.
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Permalink Reply by Peggy Gorman on -
I have to say ,Thank God you are alive, and also for sharing your story. You are a fighter and I think it would be great to sign up to be an spoke woman for Take the "Keep Your Mind on the Wheel" and make a Pledge,you can
contact@themotherhood.com. I know they would love to hear your story and working with them will help many.
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Permalink Reply by lindsey harden on
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thanks for the tip! i added my submission. i hope reading my story and seeing the pictures stops at least one person from having the same thing happen to them.
Peggy Gorman said:I have to say ,Thank God you are alive, and also for sharing your story. You are a fighter and I think it would be great to sign up to be an spoke woman for Take the "Keep Your Mind on the Wheel" and make a Pledge,you can
contact@themotherhood.com. I know they would love to hear your story and working with them will help many.
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Permalink Reply by EDWINA BAKER on -
you can show other teens and hopefully they can learn through you .I hope that you are more carefull .and thanks for getting your story out there for other teens and just not teens i hope that adults can lern from this story has well.
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Permalink Reply by Linda Tucker on
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It's great that you want to make something positive out of this experience. Keep telling your story; contact Mother's Against Drunk Drivers. Magazines are always looking for a story that relates to their readers. Sharing your story helps you to heal as well as warning others. This is a serious problem today. Good luck in your recovery.
EDWINA BAKER said:you can show other teens and hopefully they can learn through you .I hope that you are more carefull .and thanks for getting your story out there for other teens and just not teens i hope that adults can lern from this story has well.
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Permalink Reply by pink sheet on
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"Hi.
awesome story & thanks for sharing.i think this is a lesson to all teenagers who used to do this while driving.... even when i was a teenager, i was also habitual of doing the same... & this led me to loss my best friend…
Thnks
Pink sheet
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Permalink Reply by Rachel h on
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omg your story really makes me want to get on my cousins who are 17 ,they both text and put on make up while they are driving and sometimes they drive their other car which is a stick which makes it more scarier. it makes me so nervous because i know they cant drive , text and pay attention at the same time and I'm scared they will end up getting into an accident.
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