
Dawn of Shelbyville, TN on Jan. 27, 2007
God is still in the miracle making business today! It was March 19, 2005 when I was involved in a single car accident. I was driving a 1998 Lexus GS300 car. My right side tires dropped off the shoulder of the highway. I must have overcorrected when the vehicle went left across the highway and slammed into an embankment. The car partially ejected me while rolling over three or four times and then landed on top of me. Luckily, I landed in a ditch which seemed to give me some protection. Emergency personnel used somesort of lifting device (airbags) to get the vehicle off of me.
The Lexus car had four airbags - NONE DEPLOYED. I HAVE LOTS OF PHOTOGRAPHS! Needless to say, the car was totaled. I broke my C7 vetebre, pelvic, collarbone, six broken ribs, cheekbone, serious leg laceration, and acquired a brain injury. Responders said it appeared I was not wearing my seatbelt, which is highly unusual because, as a habit I make passengers buckle-up when they are with me.
I was air lifted to a trauma unit. For two weeks, I was in a coma state and never responded to commands. I also battled pneumonia and internal bleeding. My spleen was removed. My family was approached about transferring me to a special brain & spinal cord hospital in Atlanta who they thought could help me. I was carried to Atlanta via medical airplane. When I arrived, my medical statistics had dropped considerably (below entrance level into the hospital). However, the hospital accepted me and started me on a different series of drugs.
I woke up the next day and showed improvement in the days to follow. I remained in the brain hospital for four weeks while I continued waking-up before being transferred to an aggressive re-hab center. It was here where I gained strength and mobility. I was involved in rehab from 9:00 am - 3:30 pm five days a week for six weeks.
There were 8-10 specialized therapists who worked with me daily; exercise, cognitive-thinking tasks, multi-tasking, and recreational activities. My husband and mother took leave of absences from their workplaces to be with me. They were with me daily from the time I was in trauma until the day I was dismissed from the re-hab center (about ten weeks)and came home. After returning home, I continued my physical therapy locally. My employer allowed me to return to work part-time almost nine months after the wreck. As my endurance increased, I returned to my job full-time about two months later.
My husband and mother stayed with me (in a different state from our homes)while I recovered. They had to seek housing, some furnishings, and other things we needed to help us adjust to apartment living. They were responsible for getting me to the rehab center and picking me up in the afternoons. They basically put their lives on hold while we lived out of state 2-1/2 months. I was broken up; pelvis, C7 vertebre, broken ribs, collarbone, cheekbone. Extensive daily therapy helped me get stronger and recuperate.
Now, almost two years later, I have aches and pains...but have been blessed to return to doing things I enjoyed before the horrible accident. My walking is alittle wobbly and I have difficulty balancing, but overall, I get around okay. Their isn't a dollar amount to the strain and stress it caused my family and friends. My husband and I were away from our 17-yr. old son who tried to carry on with his life and school obligations here at home. We have stored the wrecked vehicle and I'm tempted to put it on a trailer and drive it through Nashville with signs plastered on it....AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. Anyone can look and ask themselves, why didn't they go off?
Lexus states the car performed as it should have. The car is crushed all over - so what does it take to activate the air bags? My suggestion to friends and family, and other consumers...DO NOT BUY A TOYOTA/LEXUS PRODUCT! Lexus promotes their products by emphasizing their safety features. But in my case, they failed. I am thankful to be alive and have suffered enough. Ready to let go of all of this and close this chapter of my life. It's been a living hell for everyone involved. P.S. We did obtain an attorney who filed a lawsuit against Lexus/Toyota.
Our courtdate is set for June 2007; however, our attorney is telling us they don't have the resources necessary to battle such a huge corporation. Expert investigators were brought in to inspect the damaged vehicle and agree the airbags should have deployed considering the damage to the vehicle. Unfortunately, if we cannot find a law firm who is qualified to take on Toyota/Lexus, we will be forced to drop the lawsuit. If anyone can give us some suggestions or wants to get involved; please e:mail or call. I am not looking to get rich out of this; however, I do feel Lexus/Toyota should be held accountable for their product failure.