Coming Back from Adversity!

My friends have encourgaged me to tell my story.  The main reason I never have spoken too much about it is because there is always someone else out there who has had worse happen to them and they are the ones who should be writing their story.  I finally decided, okay, I will tell mine.

As I look at my life today I am very blessed to be doing what I am and thankful for those who helped me get here.  I especially want thank my sister Queta and my mother, Carmen who lost the battle to cancer last year.

In 1997 my life came to a sudden hault when a terrible car accident left me in a coma for 3 weeks, and in a hospital bed for nine weeks, with a very long road to recovery afterwards.  The diagnosis at first was terrible.  I was basically told I wouldn't walk again and I would need constant care for the rest of my life.  I couldn't believe what I was hearing!  I was a runner and super active and now I was being told I would never run again...This couldn't be happening!  It was bad enough that I had this metal thing ( halo) holding my neck together, my jaw was wired, and I had lost sight in my left eye.  My specialist was trying to save my right eye.  So to make it short, I was really in bad condition.  And, depression had also taken over.  I didn't want to see anyone in this condition.  I thought I looked like a monster, I couldn't speak, I had a trach in my throat, and the halo on head.  To make it worse, I had a two-year daughter at home.

I had smashed my face on the steering wheel and my eyes were in terrible condition.  The last thing I wanted was people to see me in this condition.  But Queta, my sister, and mom didn't allow me to do this.  They forced their way into my room and made me realize they were there for me.  Mom assured me the doctors didn't have a clue about my eye.  She was already upset because for three weeks she had watched the infection in my eyes get worse, and begged the doctors to do something, but they claimed they were trying to keep me alive and had other trauma more vital to them.  She encouraged me to try a wiggle my feet.  These words were engrained in me.  "Wiggle Your Feet!"  I just couldn't.  I felt nothing.

One day Mom made her famous scream and my feet finally wiggled, she said, "Te lo dije!!! I told you will walk again!"  At 6:30 a.m. everyday, Mom would wake me up and make me try to move my legs, and finally try and get out of bed.  She spent seven weeks on a couch.  The last two weeks the hospital got her a room at the residence hall.  My sister Queta would visit me everyday and encourage me, too.

I took me two years to get myself back to running and in 1999 I ran my first half marathon in Connellsville, PA.  I still knew I had a long way to go.  The first half was grueling, but I was happy to be doing it and wanted to push myself even further.  In 2006 I knew I could do a full marathon.  I had been running a lot of 5k, 10k and half's and got the courage to see how my body would feel after running a full marathon.  I ran the Shamrock Marathon in 2006 and have pushed myself even futher since then, running distance as far as 70 miles in one day!

I believed in being healthy and strong prior to my accident, and having such a fantastic support really helped me get back.  We are so much stronger than we think, and have to keep telling each other this. It's like running--doing speed intervals, you push yourself hard but wonder if you could have pushed yourself even harder.

Today I am happy to be able to run, bike, swim and enjoy life with my family and friends.  Although I lost the sight in my left eye, I see a beautiful fourteen-year old daughter smiling in my direction everyday.  Never doubt your abilities because you will surprise yourself!