On Christmas eve of 2013, I was in a head-on collision on the backroads of St. Augusta, MN. My femoral head on my left side was shattered and dislocated, and I sustained multiple fractures in my left ulna and left fibula. I was hospitalized for a week, during which time I had 3 hip surgeries and one arm surgery. They were able to locate the fragments of my femoral head and reattached them with screws. My hip was then secured into the socket with a steel plate. Due to my arm injury, I was unable to use crutches, so for the following 12 weeks I was in a motorized wheelchair.
After those 12 weeks, I began working with Eric and his fantastic team (Jess, Emil, Ross, Kim). I did physical therapy with him for 12 months, during which time he saw me walk for the first time, fall countless times, fail, triumph, cry, laugh, and curse. We started with small things, like the stationary bike, and were about to build my muscles back up to the point where I could run on the treadmill with no pain. I truly cherish the memories I have with Eric and everyone else I worked with. I learned so much about my body and the process of recovery, and although my body will never return to the way it was before the accident, I feel so incredibly blessed to have worked with a team that helped me achieve the capabilities I have today.
