11 Years. Where has that time gone? On Monday, it will be 11 years for me. My 11th Crashiversary. The day I was in a horrific life-changing motor vehicle crash caused by a distracted driver. Rear-ended by an SUV travelling at a high rate of speed and pushed into the path of a transport truck. I was left critical with multiple injuries holding onto a stranger’s hand that was attached to a calming voice telling me not to move while we waited for the ambulance.
I started my recovery journey on November 6th and since then I have managed to turn such a negative devastating experience into a positive one by creating the Crash Support Network. Did I know I was going to create a platform to share my experiences and provide resources for others 11 years later? No, I didn’t and I continue to work hard every day both with my recovery and the Crash Support Network. If one of my posts resonates with a crash survivor or an article, blog or a newsletter catches the eye of just one crash survivor and they are able to gain information and feel less alone, than it makes it all worthwhile.
Here are eleven things that I wish I could have told myself 11 years ago when I started my recovery journey.
- You are only going to remember bits and pieces of that morning and you will constantly play the event over and over again in your mind for numerous weeks that will turn into months. “It’s completely normal to feel this way but you need to try your best to focus on your recovery.”
- You will worry about losing your job and wonder how you will move forward without any income. “Don’t worry about your job as they cannot fire you for being seriously injured in a crash and you will soon find out that you will be entitled to receive income replacement benefits.”
- You will be confused when you are told to obtain a lawyer and think you were in trouble. “You will realize that hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer to fight for your legal rights was the right decision you could make so you could focus on your recovery.”
- You will be extremely hurt to find out which friends and family do not reach out to you during recovery to check up on you or to ask you if need anything. “Please don’t dwell on that as it will make you realize who you can truly count on and it will be okay.”
- You will wonder if you will ever get your strength back to be able to shower and wash your hair again by yourself. “It is going to take a lot of time and patience to gain your strength back. It will be frustrating to learn what your limitations are but a rehabilitation team will help you.”
- You are going to have difficulty sleeping, concentrating and will have re-occurring nightmares about the crash and wonder if they will ever stop. “You will seek professional help and realize it was one of the best decisions you will ever make.”
- You will wonder how you will continuously go to follow up medical appointments and just want to give up and stay home. “You need to go to every follow up appointment as it is so important to your well being and recovery. You got this!”
- You will feel intimidated by insurance companies as they downplay your injuries. You will have to wait for well over a year for them to decide if your injuries were significant enough. “Don’t let them wear you down and make you think that there is nothing wrong with you.”
- You will feel deserted as everyone’s lives have moved on and you will feel stuck. You will desperately need to speak to another crash survivor. “You will create an online presence for crash survivors to not only help yourself but to help others as well.”
- Medical professionals and even family and friends will think there is nothing wrong with you. They will tell you to get over it and return to work. “Do not take these comments to heart as they will never truly understand how injured you are.”
- You will feel like you will never get behind the wheel of a vehicle again as the flashbacks are too extreme. “After several months, you will get back behind the wheel. You may feel nervous at first and you will avoid driving on busy highways but you will return to driving.”
I Found My Strength
Back in 2012, I was so worried and anxious about so many things. I was completely lost. My life had suddenly changed and I didn’t know if I would ever recover physically and mentally. It was also a fear of not knowing what my future held. 11 years later, I continue to write and connect with so many wonderful individuals which allows me to find my strength, face my weaknesses and mend the broken parts of myself. I’ve learnt how to reach out to the right people and I love to create and build. Writing allowed me to stay in the world on the days when every fiber of my being wanted to curl up in bed and stay there. As I sit here writing this blog I can’t begin to tell you how much I admire strength. I admire adversity and I admire people that give back. Today I want to thank all the readers, followers, subscribers and supporters. Thank you for believing in me. As always, I look forward to seeing what’s on the horizon for the Crash Support Network!
Always remember that many challenges in life can be overcome with persistence, resilience, and a positive mindset. When you are left to face serious injuries after a motor vehicle crash, keep moving forward with determination. Remember that everyone’s recovery is unique, and the specific steps and timeline may vary based on the nature and severity of your injuries. Having a rehabilitation team in place is crucial so do not hesitate to reach out for help and support.
Do you want to share your story? Please do not hesitate to reach out to me because I understand and you are not alone.
S. Dawne McKay is a survivor of a horrific crash that changed her life forever. Dawne shares her personal journey as a Crash Survivor Blogger and also collaborates with crash survivors as Guest Bloggers allowing them an opportunity to share their stories. Dawne is also the author of the book, “Talk Crash to Me – What to Expect After Surviving a Collision and How to Manage Your Recovery” which is available for purchase on Amazon.
The Crash Support Network is a unique one-of-a-kind website consisting of an online support group, a crash survivor blog, a quarterly newsletter, “Sharing Our Recovery” as well as highly informative articles. Our website is based on relationship-building and puts the needs of survivors first by creating a helpful resource for victims and survivors of motor vehicle crashes.
