Lisa Mary is a Crash Survivor, a Singer and a Songwriter who hopes to inspire other survivors. July 7th 2017 was one of the best days of my life, I opened a show for one of my idols Toby Keith. In that same day I released my first album that I poured two years of my heart into. The next day I got an email asking if I would play at a private event that was happening on Lake Superior. Two weeks later, on July 22nd, my mom, grandfather and I were on the road again. We were driving on US 2; a two lane highway in the Upper Peninsula. Being the procrastinator that I am, I pulled out my i-pad and started jotting down my setlist for that night`s show, and in the blink of an eye, my life changed.
My body slammed into the car door, when the vehicle shifted, so did I. I flew across the backseat, smashing into the other door. When we stopped moving, it took everything in me to lift myself up only to see my mom and grandpa not moving in their seats, a smashed windshield and a truck imbedded into the side of our car, I was screaming and completely horrified. All of a sudden I felt weak, I could no longer support myself, I fell back onto the seat and my mind was in space. I was soon dragged out of the car and later found out that our vehicle was on fire, and I was the last one to get out.
A Stranger Held My Hand & Wiped My Tears
I laid on the side of the road and immediately police, EMS and fire fighters were on the scene. I remember being asked a ton of questions, but I couldn`t tell you what they were asking. My brain was so consumed by the amount of pain I was experiencing as well as two very overwhelming thoughts. One of them was losing two people I love so much and the second thought was “This is all my fault”. I remember a lady by the name of Nancy Davis as I had asked for everyone`s names that day but she`s the only name I remember. She sat with me, held my hand, wiped away my tears and prayed with me. I`ll never forget her sweet face and I will always be grateful that she was there that day. I would give anything to buy her coffee and say thank you. It took six people to lift me up on to a stretcher. Laying in the back of the ambulance felt like a movie scene, before I knew it I was laying among different colored wires and being hooked up to different machines. When we arrived to the ER, I heard my grandpa`s voice call for me and as my eyes filled with tears, I answered back shouting, “I`m so sorry”.
Feeling of Heartache & Worry
They put me in a bed, and doctors crowded around me. I wanted nothing more than to be left alone. I wanted so badly to call my dad as we were 6 hours away from home and no one knew what happened yet. When I was granted access to a phone, I dialed my dad’s number. I said one word and I heard him fall to the floor through the phone which broke me in half. I handed the phone over to the nurse as I couldn`t get the words out. I spent most of my hospital stay asking about my mom and grandfather and how they were doing. They eventually told me that my grandfather had a brain hemorrhage among other injures and that he was going to be airlifted to an ICU unit at another hospital. I broke down in tears and asked to see him before he left. In my head, I was not letting him leave this world without saying goodbye.
Soon after, they wheeled him on a stretcher into my room. His head was covered in bandages, his face was black and blue and he was wearing a neck brace and a sling. The hardest thing I`ve ever done in my life was to say goodbye and tell that man how much I loved him in that moment. After many hours of tests, I was greeted by my dad and my aunt who drove up from Metro Detroit. I`d never been more happy to see familiar faces. I spent the next few days in this little no-where town while my mom continued to seek treatment and I so badly wanted to go home and leave this town in my memories.
Feeling Disconnected From Myself
The next several months were an uphill battle for me as a crash survivor. I suffered from a shoulder and head injury, and everything turned into a challenge. Getting out of bed, taking a few steps without falling or passing out, taking a shower, 24/7 assistance, all day, everyday, I felt like a burden to everyone around me. I felt completely de-humanized and like my life lacked of purpose. I`d never been more disconnected from myself.
Music had always been my identity and I felt like it was stripped away from me. Canceling my shows and projects broke my heart. I spent a lot of time in and out of doctors offices and physical therapy, feeling like a number on page. I was no longer Lisa the person, I was Lisa the patient. I hated how everyone`s life just went on, meanwhile mine abruptly stopped. I hated watching my mom and grandfather suffer along with me, always feeling like the cause.
Through it all as a crash survivor, I was lucky enough to by surrounded by great people who never left my side, two people specifically would be my dad and my boyfriend, Christian. Someone else who never left my side was God, I thanked him every night for looking after my family but I also asked him many of nights “Why me?” I didn`t get my answer right away but in time I realized why I had to go through this.
Second Chance in Life
Survivors have this second chance at life and as a crash survivor, I look back now with a brand new perspective. I`ve learned how precious life really is and to never take it for granted, to not live life in fear and to always be in the moment. As an artist, I have a platform and it`s important to me to do good with it. As an accident survivor, I want to use my platform to support other accident survivors, provide encouragement, to remind survivors to never give up on themselves and always trust in god.
Lisa Mary is a talented artist and a crash survivor. She is also a member of our online support group who is writing music about her experience to encourage other crash survivors that are struggling to keep going. Lisa Mary is a talented young country singer-songwriter and award-winning recording artist out of Metro Detroit. At just 22 years old, with a four and a half octave vocal range and an electric stage performance, Lisa Mary is turning heads from industry professionals nationwide and for the past 6 years she has continued to wow audiences from all over the United States.
To find out more about Lisa Mary’s music please visit her website at www.lisamarymusic.com
Submitted by Lisa Mary, Singer & Songwriter
This article is also featured in our 2019 Summer Issue of Sharing our Recovery
We welcome Lisa Mary as a member of Crash Support Network and thank Lisa for reaching out to us and for her continued support. We are also excited to announce that we have partnered with Lisa Mary and a portion of proceeds from her new single “DIVE” which she wrote to encourage crash survivors will go to the Crash Support Network to support our mission.
