They say your life can change in the blink of an eye….
I never really understood the true meaning of this statement until I was hit by a distracted driver 6 years ago. Looking back at the person I was, the things I could do, the plans I had for my future, you wouldn’t know that I was the same person. I have always been positive, kind, and helpful towards others. My morals are the same but I am far from being the same person I was. Before, I was the strong person who lifted, carried, and dealt with tough situations. Now, I look for help.
It’s Difficult to Ask for Help
Fortunately, I am surrounded by the most amazing people in the world, but it is very difficult to ask for the help or show any form of weakness. I think I am broken as I cannot cry anymore. The days I think I am doing well, a stranger will come up to me and comment on how I walk. “Cramp in your leg?” “ I have a bum leg too”. I laugh it off but inside I am frustrated thinking that I was trying so hard to look normal. Other days, I park in handicap parking either in my vehicle or on my motorcycle and get yelled and screamed at for parking there. I have a pass. I am disabled. They passed judgement before I can even turn off my vehicle.
I try very hard not to respond. I smile and say, “Have a nice day!” Should I have to go through all this judgement? I would rather over do myself and spend days recovering then use a wheelchair or ask for extra help. No one but my immediate family and those who have been coming to assist me for 6 years really know the effects of a “Good weekend” or “Great event”. It is pretty bad that my little boy, who was 5 when I was hit, can look at me and knows when to grab the puke bucket, or your family knows you when the pack extra granola bars and anti nausea in their bag because you want to try spending the day walking/exercising as much as possible. Daily pain can be pretty extreme, but you learn to smile through it…tough it out, because the only other choice you have is to be angry, mean, or negative. Nothing about day-to-day life is normal anymore.
I Was Terrified and Frustrated
Six years ago, I was riding my motorcycle to see a client. It was a beautiful day; well at least the morning was. A car came over the yellow line on a curve, crushing me. I flew, bounced and rolled down the highway until I landed in the gravel. My left leg was crushed, degloved and severed. I actually thought I lost it completely while on the side of the road but was airlifted to Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto. This is where my mind was going crazy. I knew I was medicated but people in need were crying all around me. I looked down and saw two bumps that looked like feet, they had saved my leg…so far. An individual was assigned to stay beside me. I was giving them trouble because someone on the other side of the room was crying and needed help. I didn’t have the strength or capability to roll onto my side. I could barely move. I was terrified and frustrated.
Once I was stable enough to focus on what happened and people around me, my friends assisted me in starting my campaign. The campaign that now defines who I am, Don’t Drive Distracted- I Pinky Swear. My riding nickname was Pinky, because of my pink bike. I Pinky Swear was a way for my family and friends to keep in touch with me to know how I was doing. Little did I know how much impact it would have on others.
We welcome Linda Brown as a member of Crash Support Network and thank her for sharing her story with us!
This article is also featured in our 2022 Spring Issue of Sharing our Recovery
The Crash Support Network is a truly unique platform that brings together survivor-focused support and road safety education in one accessible space. Created for individuals and families affected by motor vehicle collisions, it offers online support groups, a crash survivor blog, a quarterly newsletter “ Sharing Our Recovery,” and a growing library of informative articles. Built on a foundation of connection and compassion while amplifying the importance of road safety, the Crash Support Network goes beyond a website; it’s a community united around support, education and making our roads safer for everyone.
