Life finally felt like it was coming together. I had started my dream job, I was in love with an amazing guy. I was genuinely happy for the first time in a long time.
All this changed on a cold November night in 2016. Life was turned upside down. Literally. My vehicle had been t-boned and we ended up flipped over on its side. I was trapped. Everything as I knew it had changed forever.
My recovery was nothing I could of ever imagined. Pain, tears, doubts, frustration. I did not sign up for this. All I could think of was why me? What have I done in my life to deserve this?
When You Are Faced With Trauma
There is nothing in life that can prepare you for what trauma brings. My dream job, stripped away. My relationship, on the rocks. My new career turned into rehabilitation. Nonstop physio, kinesiology and counselling appointments. Nights upon nights of no sleep out of sheer fear of nightmares and flashbacks from PTSD. Fear of stepping into any vehicle. Nonstop headaches and unsteadiness. When was this going to end?
The thing is, it doesn’t end. Chronic pain, PTSD, Traumatic brain injury; anything that comes with trauma, it never leaves you. There is a part of you that mourns the person that you were before. A part of you that wishes this had never happened.
Life. is. changed. forever.
Juliana is a such a courageous woman and we thank her for sharing her story with us. We wish her continued positive healing in her ongoing 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.
