Resilience and Recovery: Embracing Change After a Life-Altering Accident

My City My Health Intern 

I connected with My City My Health since I was eager to apply my Gender, Health, and Healthcare Equity minor in real-world settings and explore potential initiatives. Within the initial five minutes of my conversation with Corey Dion Lewis, I felt an instant connection and knew I had found my community. Through platforms like the Healthy Project Podcast and organizing conferences through Iowa, I have been able to extend my reach beyond the University of Iowa. This experience has fueled my passion to pursue health equity efforts not only as an intern but everyday as a physician. 

Motor Vehicle Accident 

During spring break, I went on a bike ride with my dad and I was hit by a distracted truck driver on the biking trail. I was taken to a local ER where imaging showed life threatening brain injuries, skull fractures, rib injuries, wrist fractures, spine injuries, and right shoulder injuries. I was then airlifted to UIHC where I spent seven days in the neurosurgery ICU before being moved to inpatient trauma rehab at UIHC. I was then transferred to inpatient rehab at St. Luke’s in Cedar Rapids. I was hospitalized for a total of three weeks. I am currently in Cedar Falls with my parents as I recover and have diligently been attending outpatient rehab to regain my strength emotionally, physically, and cognitively. 

Senior Year 

This was definitely not what I had imagined as the ending of my senior year. I had been intensely studying for the MCAT since May and I was supposed to take it one week after the accident. The day I was supposed to be taking the MCAT, I was transferred to an inpatient rehab center. I’m finishing college the same way I started it, remotely. 

Embracing Change 

Change is often something we fear, as instability can cause our world to crumble. In my case, the change I had experienced after being involved in a motor vehicle accident made way for a purpose to be strengthened. I remained hopeful through my physicians’ optimism and positivity. As I attend therapies and doctor’s appointments everyday, I am able to embrace the culmination of experiences that has brought me to this very moment. As a patient, I have come to appreciate the impact of compassionate care. This past month and a half has been the hardest time in my life but I am confident that this experience will make me into a stronger individual. I hope to gain further knowledge and skills to earn the privilege of my patient’s trust and give them a sense of stability when everything in their life is falling apart.

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