You are Not Alone
One week prior to my crash, I was on vacation in Florida with my boyfriend and I was suddenly jolted awake in the middle of the night with a terrible feeling that something awful had happened to someone close to me. It was a feeling that I had never experienced before and I thought I was going to get a call that someone had passed unexpectedly. I carried this feeling with me for days and I just couldn't seem to shake this unsettling anxious feeling no matter how hard I tried. One week "to the day" I was involved in a horrific car crash. I was on my way to work stopped to make a left-hand turn and I was rear-ended by an SUV clocked at 80 km/hr and I was pushed into the path of a transport truck. My life as I knew it suddenly changed in a matter of seconds. I was transported to a local hospital but my injuries were so severe that they had to transport me to a trauma hospital. When I arrived in the trauma unit I remember being greeted by the Chaplain as I was truly lucky to be alive. I suffered multiple injuries including a head injury and a horrific seatbelt wound.
My Life Changed in a Matter Of Seconds
I only spent three days in the trauma unit as the doctors decided to discharge me even though I couldn't walk. I think back to that morning and I was actually excited to be leaving the hospital and couldn't wait to have a shower, wash my hair and put my pyjamas on. What I didn't realize was how terrified I would be to get into another vehicle, how bad the pain would be once the morphine wore off and I suddenly realized that I could not walk and I was in excruciating pain. Daily nursing, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, PSWs and numerous medical follow up appointments had now become my new way of life, not to mention financial strain, flashbacks, sleepless nights, constant pain, the "what ifs" and anxiety. I had a job that I loved and my social life and friendships as I once knew it came to a screeching halt. Friends who I thought would be there for me disappeared and I suddenly found myself realizing who my real friends were. As I had never been involved in a horrific motor vehicle crash, it was a HUGE learning curve and recovery for me. My crash was in 2012 and as I continue to attend outpatient rehabilitation, I am also trying my best to cope with the chronic pain, sleepless nights and flashbacks.
Support Group for Survivors
As I began to search for support, I quickly discovered there was a lack thereof. At the time, everyone's lives had moved on but I continued to find myself overwhelmed, isolated and grieving the loss of the person I once was before the crash. I desperately wanted to speak to another survivor. I took it up upon myself to not only build the support I was seeking but to spread it out to others who were in similar situations by creating an Online Support Group. To date, the Crash Support Network Group has close to 1000 members, a lot of survivors are either recovering from their crash or just starting to go through the process. "Knowing you are not alone is important and bringing crash survivors together to find support in one another is very therapeutic."
As a survivor, I realized once I was discharged from the trauma hospital to recover, I didn't have anywhere to reach out to other victims. The Crash Support Network Group is strictly to provide crash survivors with a "safe space" to share emotional support while they recover physically, financially, legally and emotionally. "As fellow victims we realize that it can be overwhelming and this group is for us to come together and be there for each other to share our journeys, positivity, advice, resources and daily inspirations." Although originated and run virtually from Ontario, Canada, the online support group welcome members from all over the globe.
As the membership grew within our online support group, I noticed a further need for continuous support and Founded a Quarterly Newsletter entitled “Sharing our Recovery” which quickly evolved into a Crash Survivor Blog. The Crash Support Network was launched in 2019 which is a unique one-of-a-kind website that brings all of these wonderful resources together to further support victims and survivors of motor vehicle crashes.
I am also a self-published 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."As I look in my rear-view mirror to that awful morning, I see fear that has turned into courage, I see helplessness that has turned into independence and I see weakness that has turned into strength. I see professional strangers both medically and legally that have turned into new friendships who will be in my life for many years to come. I see a kind and patient man that has been my rock and has been by my side every step of the way. I see an overwhelmed struggling victim seeking a support group that was unavailable create an online medium making support available to other victims."I understand the struggles after a motor vehicle crash are real and I hear you.
You will face numerous obstacles and our online support group holds space for crash survivors to vent, to feel heard, valued and understood. It is important to remember that you are not alone and I welcome you to join the Crash Support Network Group where survivors are connecting with each other, sharing their struggles & inspirations and cheering each other on. Always remember that recovering will be hard but it will be so worth it. You are stronger than you think!
For more information on the Crash Support Network please click here.
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Unsinkable Storytelling Author: Dawne McKay