Well it’s one year since October 26, 2003. One year since my accident. In case anybody is interested here’s what happened.
On October 26, 2003 at around 4:25 pm I was starting the drive back to Knoxville from Limestone after eating lunch and having a birthday party with family. My girlfriend (now fiance) Stephanie and I were in my car and I was driving. There was some light rain and the road was wet. In addition I was probably going a bit too fast for the curve we were driving around. In any case, while going around the curve I hydroplaned and lost control. We hit a stop sign and two trees. The impacts were all on my side of the car.
Stephanie was extremely sore and bruised but she got out. I wasn’t as lucky. I broke my left leg in three places and broke my neck as well. I was airlifted to Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center because apparently it was a busy night for car wrecks and the closest hospital, Johnson City Medical Center, was full of trauma patients already.
It was really touch and go for a while but I pulled through. I was in Holston Valley from October 26 to November 19. I don’t remember the wreck or most of my time at Wellmont. Then I was at Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center in Knoxville from November 19 until December 31, 2003. After that and several more months of outpatient rehab at Quillen Rehabilitation Hospital I am walking (slowly) and generally doing well. I’m back in Knoxville now and continuing work on my Ph.D. Stephanie and I will be getting married June 10, 2005.