Hi, my name is Dallas. On December 5th, 2018 my life completely changed when I was in a car accident. The wreck was the single most impactful event in my life. My whole life was turned upside down. I totaled 2 cars in one night. It’s believed that I endured a brain injury from the 1st wreck, but it was the 2nd wreck that changed everything. It was at 2:30 in the morning. I woke up and decided to drive without my glasses, wearing only shorts and sandals. It was snowing that night. After veering off the road, I was ejected through the windshield and the car landed on top of my body. The fatality team investigated my wreck because it was assumed that I wouldn't make it. The EMT team rushed me to Vanderbilt so they could determine the extent of my injuries.
My family learned of what happened around 8 am. I was alone, fatally injured with no family. I didn’t realize that my new family, Vanderbilt, had me in their hands. Take in mind, I don’t remember that night, or the almost 6 weeks I was in the hospital. This is the story told by my family and friends. While my new Vanderbilt family was taking care of me, my family and friends were alerted of my wreck. That day so many people showed up for me, they had to spread them across multiple floors. I still have trouble to this day accepting that so many people showed up for me. I can’t imagine what was going through their minds. I can’t imagine being told my fiancé, my son, a friend, a loved one was going to die. The doctors were unsure if I would ever make it.
The wreck caused so many injuries that it would be pages alone of listing them. I’ll name the biggest ones. I broke my neck, right elbow, right wrist, right collar bone, left knee, left hip. Today, my left knee and hip, right wrist and right collar bone are all metal joints. My left lower limb was completely shattered all the way down to my heel. My family was faced with the decision of whether to keep my left foot and have multiple surgeries over years or amputate. My family made the extremely intense decision to amputate. I understand, it’s a decision I would have made. On top of all the broken bones, I had a TBI, diffuse axonal injury. Basically, shaking baby syndrome. The doctors told my family that there was a 1/10 chance that I would wake up.
They were worried that I would be upset. Little do they know that I would be happy to just be alive. Now that it has been 1.5 years since this happened, I keep going forward. I never stop adapting. Prior to my wreck, this was something that I prided myself in, but it has now been brought to another level.
Every day is a new challenge. Whether it be getting used to my prosthetic or getting emotional and taking it out on my loved ones. I wake up again and I adapt and start over. I never lose my momentum. I had to relearn almost everything. How to use the bathroom, how to shower, how to drive, how to talk, how to feel, how to swim, how to mow, how to sit at my desk. The list could go on for days, but hopefully you get the point. I literally had to learn ways to manage and live my life again. I am still learning today.
Current day I couldn’t be happier with who I am and what I’ve gone through. I would have never made it without the love and support from all my families and friends. But most importantly, this would not be possible without the Trauma Unit at Vanderbilt. We are still in contact with the employees of the Trauma Unit. Last Christmas, I took blankets and gift bags to everyone in the quiet rooms. I wanted them to have hope for their loved one, and for them to know that they are in the best hands.
People always tell me I have a positive attitude about everything. This confuses me because I am just trying to continue to adapt. My message to you is to keep going no matter what. There is nothing that you can’t accomplish with the right attitude. You are in the best place to heal you. Because of Vanderbilt, I am where I am today. You’ve got this, keep going forward.