Shannon Tucker

Our daughter, Shannon Tucker, was injured by a Drowsy Driver on 17, Nov, 1989. She was a sophomore in college coming home for the weekend. The person who hit her had been up before sunrise and working for long hours on a construction project. On his way home he passed Shannon’s car on the highway, fell asleep, drifted over to the shoulder of the road, over-corrected as he woke up and changed our lives forever. Shannon’s car was no match for his pickup and trailer. She was hit on the passenger side but, though in a lap and shoulder belt, was thrown sideways. Her head went through the dashboard of her car.

Shannon sustained a Traumatic Brain Injury and was in a coma for 38 days. The doctors told us to begin looking at nursing homes because they believed she was in a Permanent Vegetative State. It was just a week later, on Christmas Eve, that Shannon opened one eye and asked her nurse where her mom and dad were !! But, that was the beginning of a three year struggle for her. She had to learn how to swallow, talk, walk and feed herself. Shannon didn’t know what the words meant they simply seemed familiar. She told us several years later that she didn’t know who we were but since we were always visiting she didn’t question us.

Shannon sustained damage to 30% of her brain, was paralyzed on the right side and had double vision. After 3+ years of hospital and rehabilitation, Shannon was able to move to her own apartment with caregivers. Two years later she began attending a community college for 6 hours a semester. With extraordinary assistance from her therapists, Mesa Community College, Arizona State University and Ottawa University personnel, she graduated with a BA in Art History 5 years later. Shannon has learned to drive again, lives independently and stays busy painting and sculpting. Despite her disabilities, Shannon continues to be a productive, happy person. We all try to focus on the positive and celebrate the young woman whose doctor called her his miracle patient.

— Submitted by Judy Tucker