On April 14th of last year, John – an avid walker – was crossing the road after finishing his lunch when he was suddenly hit by a car. The next thing John remembers is waking up after the accident at The MED’s Trauma Center, wondering, “Where am I? What happened?”

At that point, John had been unconscious for over a week and the doctors gently informed him that he had been hit by a careless driver.  His injuries were severe, the worse being a traumatic brain injury. When asked about his injuries, John remembers little: “It’s all so fuzzy. I didn’t really comprehend the extent of my injuries. I just knew I was at The MED, one of the best hospitals in the area and they would take great care of me. And that was such a comforting thought during this horrific ordeal.”

Because of the nature of his injuries, John was restricted to stay in bed for weeks. Even though he said that was almost the hardest part, he was very complimentary of how the doctors and nurses were patient and attentive to answer questions and tend to his medical needs. “I felt such peace knowing I was at The MED,” he says. “Even when the nurses told me that I flew through the air when the car hit me, I was really never worried, as I was in such capable hands..” He jokes, “I wish now, though, that I had asked them how high.”

Despite knowing that he was in the best of hands, John was ready to move around, and he was relieved when he was finally able to get a bit of exercise. “I woke up at five o’ clock each morning and went for walks,” he relates. “It was so good to finally walk again!”

John’s stay at The MED’s trauma center was a little over a month.  During that time, he slowly regained his strength and his progress was always celebrated by his recovery team of doctors and nurses. Over the duration of his stay, John maintained a calm attitude. “I was so satisfied by their level of care,” he says. “I truly believe it was fate for me to be at The MED!” Jon attributes his survival to the Trauma Center. “If The MED’s Trauma Center hadn’t been there, I likely wouldn’t be living today.”

Today, John is well on his way to being in better shape than he was before the accident.  He says with a laugh, “My goal in the next few months is that I’ll be doing some push-ups!”

1 in 4 people in the Memphis area know someone who has been treated by The MED. If you would like to contribute to the only Level One Trauma Center in a 150-mile radius, please click here.