By Barbara L. Gilmore
When I fell 13 feet onto a slate
floor on July 18, 2003, the seed of
hope had been planted. As everything
in my field of vision began turning
bright white, I felt the numbness of
shock begin to overtake my body, and
I thought of Leola’s story. Her
influence had already shaped how I
would react to both what had just
happened to me and what I was about
to face.
Why Me? by Leola Mae Harmon,
originally appeared in the September
1976 issue of Reader’s Digest,
winning the First Person Award. In
1982, her book by the same title was
published; and in 1984, the account
was retold in a made-for-television
movie starring Glynnis O’Connor,
Armand Assante and Annie Potts.
Nurse Leola was 23 years old in
November 1968, happily five months
pregnant, and on her way to work at
the Elmendorf Air Force Base
Hospital in Anchorage, Alaska. She
traveled along Tudor Road, babying
her car up and over the crest of the
hill. Ahead there was an oncoming
school bus. Suddenly a truck darted
out from behind it to pass, into
Leola's lane of traffic. She tried
to avoid an impact, but there was no
time.
The collision sent her little red
mustang over a 12-foot snow-covered
embankment. Her seatbelt didn’t hold
and she went through the windshield
before being thrown back into her
seat. The spinning three-pronged
steering wheel tore through her
face.
Her airway blocked by tissue, blood
and chunks of bone, Leola could only
wheeze as the ambulance took her
first to a civilian hospital and
then to Elmendorf, where her
co-workers were in shock at the
sight of the once-stunningly
beautiful woman on the gurney.
Plastic surgeon Dr. James Stallings,
who happened to be passing by the
ER, heard the commotion, took charge
and saved the young woman’s life.
Leola Mae had lost most of her
teeth, a chunk of her lip and parts
of her jawbone, yet she insisted on
getting back to nursing just five
weeks after the accident. Dr
Stallings was not one to be shy
about trying new procedures,
including rebuilding her lip from
her own vaginal tissue. After 40
grueling surgeries, Leola Mae was
put back together again.
The intoxicated driver that ran into
her pretty little car, took the life
of Leola’s unborn child, and did
unspeakable damage to this beautiful
woman received a $250 fine, 30 day
suspension of his driver's license
and 30 days in jail.
Leola also lost her husband before
her recovery was complete. He could
not deal with the extent of her
injuries. Leola’s determination,
combined with Dr. Stallings’
dedication and skill, kept her going
through the pain, depression and
physical adjustments she endured as
the days became weeks and months and
years.
She and Dr. Stallings went on to
work together, marrying in 1971,
only to divorce in 1976. Sadly, Dr.
Stallings took his own life in 1991
after a long battle with
Epstein-Barr virus and chronic
fatigue hindered his ability to
work. Leola remarried in 1982 and
moved to Punta Gorda, Florida in
1998, where she caught a virus. She
passed away in May 1999 of multiple
organ failure.
I saw the 1984 made-for-tv movie
first. I was lucky enough to later
get a copy of the book, which filled
a lot of gaps left by the movie.
Leola’s miraculous recovery -
replayed on screen and on paper,
left no doubt that she was more than
a survivor. She not only survived
against the odds, but she had a
terrific attitude as well. Leola
Mae's beauty came from within, and
in time, it was seen on the outside
again.
In my case, I had fallen down a
flight of stairs to a slate floor
below. Both arms were broken; I had
head injuries; bruised and torn
muscles and cartilage. I was in
wrenching pain. My heart stopped for
more than a minute in the Emergency
Room. My boss at the investment firm
couldn't understand why I couldn't
be back to work the next week. I
couldn't feed or dress myself. I
lost my job.
At first, I was thrilled that I had
survived to have another chance at
life. As the first few months
passed, the magnitude of my injuries
became more apparent to me. I had
always been quite independent, yet
now I could not bathe myself. I
could not open a doorknob or even
pick up a pencil. Always my own
worst critic, I was about to learn a
huge lesson. I was about to learn
how to accept my imperfect self.
Even more importantly, I was about
to learn how to ask for – and
graciously accept -- help.
For me, it has been a long process
of learning how to sign my name
again, complete with triumphs over
lifting a wet washcloth; a metal
fork; a can of tuna. On one
particular day, I was carefully
dusting my trophies from the days
when I was a champion bullseye
target shooter. It dawned on me that
with my right arm still unable to
straighten, I may never be able to
shoot again. A kind of sadness swept
over me that only accompanies the
realization that one’s life-dream
has suddenly fallen out of reach. I
tried rationalizing, but the sadness
overwhelmed me.
I went to my copy of Lola’s book and
read again about her struggle, and
chose to focus on things I can do
instead of those I cannot. Six years
later, I still have physical
difficulties, and am experiencing
what it is like to have an
"invisible" disability. I still lack
some dexterity in my fingertips, and
it often takes me several minutes to
pick up a button or manipulate the
earring through my pierced ear. Four
months ago, I finally summed up the
courage to face the target shooting
challenge. I was accustomed to
bringing home first place every
time. I now have three matches under
my belt with two second place awards
and one first place award. I believe
that with a lot more work, I will
one day return to those first place
scores.
In the years since my own accident,
people have looked at me in
amazement after learning of my
survival against so many odds. There
are times when I cannot lift or move
things with my arms, and the pain is
a daily occurrence. I tire easily
and can accomplish roughly half of
what I could in a day before the
accident. In spite of my own
physical therapist having
considerably less than
“Stallings’-like” enthusiasm about
my case (she told me I’d have to
live with my right elbow permanently
bent at 30 degrees), I have, on my
own, recovered full range of
movement with my left elbow and all
but four degrees of range in my
right.
Many times already I could have
given up, but all I’ve needed to do
is remember what I know about Leola
Mae's endurance. I am forever
grateful for her courage. Her story
has influenced, and saved, my life.
She didn't quit, and her injuries
were much worse than mine. She kept
a determined smile on her face and
forged ahead willingly.
So, with the Authorities on their
way to burn my library, who am I to
do anything less?
5 comments:
Ashley Listersaid...
Hi Barbara,
Welcome to the Grip, and thank you for such a wonderful, compassionate and compelling post.
I'm the sort of wimp who hears the words 'swine flu' and then spends a month in bed, imagining I have the illness and avoiding all human contact and physical activity in case it uses up the last of my energey reserves.
I have nothing but admiration for people like yourself and Leola Mae who have the strength and courage to battle these challenges with such conviction.
Best wishes,
Ashley Lister
January 30, 2010 2:35 AM
Garceussaid...
HI Barbara!
Welcome to our blog and I hope you'll come by and readus regular here. YOu and your family have been through a lot. I don;t to know what its all about when these painful things happen but I suppose someday it will all make sense. Thanks for sharing yuor story.
Garce
January 30, 2010 7:57 AM
Helensaid...
Barbara,
Bravo! This is probably one of the best and most inspiring posts I've ever read. I remember reading a similar story of a young woman who broke her neck while swimming. She ended up a quadriplegic, but then went on to learn to draw and became a successful artist (she had never drawn before the accident).
Things can always be worse, quitting being the worst things can get. You kept going in spite of your injuries, and that's amazing!
January 30, 2010 8:33 PM
Lisabet Saraisaid...
Hello, Barbara,
Thank you so much for joining us at the Grip and sharing your story. The body is frighteningly frail... but the mind, the spirit has such power that almost anything can be overcome.
As you continue with your life, I predict that you will gain new skills and achieve new goals to replace the ones that you have had to release.
All the best,
Lisabet
January 31, 2010 5:14 AM
Word Actresssaid...
Wow - I am humbled by your story. I thought I'd had a horrendous year, separated from my husband of 21 years. And then I read your story, and I thought, you are my inspiration. We can never go back to before, can we, but we can put one foot in front of the other and thrive. Thank you for giving us your story, your inspiration and your spirit...Mary Kennedy Eastham
January 31, 2010 11:35 PM