Text Size:

May 11, 2010

In May of 2001 Vern Swanson was involved in a single car accident that left him with severe skull, brain and spinal injuries and a bleak prognosis. Doctors thought he may never come out of his coma, but he proved them wrong by not only recovering, but thriving in spite of his injuries, reports NaplesNews.com.

Swanson recently walked across the stage to collect his diploma from the Florida Gulf Coast University, where he attended graduate school.

He has come a long way since the crash and he now plans to help others. Swanson studied physical therapy and will be working to improve the lives of injured army veterans.

"The first time I could walk again after my accident was one of the best moments of my life and my physical therapists helped me accomplish this," Swanson told the news provider. "All I have gone through will be worth it if I can be a part of helping one patient walk again for the first time."

According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, there was a total of 16,520 people who lost their lives in passenger car crashes in 2007 and over 1.4 million were injured in 2006 passenger car crashes.

The Crash Survivors Network is a nonprofit organization that helps those who have been involved in an accident or lost a loved one to a crash. They have information for those seeking grief counseling as well as those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Comments / Post a comment