By sharing my personal story, my mission is to inspire others with brain injuries. First of all there can be positive outcomes in the face of tragedy. Furthermore, I want people with brain injuries to know they are not alone. My purpose is, through me, that people find hope and determination.

Summer Thompson

“Life is short.” That’s a saying I didn’t take very seriously until now. Most teenagers feel invincible, but sometimes awful things happen to good people. Now, I don’t take life for granted. I don’t remember this at all; but on September 5th, 2006, I was driving to pick up my friend. We had a volleyball game at Liberty. On Issaquah-Hobart Road, which is really curvy where the accident occurred, I am guessing that I may have crossed the center line, overcorrected and hit the guardrail. Then, I overcorrected again and hit the opposite guardrail. I was already stopped by the time an oncoming car slammed my passenger door into me. The passenger door crashed into my head.

Following the accident, two cars driven by Wes Weston and Joe Ibanez, came upon me and immediately stopped. Something told each of them to get out and help. Once they saw me, Joe knew he had to get in the car with me, while Wes directed traffic around us. Since I was not breathing, Joe knew it was bad. He tilted my head so that I started breathing. Later, my mother said that he probably saved my life. These men stayed and comforted me until the ambulance arrived. Afterwards, the firemen who were also at the accident decided to nominate Joe for the Lifesaver of the Year Award, which he later won.

I owe every breath to him. (Continue)