'It brought us closer together:' Incredible forgiveness of former cheerleader paralyzed when her dad ran her over and who says she never blamed him

PUBLISHED: 19:04 EST, 28 May 2013 | UPDATED: 22:26 EST, 28 May 2013

View
comments

Cindy Donald was an active teenager with her whole life ahead of her when she was tragically paralyzed from the neck down in an accident in March 2005, when she was run over by her father's car as she was sunbathing in the driveway of her family's Atlanta home.

Eight years after the accident, the 21-year-old says she and her father, Jerry, are closer then ever and she has never blamed him for the accident.

'I think that it’s brought us closer together. You know, I think that I found a lot of purpose in my life through this,' she said about her relationship with her father, in an interview on the Today show on Tuesday.

Former cheerleader Cindy Donald, 21, was paralyzed

Life changing: Cindy Donald, left before the accident, was sunbathing in the driveway of her family's Atlanta home in 2005 when she was run over by her father's vehicle. She is now paralyzed from the neck down

Stronger: Eight years after the accident, the 21-year-old says she and her father, Jerry (right), are closer then ever and she has never blamed him for the accident

Cindy remembers the fateful day of March 15, 2005, Good Friday, when she heard her father's Dodge Intrepid approach the family's home but the girl assumed her father had spotted her laying out in her bathing suit.

But in a matter of moments, his vehicle hit the girl and crushed her chest.

More...

Realizing what had happened the father jumped out of the car and comforted his daughter, who remained conscious during the harrowing ordeal.

'I remember telling him, "I just can't feel my arms, and I'm going to be okay." Never thinking my legs could not move, I only felt like my arms were wrapped around my stomach. But my arms were really by my side,' she wrote on the website for her foundation.

Family: Cindy Donald says she doesn't blame her father Jerry for her life changing injuries

Recovery: Cindy has undergone extensive physical rehabilitation since her accident in 2005

Cindy has made a miraculous recovery and has undergone extensive rehabilitation.

'I just feel like things happen. I never blame God and definitely never blame my dad. I think I have a great life, really,' she told the NBC morning show.

'I'm lucky I've got a great boyfriend, I think. I've got a great family. I'm pretty much taken care of and I'm pretty happy.'

Despite his daughter's upbeat attitude, the father admitted he still struggles to make sense of it all.

'It was my fault. I mean, I wasn't looking where I was going. I was thinking about something else,' he said on the NBC show.

'In one split second, her life changed and my life and my whole family's life changed.'

Inspiring: The Atlanta woman started a foundation, Cindy Donald Dreams of Recovery Foundation, to inspire others trying to recovery from life changing circumstances like her own accident

Unstoppable: Cindy's spirit and strength continues to inspire those around her

Cindy has shown tremendous grace and courage as she moves past the events of 2005.

Donations have poured in from local churches and family friends to make her home wheelchair accessible and to provide her with a handicap van.

She graduated from Kennesaw State University in May, 2008.

She also started a foundation, Cindy Donald Dreams of Recovery Foundation, to inspire others trying to recovery from life changing circumstances like her own accident.

Her spirit and strength continues to inspire those around her.

'Once you meet Cindy, it doesn’t take any convincing whatsoever, her spirits are off the charts,' Fredi Gonzalez, who manages the Atlanta Braves, told the Today show about Cindy.

Add your comments

Comments (42)

The comments below have not been moderated.

View all

The ages don't sound or look right. If it happened 8 years ago, then she would have been only 13 in that cheerleading picture.

- SF94123 , San Francisco, United States, 29/5/2013 19:53

Click to rate Rating 2

21???

- Nola , USA, 29/5/2013 16:01

Click to rate Rating (0)

You park cars in the driveway, not people. Tragic and unnecessary.

- Andrew Rutley , Burnley, 29/5/2013 15:03

Click to rate Rating 5

'It brought us closer together:' Cos hes got to do everything for you lol

- Always Right , AlwaysRightville, Yemen, 29/5/2013 14:38

Click to rate Rating 16

Maybe she doesn't like the way grass feels. Maybe it was wet. Maybe she's allergic to grass and didn't have a chair. But yeah, I don't think I'd sunbathe in the driveway!

- binarystars , Denver, United States, 29/5/2013 14:19

Click to rate Rating 12

It's tragic, but totally preventable. Who sunbathes on a car driveway thinking "I'm going to assume that my Dad will see me when he gets home and won't run over me"?

- tricon7 , Orlando, FL., 29/5/2013 12:55

Click to rate Rating (0)

Only blondes sunbathe in the driveway...

- somewhereintheus , somewhereintheus, 29/5/2013 12:36

Click to rate Rating (0)

How sad but so happy the girl is so positive. Her dad will forever feel guilty. Glad it's brought them closer. For all the people who say who lays in the driveway, we all do things that afterwards we question. I'm sure she asked herself too. Maybe the sun was on that side of the house? Who cares why. People should stop acting like they're so much smarter then the people in these articles.

- teerochelle , Michigan, USA, 29/5/2013 12:33

Click to rate Rating (0)

Why didn't she go in the backyard where there is grass?- Carl Mape , Los Angeles, United States...................Our backyard is 100% shade from trees. I imagine she went where the sun was. She has an amazing attitude & I wish her the best

- Sarah the nurse , Iowa USA, 29/5/2013 12:12

Click to rate Rating 1

Why do I think I have problems? Reading something like this puts it all in perspective.

- Randi , Atlanta, 29/5/2013 12:12

Click to rate Rating 2

Share this comment

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.