On February 7, 2002
, Jennifer DeWitt's life, and that of her family and friends, was turned
upside down. At age 24, Jennifer was involved in a nearly fatal
car crash while on her way to meet her friends for dinner. Her
car was struck by a speeding motorist traveling more than 30 miles over
the speed limit. After the crash, Jennifer was immediately flown
to the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland
Medical Center, where Dr. Tom Scalea, Chief Physician at Shock Trauma,
and his team, performed an operation removing Jennifer's ruptured spleen,
which was causing internal bleeding. Jennifer had also fractured
both hips, injured her brain stem, suffered a broken clavicle, a collapsed
lung, along with countless other maladies including double vision.
Her injuries were so severe, that her parents arranged for a priest to
administer her last rights.
Jennifer received
several blood transfusions, including five units of red blood cells, seven
units of platelets, and two units of plasma. She laid in a coma
for two months, until she finally woke up to the sight of her weeping
mother on April 8. Almost immediately, Jennifer began the long
and difficult process of rehabilitation, which included the need to relearn
normal tasks such as talking, writing, and walking. She continues
to undergo medical procedures to repair scar tissue on her face and stomach.
While Jennifer's
road to recovery is not complete, she is now able to perform the basic
functions that seemed hopeless shortly after her crash. She recognizes
the availability of blood as an essential part of her survival.
“If you are a person who donates blood and is not quite sure how your
contribution helps,” Jennifer often reminds audiences, “take a close look
at me. I am a person who needed blood, and without donors … I would
not be here today.”
Jennifer is
now 26 years old, and lives in Bel Air, MD with her mother, Mary Ellen,
her father, Doug, her brother, Jason, and her dog, Kelsy. |
