South Lyon Woman Will Mark Major Milestone At Detroit Goddess Marathon
DETROIT (WWJ) - The Detroit Goddess marathon and 5K is Sunday at Belle Isle and for some it's just a run in the park, but for one local woman it will be a milestone.
Two years ago while driving home from work in the afternoon Josephine Crawford was in a car accident on the highway.
"Some guy, I guess, he fell asleep is what I was told -- he hit me and another car and I ran into the cement wall. I was out -- and woke up and had a broken neck," Crawford tells WWJ health reporter Dr. Deanna Lites.
After surgery on her neck the 49-year-old South Lyon resident was left paralyzed on her left side. Her vocal cords were also paralyzed.
"No movement, couldn't walk and was in a wheelchair," recalls Crawford.
A fitness buff who enjoyed running, biking and coaching middle school girls in a variety of sports, Josephine now found herself at DMC Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan trying to learn the most basic tasks with the help of therapists who Josephine says pushed her with passion.
"Without the Rehab Institute of Michigan I would still be on a couch - curled up in a ball. They've given me my life back," Crawford says without pause.
On Sunday with the help of a cane and her therapists at her side Josephine will walk the 5K race.
And she says maybe even try to run a few steps.
She's inspiring and seemingly undaunted by the process and found motivation seeing other patients going through rehab.
She said she isn't going to let the accident define her and she hopes get back to coaching again.
Josephine sounds like the flip side of stories you've covered on post-traumatic stress disorder?
No one's immune to adversity and there is growing research on post-traumatic growth.
This is where a person becomes stronger and has an even better, more meaningful life after a trauma.
And it's more common than people realize, but it's not as well known as PTSD.
Maybe it's the silver lining for Josephine.
You can find out more about the Detroit Goddess Marathon [HERE].
