PTSD Shannon’s story of survival
In 2016 Shannon was at Pineview Reservoir, Utah enjoying a day on the lake in her boat with friends. Her friend was driving her boat when he lost control and hit the rock wall of the reservoir. She was unaware that he had been drinking. Shannon does not have recollection of what exactly happened, nor will she read the accident report detailing the event. There is a part of her that doesn’t want to know the details of the day, her severe injuries tell the tale. Her next memory was being in the hospital with doctors explaining that she just had surgery and that she was in a terrible accident.
Shannon’s injuries were life threatening. In fact, she coded in the Life flight helicopter on the way to the hospital, twice. She died during the first of many surgeries as well. Her left leg was mangled and she broke her right arm. Almost every bone in her face was shattered including a broken jaw. She broke her neck and had bleeding on her brain and suffered eight broken ribs. She was placed in a medically induced coma for five days in order to allow the doctors to do their work and save her life. She underwent seven surgeries to repair her facial injuries in addition to wiring her jaw shut. Shannon has multiple metal plates in her face and required the repair of her eye sockets and lips. Shannon has had 3 leg surgeries as well. It was an open wound that required intense care, draining and changing the dressings daily.
Shannon spent months in the hospital recovering. She didn’t realize the extent of the accident and her injuries. She was unrecognizable to family and friends and her son struggled to understand why mom looked so purple and swollen in the face. Shannon avoided looking at herself in the mirror. She struggled to communicate as she could not speak due to her jaw being wired shut.
Shannon started feeling anger immediately following the events. Little things began to bother Shannon. Simple conversations turned her thought process to aggression and even violent tendencies. She would vividly think of ways to harm others. She never acted out on her feelings but the urge to hurt or even kill others was very real and detailed. It was more than just fleeting thoughts or passive ideas. It was an intense desire to carry out her emotions. Her friends and family noticed immediately the change in her personality. Shannon became very irritable and defensive. Her anger was beginning to control her. She would even act on her rage and throw furniture and other objects. She felt like others may try to injure or kill her. Her desire to die was prevalent on her mind. She didn’t understand why she didn’t just die. She frequently said to others that she should have died and that everyone would be better off if she had. She would wake in the middle of the night screaming in terror with the noise from the helicopter pounding in her head although she does not remember the flight.
On a snowy day just a few months after the accident, she was passenger in the car of her friend when a car pulled out in front of them several hundred feet away. Shannon thought her friend was trying to kill her so she jerked the wheel and they went off the road. Luckily they did not sustain any injuries. Shortly after this event that same friend gave her an ultimatum to get help or lose their friendship. Shannon was very upset and said time and again that it was everyone else’s problem and none of her own. It was very offensive to her. Her friend scheduled an appointment for her with Davis Behavioral Center.
Within in 5 minutes of meeting with the therapist he diagnosed Shannon with PTSD. She felt insulted. “There was nothing wrong me!” The therapist read the accident report and the medical documents prior to their meeting. He used key words that brought her to tears and sparked memories and feelings attached to the accident. He was trying to get her to admit that she was a danger to herself or others in an attempt to hospitalize her and or medicate her. Shannon is very strong-willed and even stubborn and would not admit that she felt that way. For the next six months they met twice a week as she worked through her PTSD. The therapist said time and again that this was by far the worst case of PTSD he had ever seen. Come back on Thursday to read the remaining details of Shannon’s incredible story!
© Copyright Buddy Writes | All Rights Reserved
