Mandy Stone worked hard as a paramedic in Roanoke, which often required a weekend away to decompress. Stone was on one of those getaways when her life changed forever.
“Ten years ago, I went to north Georgia for the weekend,” Stone said. “On the way home I hydroplaned, went down in a ravine and spent the next 2 1/2 months at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta. Everything changed in just a split second.”
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 244:56?E :>A24E 4CFD965 ?F>6C@FD G6CE63C26 :? 96C 324<] $96 H2D =67E A2C2=JK65 7C@> E96 H2:DE 5@H?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmw@H6G6C[ E96 244:56?E 5:5 ?@E 4CFD9 96C DA:C:E @C 96C =@G6 7@C E96 @FE5@@CD] }@E =@?8 27E6C D96 H2D 5:D492C865 7C@> $96A96C5[ 2 H@C=5\C6?@H?65 C6923:=:E2E:@? 46?E6C 7@C A6@A=6 H:E9 DA:?2= 4@C5 2?5 3C2:? :?;FC:6D[ $E@?6 H6?E E@ @?6 @7 96C 92AAJ A=246D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“wF?E:?8 D62D@? :D >J 72G@C:E6 E:>6[ 2?5 x E9:?< :E 2=H2JD 92D 366?[” D96 D2:5] “x’G6 366? 23=6 E@ 8@ 9F?E:?8 6G6C D:?46 x 8@E 9FCE] x 9F?E 566C 2?5 DBF:CC6=D >@DE=J] x 92G6 @?6 @7 E9@D6 p4E:@? %C24<492:CD[ 2?5 x’== C:56 2C@F?5 2?5 D9@@E E96> 7C@> :E]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 D9@@E:?8 9@FD6D @? 96C A2C6?ED’ AC@A6CEJ 2D H6== 2D @? AC@A6CEJ $E@?6 2?5 96C D:DE6C @H? ?62C3J H6C6 >256 92?5:42A\2446DD:3=6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 7:CDE E:>6 :? 2 D9@@E:?8 9@FD6 27E6C 96C 244:56?E H2D ECF=J DA64:2=]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“xE H2D 8C62E[” D96 D2:5] “|J >@> >256 DFC6 x 925 A=6?EJ @7 4@G6C[ H9:49 H2D 8@@5] xE H2D 24EF2==J 2H6D@>6] x E9:?< x <:==65 @?6 E92E 52J] x <?@H x <:==65 E9C66 @C 7@FC E92E D62D@?]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm}@E 4@?E6?E E@ 2==@H 2?J 32CC:6CD E@ DE@A 96C 9F?E:?8 A2DD:@?[ D96 564:565 E@ <:4< :E FA 2 ?@E49 2?5 AFCDF6 2? 2==:82E@C 5FC:?8 p=232>2’D D62D@? 2E {2<6 tF72F=2 :? D@FE962DE p=232>2]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm$E@?6 925 2AA=:65 7@C D6G6C2= J62CD 7@C 2 E28 2E tF72F=2[ H9:49 92D @?=J a_ E28D 2G2:=23=6 2??F2==J] %96 A@:?ED DJDE6>[ H9:49 2AA=:6D A@:?ED 7@C 6249 J62C 2? 2AA=:42?E :D F?DF446DD7F=[ 7:?2==J A2:5 @77 7@C $E@?6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmp7E6C C646:G:?8 96C E28[ $E@?6 H6?E E@ {2<6 tF72F=2 E@ =@@< 2C@F?5 3642FD6 D96 5:5?’E <?@H 2?JE9:?8 23@FE E96 C6D6CG@:C E92E D6CG6D 2D 2 3@C56C 36EH66? p=232>2 2?5 v6@C8:2] $E@?6 6>2:=65 r9C:D }:I[ E96 p=232>2 (:=5=:76 2?5 uC6D9H2E6C u:D96C:6D W(uuX s:G:D:@?’D p==:82E@C !C@8C2> r@@C5:?2E@C] }:I 8@E $E@?6 :? E@F49 H:E9 (uu q:@=@8:DE #:492C5 %92CA[ H9@ 4@??64E65 96C H:E9 8F:56 |:<6 v:77@C5[ @E96CH:D6 <?@H? 2E v2E@C |:<6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmp=E9@F89 v:77@C5 92D 366? 8F:5:?8 2==:82E@C 9F?ED D:?46 p=232>2 DE2CE65 :ED D62D@? :? E96 =2E6 a___D[ 96 D2:5 E9:D H2D 9:D 7:CDE @FE:?8 H:E9 D@>6@?6 :? 2 H966=492:C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“x’> <:?5 @7 @=5 D49@@= 2?5 E9:?< E9:?8D 92AA6? 7@C 2 C62D@?[ E92E H6’C6 5C2H? E@ A6@A=6 7@C 2 C62D@?[” v:77@C5 D2:5] “x 76=E =:<6[ ?@ >2EE6C H92E[ x H2D 8@:?8 E@ >2<6 :E 92AA6?] xE’D ?@E 4@>>@? 7@C D@>63@5J :? 96C 4@?5:E:@? E@ H2?E E@ 5@ E92E[ 3FE :E :?DA:C65 >6]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm(:E9 E96 @3DE24=6D $E@?6 AC6D6?E65[ v:77@C5 7:8FC6D 5:G:?6 2DD:DE2?46 96=A65 E@ >2<6 :E 92AA6?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“(92E’D C62==J 4C2KJ 23@FE E9:D :D x’G6 @?=J 8@E ) 2>@F?E @7 DA246 @? >J 3@2E[ 2?5 x H2?E 96C E@ 36 FA @? E96 3@H D@ D96 42? 5@ 6G6CJE9:?8[” 96 D2:5] “x 5:5?’E H2?E 96C ;FDE C:5:?8 2=@?8 H2E49:?8 D@>63@5J 6=D6 82E@C 9F?E]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm$E@?6 82G6 v:77@C5 E96 >62DFC6>6?ED @7 96C H966=492:C[ 2?5 96 962565 E@ 9:D 3@2E H:E9 2 E2A6 >62DFC6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“x? 2 4FDE@>\3F:=E #2?86C 32DD 3@2E[ E96J 92G6 H92E :D 42==65 2 =@4<6C\32C DJDE6>[” 96 D2:5] “p== E96 564< =:5D 2C6 2=:8?65] x? E96 =@4<6C\32C DJDE6>[ 2 DE2:?=6DD\DE66= 32C 8@6D 24C@DD E96 =:5D[ 2?5 J@F 42? AFE A25=@4<D @? :E D@ ?@?6 @7 E96 564< =:5D 42? 36 =:7E65]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“x AFE E96 =@4<6C 32C :? 2?5 DE2CE65 >62DFC:?8] %9:D :D H9J x 36=:6G6 E9:?8D 92AA6? 7@C 2 C62D@?] (96? x >62DFC65 7@C E92E H966=492:C[ x 5:5?’E 92G6 2 92=7\:?49 @7 6IEC2 DA246] (96? E92E =@4<6C 32C H6?E :? E96C6[ E96 324< E:C6D 324<65 FA E@ :E A6C764E=J] %96 7C@?E @7 E96 H966=492:C =:?65 FA A6C764E=J E@ 36 E:65 @77 E@ E96 7C@?E A656DE2=[ D@ x 4@F=5 =@4< 96C :? E96C6]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 3@2E C2>A[ H9:49 D96 925 FD65 EH:46 AC6G:@FD=J[ H2D E96 A6C764E 96:89E 7@C $E@?6’D H966=492:C E@ C@== @?E@ E96 3@2E’D 7C@?E 564<]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmv:77@C5 E9@F89E 23@FE :5=:?8 ?62C E96 3@2E C2>A E@ ECJ E@ 328 E96 7:CDE 82E@C E96J 7@F?5[ 3FE H96? 96 8@E $E@?6 7:EE65 H:E9 2 =:76 ;24<6E 2?5 =@4<65 :? E96 3@2E[ 96 492?865 9:D >:?5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“x 76=E =:<6 x 925 96C :? E96C6 8@@5 6?@F89[ 2?5 E92E D96 H2D DEC@?8 6?@F89 E92E x E9@F89E 23@FE 86EE:?8 E96 3@2E @? A=2?6[” 96 D2:5] “x E@=5 96C x H2D 8@:?8 E@ ECJ 2?5 7@C 96C E@ 8:G6 >6 2 E9F>3D FA @C 2 E9F>3D 5@H?] x 8@E @? A=2?6 D=@H 2?5 62DJ] $96 82G6 >6 2 E9F>3D FA[ 2?5 x <?6H H6 H6C6 :? 3FD:?6DD]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmp =2C86 82E@C H2D DA@EE65 E92E H2D 6DE:>2E65 2E `a 766E[ 3FE 96 82G6 E96> E96 D=:A]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 82E@C 9F?E6CD 7@F?5 D>2==6C 2?:>2=D[ 3FE 4F==:?8 :D ?@E 2==@H65 5FC:?8 2==:82E@C D62D@? 2?5 E96J H@F=5 92G6 72:=65 E@ C6249 E96 =2<6’D g\7@@E >:?:>F>]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmp7E6C E96J DA@EE65 2?@E96C 82E@C E96J 76=E H@F=5 DFCA2DD E96 >:?:>F> D:K6[ v2E@C |:<6 8@E 2 9@@< :? E96 2?:>2= 2?5 92?565 E96 C@5 E@ $E@?6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“w6 =6E >6 5@ D@>6 @7 E96 C66=:?8[ H9:49 H2D ?@E 62DJ[” $E@?6 D2:5] “(6 H6?E :? 2 4:C4=6 7@C 23@FE b_ >:?FE6D H:E9 E9:D g½\7@@E 82E@C] (6 7:?2==J H@C6 9:> 5@H?[ 2?5 |:<6 92?565 >6 E96 92CA@@? E@ DE:4< 9:> H:E9] %92E H2D 2 9F86 492==6?86] qFE x 8@E E96 92CA@@? :? 9:>] |:<6 8@E 9:>[ E2A65 9:D >@FE9 2?5 8@E 9:> :?E@ E96 3@2E]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmx?DE625 @7 D9@@E:?8 2==:82E@CD E@ 7:?:D9 E96> @77[ v2E@C |:<6 AC676CD E@ D6G6C6 E96 DA:?6 H:E9 2 <?:76 H:E9 E96 82E@C’D 9625 :>>@3:=:K65]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmw6 92?565 E96 <?:76 E@ $E@?6[ H9@ 2AA=:65 E96 4@FA 56 8C246]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“xE H2D ;FDE 2D BF:4< 2?5 D:>A=6 2D D9@@E:?8 @?6 H@F=5 36[” $E@?6 D2:5] “x’5 ?6G6C E2<6? 2?JE9:?8 =:<6 E92E[ 3FE :E H2D ;FDE 2D BF:4<] xE H2D 5@?6] x 925 366? 8C:??:?8 E96 H9@=6 E:>6 27E6C E96 82E@C H2D 9@@<65] x H2D 2== D>:=6D 7C@> E96C6] xE H2D 2H6D@>6]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm(9@@A:?8 2?5 9@==6C:?8 2?5 C@F?5D @7 9:89\7:G6D H6?E 2C@F?5 @? 3@E9 3@2ED 27E6C E96 82E@C H2D 5:DA2E4965]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmv2E@C |:<6 925 =:?65 FA 2 492D6 3@2E[ H9:49 2==@H65 $E@?6’D >@> 2?5 525 E@ ;@:? E96 9F?E]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“%92E H2D 2H6D@>6 E92E E96J 8@E E@ 36 E96C6 E@@[” $E@?6 D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 82E@C :D 2E E96 E2I:56C>:DE 7@C 2 7F==\3@5J >@F?E] %96 >62E 92D 366? AC@46DD65[ 2?5 $E@?6 H:== >2<6 2 EC:A D@@? E@ A:4< :E FA]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“(6 9@A6 E@ 86E E@86E96C 2?5 92G6 2 3:8 2==:82E@C 4@@<:?8 46=63C2E:@?[” $E@?6 D2:5] “w25 :E ?@E 366? 7@C v2E@C |:<6[ x 5@?’E <?@H :7 x 4@F=5 92G6 5@?6 :E] w6 >2<6D :E =@@< 62D:6C] w6 H2D D@ 8@@5 2E D=:AA:?8 FA @? E96>] %96 3:886DE E9:?8 H2D E96 92CA@@?] %92E H2D 92C5 7@C >6] x H2D G6CJ :==\AC6A2C65 7@C E92E] xE H2D 7F? ?@?6E96=6DD[ 3FE E96C6 H6C6 ?@ 62DJ E2D<D]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmp=E9@F89 $E@?6 249:6G65 96C F=E:>2E6 8@2= 3J 3288:?8 E96 82E@C[ :E 5@6D?’E >62? 96C =@G6 @7 E96 9F?E :D 4@>A=6E6=J D2E:D7:65]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“x’> 92AAJ H:E9 @?6[ 3FE x :?E6?5 E@ 2AA=J 282:?[” D96 D2:5] “x’> 567:?:E6=J 9@@<65 ?@H]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmv:77@C5 D2:5 96 92D C6=:G65 E92E ?:89E >2?J E:>6D 2?5 DE:== H@?56CD H9J 96 H2D 7@CEF?2E6 6?@F89 E@ 36 E96 8F:56]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“x ;FDE 9@A6 E9:D :?DA:C6D @E96C A6@A=6 H:E9 92?5:42AD E@ H2?E E@ 8@ 2?5 5@ :E[” 96 D2:5] “*@F 42? 5@ :E] %96C6’D ?@ 5@F3E] |2?5J 925 2 H:== E@ 5@ :E[ 2?5 D96 5:5 :E] %9:D H2D E96 >@DE 8C2E:7J:?8 9F?E E92E 2?J3@5J 4@F=5 92G6 6G6C 5@?6]”k^DA2?mk^Am
