Did you know that on average, 2 out of 3 people will be involved in a drunk driving crash in their lifetime? In 2012 alone, 10,322 people died in drunk driving crashes – that’s one person every 51 minutes. However, in the United States, the number of drunk driving deaths has been cut in half since Mothers Against Drunk Driving {MADD} was founded in 1980. To date, MADD’s work has saved 300,000 lives…and counting.
I recently had the honor of attending a Walk Like MADD kick-off event at their corporate headquarters to learn more about their upcoming walk in Dallas and hear Jonathan’s story of how drunk driving changed his life forever. Read Jonathan’s story, see his video & view more images from this event…
Jonathan’s Story | My name is Jonathan and I’m a victim and survivor of drunk driving. On the night of December 6, 2002 my younger brother Davy and I had been apart of a Church Performance at Collin Creek mall in Plano, Texas. During the holiday season our worship team would travel to various malls around the DFW Metroplex sharing the true meaning of Christmas through music and dance. On our way home from the mall, my mom was at one point unable to follow my dad on the highway so she decided to take the back roads and thought that it would be a clear and quiet route home. As we pulled up to a red light, the Christmas Classic O’ Holy Night sung by Josh Groban suddenly came on the radio. I will never forget that moment when my mom rolled down all the windows and everyone started to sing along with the music, then suddenly the light turned green, and our van went into the intersection…I have no memory of what happened next, the only part of that night I remember was singing to O’Holy Night right before our van went into the intersection and then I blacked out. I had suffered from a severe traumatic brain injury which is trauma to the brain from colliding with my skull due to the impact of the crash also resulting in some of my other injuries as well. Because I was only ten years old at the time the doctors didn’t know if I’d survive due to the damage done to my brain or if I did survive, if I’d ever fully function again. So the fact that I’m alive here today, sharing my story with you, is truly a miracle. As a result of the brain injury, I was in an induced coma for about three days in the Intensive Care Unit and spent about a week at Children’s Medical Center. I was then transported to Our Children’s house at Baylor to start my rehab. As I was being transported, I was first taken to St. Paul’s Hospital so that I could see my mom for the first time since the night of the crash. I can’t put into words what that moment was like for me, just being able to give my mom a hug again and for my mom just seeing her son alive and breathing was a moment that both of us will never forget. I went through many occupational and mental therapy sessions to try to start regaining what was lost because of the traumatic brain injury. I spent about two and a half weeks in the hospital and rehabilitation center and an additional six months of outpatient therapy continuing to rehab. And every year since I was released from the hospital, I’ve been tested and examined at the UT Dallas Brain Health Center on how the parts of my brain that were damaged and the areas that were affected back in 2002 are developing today. Because of the irreversible effects of the brain injury, I will never be 100% for as long as I live and because of that, I’ll never forget what happened on December 6, 2002.
There’s another tragic post script to my story. Even though I met the man who crashed into us as you will see in the video below and told him that I had forgiven him for what he did to me and my family, just to hear the shocking news of him being pulled over for another DWI months after the meeting was heartbreaking. Because he broke his probation, my mom and I were called to testify at the trial as witnesses for the prosecution to share what life has been like for me especially because of my life threatening injury, and ultimately the judge sentenced him to 20 years in prison. A high price to pay, but nothing like the price my family and I have paid and will continue to pay for the rest of our lives…
Only by the Grace of God am I alive today and I believe that I was saved by his healing and mercy to share my story with others about faith, forgiveness and the permanent scar that drunk driving crashes leave. Sometimes when people are hit by a drunk driver, sadly they die. But sometimes they don’t. God performs these miracles every single day. And I am living proof. So after hearing my story I want you to ask yourselves is drinking alcohol and then driving a vehicle really worth the risk of destroying your life or the lives of others?
The mission of MADD is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking. Americans take 233 billion trips in cars each year. Of those, about one out of every two thousand trips are taken by those who are driving under the influence of alcohol. Every 53 minutes on average, someone is killed in a drunk driving crash. Every 90 seconds, someone is injured because of this entirely preventable crime {learn more about drunk driving in your state}. MADD needs your help to eliminate this threat – join them in the fight against drunk driving. Learn more by visiting www.madd.org.
Get Involved. There are countless ways to get involved in helping MADD advance its mission. From participating in their Walk Like MADD event, making a donation, or volunteering, there are a variety of options to suit your needs and interests. Please get in touch with your local office, and if you live in Dallas, TX or surrounding areas, please be sure and check out the MADD North Texas Affiliate office. Lastly, don’t forget to use the “sharing is caring” feature below to help bring awareness to Jonathan’s story and this great organization.
A very special thank you to Jonathan for sharing his story and to MADD for allowing me to be a part of such a special event. And many kind thanks to all of the supporters who have made these donated Love Capture Give ® sessions possible by purchasing sessions through Tressavent Photography.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving | Facebook | Contact
Tressavent Photography | Facebook | Contact
Love Capture Give® | Facebook | Supporters | Nominate a Non-Profit | Contact