My Comeback Story: From the Crash to Confidence

Hello, my name is Ashley, and my life changed drastically on November 17th, 2015. I was in a horrific car accident, and my entire life as I knew it was over. When I woke up in the hospital, I found that my arm was no longer attached to my body. I had to learn how to perform everyday skills all over again. I went from being right-handed to left-handed, facing many hardships each day. I remember not being able to do anything without assistance.

I went through physical and occupational therapy and gradually started adjusting to my new reality. On November 21st, 2016, I discovered that I was pregnant. My son was born on June 23rd, 2017. Becoming a new mom with one arm presented its challenges, but I overcame my fears without hesitation. At the same time, I finally got fitted for a prosthetic arm. I tried wearing it and working with it, but eventually, I chose to move forward without it.

I had to change my outlook on life. I became more positive and confident in myself. Learning to love myself was the best decision I ever made; it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Losing my arm came with insecurities about how I felt about myself and my life. I wondered, “Who will love me with one arm? How will I work? And, more importantly, how can I care for another human being?”

I stopped feeling sorry for myself. I went back to school, changed my career path, and now I am a senior clerk working for the Department of Labor. I live by the words my aunt told me almost ten years ago: “There is nothing you can’t do; you just have to do it differently!”

In my final thoughts, don’t let your disability control you—take control of it!