Last week I wrote about the first recipient of our Car Accident Injury Survivor Scholarship, Jessie Winter. Today I’d like to tell the story of our second scholarship winner.
Our attorneys decided to start our annual Car Accident Injury Survivor Scholarship for students who are demonstrating the resolve and determination to rebuild sometimes shattered lives after automobile accidents.
Michigan Auto Law awarded $500 to two scholarship applicants who were selected from many applicants. We received scholarship essays submitted by college students throughout the country.
Our second scholarship winner this year is Sarah Gurd.
Sarah is a nursing student from Ferris State University. She was injured in an auto accident in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 2002. Sarah endured seven weeks of bed rest, several surgeries and physical therapy.
Sarah was a passenger in her family’s vehicle, with her two children in the back seat. The driver who hit the car had no insurance, an improperly registered vehicle and was convicted of operating while intoxicated causing serious injury.
Sarah provided great detail on how dramatically her life was affected during her recovery, including not being able to hold her son on her lap or even dressing herself. After years of physical therapy, Sarah was able to walk normally again but she still has limited range of motion.
Sarah also has used her tragic personal experiences in a positive way, talking to high school students in Michigan about the dangers of impaired driving, and this is what impressed our own attorneys most about Sarah.
In regard to the man who caused her car accident, Sarah simply states in her essay “Although he has never asked for forgiveness or exhibited remorse, I have chosen to forgive him. I sincerely hope that he learns from the sentence that was given to him…. My hope is that through listening to my story at least one individual will be positively affected.”
Michigan Auto Law is proud to recognize these outstanding students who have overcome serious injury while facing insurmountable challenges and gone on to help others and make a positive difference in people’s lives.
Congratulations Sarah.
