A Survivor's Story

Stephanie O'Bryan
Cabot, Arkansas

Sunday, August 22, 1993, the Cabot Star Herald read "Teenager Critically Injured". Stephanie was 16 years old and driving a Ford Fiesta when it collided with a truck. The sherriff said "it was nobody's fault" and no citations were written.

Stephanie was in a coma for 3 and 1/2 months and in the hospital for about 6 months before entering the Timber Ridge Rehabilitation Ranch near Little Rock. She underwent extensive rehab and lived at Timber Ridge for nearly 2 1/2 years. Missing her high school graduation, Stephanie received her GED at Timber Ridge and when she came home sometime in 1997, almost 4 years post, she went back to high school for 2 years and received her diploma.

"I was very popular in high school before my accident" said Stephanie. "But when I went back to school, I was treated very poorly by most everyone and they looked down on me. I was like an outcast and made very few friends. Before my accident, I worked as a cashier's at Fred's in Cabot. After almost 5 years, they had a place for me and now I work there again part time. I love going to work and having something to do."

Stephanie has attended the Cabot First Baptist Church for the last couple of years and has many friends there. Since she doesn't drive, she has to depend on friends and family to take her places. Her mom does her grocery shopping. She has 3 Children (2 cats and 1 dog). Essie, her dog and Monica & Tess, her cats all get along great and keep Stephanie company. "It gets lonely being confined at home all the time, but taking care of my children makes me happy".

When asked what was the biggest problem she had to deal with, she said "not being able to call a cab to go somewhere--we don't have any cabs in Cabot". "But my Grandparents take me places and to church every Sunday".

I asked Stephanie what the "Best" thing that has happened to her since her accident and she said "Getting to know the Lord better".

Stephanie is a whiz on a computer, but doesn't think so herself, and you can pretty much find her in the TBI Chat Web Site at http://www.tbichat.org/ in the chat room. Stephanie loves to talk, so sign on and go visit. She also has a personal story on the site at http://www.tbichat.org/stories/steph2.htm. And if you want to send "Stephy" an email, she'd love it and she'll always reply. Her email address is stephy123@hotmail.com.