> ADDITIONAL STORIES 
The Day I Died
by Grady Landrum While in Driver's Education during the 1970s, I watched movies in class and studied my books like the other kids. There was never a thought that one day I would be asked to speak on a DUI Victim Panel to drunk drivers or to a high school Drivers Education Class, especially from a wheelchair. As a result of injuries I received during my high school years from crashing my vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol, my life has been spent using wheelchair. I am my own DUI victim. This is the story of a day that changed my life forever. It was my senior year in High School. As I sat on the roof of my family's home that day, my thoughts were of what I would be doing for fun that night. I recall thinking "I'm fighting with my girlfriend, so I won't have a date tonight." I decided to go out drinking, so I called and convinced some of my buddies to do the same. Other than that, I do not remember all that happened that night. There was a crash. My friend in the car with me was lucky enough to walk away. The only information I have is what my friend was able to tell me. While driving on the interstate, another car passed us. Being young and having consumed alcohol, this made me angry, so I started driving really fast. Our vehicle swerved on a curve and rolled out of control. Not using a seat belt, I was thrown from the car into the median. Both of my ankles were broken, both legs broken below the knee, right leg also broken above the knee, my right arm and shoulder were also injured. Most damaging was a broken neck. You hear that people die from a broken neck. I survived. But that day would be the last day I would ever walk. I died in the hospital one week later, but the medical team was able to revive me. The doctor then told me I would be paralyzed for life. Does anyone look forward to that, especially at the age of 17? I had to relearn everything - how to dress myself, feed myself and write. The crash not only changed my life, but also the lives of everyone around me. My mother's hair changed from brown to white in a month. The entire family's focus shifted to me for a year and a half. My sister was active in school - a member of the drill team - but she was only able to do it for one year because we moved to another city. My father had to do things for me when I was 17 and 18 that he probably did for me when I was 1 or 2 years old. They did not show much emotion but you could see the stress in their faces. Being raised in a military family, we had been taught to take whatever life gives you - pick yourself up by the bootstraps and get back out in life as soon as possible. I was tired, angry, confused, frustrated and depressed at times, but never very long. My sense of humor helped me through much of the day-to-day adjustments. A deep personal faith in God kept me focused on the larger picture. I truly believed things would work out and life would be good. It has been nearly 32 years since I died in that hospital. In addition to the prayers and help from family, friends and many others - it has taken faith, determination, and good humor to overcome the challenges of being quadriplegic. The DUI Victim Center of Kansas was not available to help us. It was the 70's - Nothing was. I was able to complete school and am happily married. My work of more than twelve years has been as the Director of the Office of Disability Service at Wichita State University. Yes - I have lived a good life - but would I rather had done it without a wheelchair and without the pain it caused both my family and me? Yes! If I could change one day in history, it would be the day I chose to drink and drive. It was my choice. Each person - regardless of age - likely faces that choice. You must establish guidelines for yourself. The time to make the decision to be a responsible driver is now. Please do not drink and drive. Don't even think you can. Grady Landrum is a regular speaker for the DUI Victim Panel in Wichita -
a program of the DUI Victim Center of Kansas. | 
