Her seatbelt saved her life, but she broke her collarbone and multiple ribs and lost a lot of blood. But she also had the type of aphasia whereby she used language in a way that often made sense only to her. An accomplished poet before the accident, she resumed writing, using more plain and soulful language than before the crash. Mom lived fully and well for more than three decades, encountering more physical challenges as she became a mother-in-law and grandmother of four and meeting them with her customary grit. Even though her word retrieval and comprehension have diminished, she tells us daily that she has had a good day.

Source: Huffington Post February 16, 2026 10:19 UTC