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Experience: My dad ran me over Experience: My dad ran me over
(21 days later)
It was a beautiful spring day when I decided to go and sunbathe outside my parents' house – not a cloud in the sky. I was a 21-year-old university student at the time, living with my parents in Georgia. I'd spent the night before at my friend's house and when I came home the next day my mum said Dad was on his way over to have lunch with us – something he often did when he had time at work.It was a beautiful spring day when I decided to go and sunbathe outside my parents' house – not a cloud in the sky. I was a 21-year-old university student at the time, living with my parents in Georgia. I'd spent the night before at my friend's house and when I came home the next day my mum said Dad was on his way over to have lunch with us – something he often did when he had time at work.
That morning I went upstairs, put on my new swimming costume, grabbed a towel and pillow and went out to catch some sun.That morning I went upstairs, put on my new swimming costume, grabbed a towel and pillow and went out to catch some sun.
Mum and I always sunbathed in our driveway – unlike our back garden, it gets much more sun. Driveways here aren't like British ones: they're usually wider and, I thought, very safe with plenty of visibility. We do it all the time around here.Mum and I always sunbathed in our driveway – unlike our back garden, it gets much more sun. Driveways here aren't like British ones: they're usually wider and, I thought, very safe with plenty of visibility. We do it all the time around here.
I was lying on my back, with the top of my head facing the street, talking to my friend on the phone, when I heard Dad driving down the road. Looking up and over my shoulder, I saw him stop and check the mail. I figured if I saw him he must have seen me. I was lying on my back, with the top of my head facing the street, talking to my friend on the phone, when I heard Dad driving down the road. Looking up and over my shoulder, I saw him stop and check the mail. I figured if I saw him he must have seen me. 
But he didn't. He pulled up the driveway and the front of his four-door sedan hit the back of my head and crushed it forward. My chin hit my chest. But he didn't. He pulled up the driveway and the front of his four-door sedan hit the back of my head and crushed it forward. My chin hit my chest. 
That was it. It was a clean break and I was paralysed from the neck down, although I didn't know it at the time. The shock must have made my body go into automatic mode because I didn't feel any pain. I even told my friend: "I just got run over. I'll call you back." That was it. It was a clean break and I was paralysed from the neck down, although I didn't know it at the time. The shock must have made my body go into automatic mode because I didn't feel any pain. I even told my friend: "I just got run over. I'll call you back." 
Dad jumped out the car and that's when he realised he'd hit me. He was on autopilot, looking forward to coming inside and having lunch with me. Dad jumped out the car and that's when he realised he'd hit me. He was on autopilot, looking forward to coming inside and having lunch with me. 
At first Dad thought he'd run over a bucket lying in the drive but when he realised he'd hit me, he started crying, saying: "Oh my God! I'm so sorry." At first Dad thought he'd run over a bucket lying in the drive but when he realised he'd hit me, he started crying, saying: "Oh my God! I'm so sorry." 
He called 911, as well as screaming for help. He kept saying: "I love you. You're going to be OK." I tried to reassure him by saying: "It's OK, Dad. I just can't feel my arms but I'm going to be all right."He called 911, as well as screaming for help. He kept saying: "I love you. You're going to be OK." I tried to reassure him by saying: "It's OK, Dad. I just can't feel my arms but I'm going to be all right."
Mum came running out, yelling at the neighbours, knocking on doors and trying to get help. To this day she blames herself because she didn't call Dad and tell him I was in the driveway.Mum came running out, yelling at the neighbours, knocking on doors and trying to get help. To this day she blames herself because she didn't call Dad and tell him I was in the driveway.
At first I thought everything was fine, but when the paramedics arrived and put me on a stretcher I found it hard to breathe. No one was allowed to ride in the air ambulance with me, so I told Dad: "If I die, don't blame yourself. I know it was an accident. You didn't mean to do it." At first I thought everything was fine, but when the paramedics arrived and put me on a stretcher I found it hard to breathe. No one was allowed to ride in the air ambulance with me, so I told Dad: "If I die, don't blame yourself. I know it was an accident. You didn't mean to do it." 
It was important to me that Dad knew that – whatever happened – and it still is. It was important to me that Dad knew that – whatever happened – and it still is. 
That night I had six-hour surgery to fuse my vertebrae together but the next morning my parents and I listened as the doctor told me I was paralysed from the neck down. I was devastated – thankful to be alive, but unsure of what lay ahead. That night I had six-hour surgery to fuse my vertebrae together but the next morning my parents and I listened as the doctor told me I was paralysed from the neck down. I was devastated – thankful to be alive, but unsure of what lay ahead. 
My parents and I cried but they tried to stay positive in front of me. They wanted to focus on rehab therapy and getting as much movement back as possible. My parents and I cried but they tried to stay positive in front of me. They wanted to focus on rehab therapy and getting as much movement back as possible. 
In the days and weeks ahead Dad couldn't stop apologising. He kept beating himself up. He was worried that I wouldn't be able to have a boyfriend or do normal things like travel or live by myself. In the days and weeks ahead Dad couldn't stop apologising. He kept beating himself up. He was worried that I wouldn't be able to have a boyfriend or do normal things like travel or live by myself. 
But I've never got depressed or mad at him. He still can't talk about the accident without crying. I don't think he'll ever stop feeling guilty. But every 25 March – on the anniversary of the accident – that's our day to do something together. On the five-year anniversary we went to Paris and Amsterdam but sometimes we'll just have dinner and talk. But I've never got depressed or mad at him. He still can't talk about the accident without crying. I don't think he'll ever stop feeling guilty. But every 25 March – on the anniversary of the accident – that's our day to do something together. On the five-year anniversary we went to Paris and Amsterdam but sometimes we'll just have dinner and talk. 
Even though life is different, it's still good. I can go anywhere and do anything – with the help of friends and family – like scuba-dive or hiking and camping, things that I liked to do before the accident. Looking back I'm surprised that I've come this far. I think I have a great, normal life. My boyfriend, John, and I are talking about marriage and starting a family.Even though life is different, it's still good. I can go anywhere and do anything – with the help of friends and family – like scuba-dive or hiking and camping, things that I liked to do before the accident. Looking back I'm surprised that I've come this far. I think I have a great, normal life. My boyfriend, John, and I are talking about marriage and starting a family.
When I was younger I was more of a mother's girl but since the accident, I've grown closer to Dad. I make sure I see him every day because I want him to know I'm doing OK, and I know that when he sees me he feels better. When I was younger I was more of a mother's girl but since the accident, I've grown closer to Dad. I make sure I see him every day because I want him to know I'm doing OK, and I know that when he sees me he feels better. 
• As told to Marissa Charles• As told to Marissa Charles
Do you have an experience to share? Email experience@theguardian.comDo you have an experience to share? Email experience@theguardian.com
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