Utah woman paralyzed by DUI accident shares inspirational message

UTAH (ABC4) – Memorial Day weekend is the official begin of the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer time” on Utah roads. One Utah household shares how they turned a near-death expertise being hit by a drunk driver into a strong message of power.

Sarah Frei’s life was immediately modified by an accident in two years in the past that left her paralyzed — however she doesn’t let what occurred outline her. These round her, like her mom, say she’s an inspiration to them, instructing others to reside their life to the fullest, and never let something maintain them again.

“Since I used to be hit by a drunk driver, I understand how scary that may be… so it’s necessary to not drink and drive and to simply be good in regards to the actions you make,” Sarah mentioned. 

Sarah Frei was 17 years previous when she and three pals had been getting back from a visit to Bear Lake on July 30, 2020. They had been driving by Logan Canyon when a drunk driver hit them head on.

“We had been anticipating Sarah to be house from her journey in an hour and we obtained this cellphone name and it was only a nightmare,” mentioned her mom, Amy Frei.

This led to her spending three months within the hospital, having 20 surgical procedures and needing each of her legs amputated above the knee.

“Re-learning find out how to do all the things that was once so regular was fairly troublesome, that was most likely the toughest time of all of it,” Sarah mentioned.

However Sarah stayed optimistic – and thru her perseverance, was in a position do all of the issues she beloved to do once more, like cheerleading, swimming and {golfing}.

“She’s wake-surfing at Lake Powell, she’s travelling Europe and he or she’s been skydiving,” Amy mentioned. “We didn’t know if she would be capable to do something ever once more, it simply appeared so devastating, the lack of her legs, and paralyzed as effectively, however to see her re-learning and getting strongly so shortly after her accident was superb.”

Lately, she returned from a visit to Germany and completed her first 12 months in school at Utah State College, the place she is learning elementary schooling.

“I didn’t suppose I might be so unbiased this quickly after the accident, I believed I would want assist from my mother and father for a very very long time,” Sarah mentioned.

And Sarah stays an inspiration to these round her.

“A lot has modified for her, however but, nothing has modified. She’s nonetheless the identical particular person, similar persona, similar enjoyable Sarah,” Amy mentioned.

Sarah says that her pals that had been together with her on the time of the accident are doing effectively as we speak, and the expertise of serving to and supporting one another by what occurred introduced them even nearer.

Observe Sarah’s journey on her Instagram web page.