WEBVTT
00:00:04.400 --> 00:00:09.439
Welcome to Threads Between Us, a podcast by University Medical Center of El Paso.
00:00:09.599 --> 00:00:15.679
We discovered old photo albums in a storage unit at the hospital, and it took us on a journey through decades of stories.
00:00:15.919 --> 00:00:23.839
Stories of our healthcare workers and patients, families, and the threads woven throughout that connect us in ways we didn't even realize.
00:00:24.079 --> 00:00:28.559
We're excited to take this journey with you and discover where these threads lead.
00:00:30.480 --> 00:00:36.079
And today, for our first episode, we are joined by UMC traumatic brain injury patient Jaclyn Pellicott.
00:00:36.240 --> 00:00:43.439
Jacqueline was in a car accident back in 2018, and those who cared for her at UMC say she was one of the worst traumas they had ever seen.
00:00:43.600 --> 00:00:46.320
But despite all odds, Jacqueline is here with us today.
00:00:46.479 --> 00:00:48.000
She is now 27 years old.
00:00:48.159 --> 00:00:55.759
She is set to graduate from UTEP with her degree in psychology and has dreams of becoming a neuropsychologist to help other traumatic brain injury patients.
00:00:56.000 --> 00:00:58.079
Jacqueline, thank you so much for being here today.
00:00:58.399 --> 00:00:59.439
Thank you so much.
00:00:59.679 --> 00:01:00.799
So happy to be here.
00:01:01.039 --> 00:01:04.239
And we are also joined today by Jaclyn's mother, Sherry.
00:01:04.400 --> 00:01:07.920
Sherry, thank you so much for joining us and helping us tell this story today.
00:01:08.159 --> 00:01:09.200
Thank you for having us.
00:01:09.359 --> 00:01:10.239
We appreciate it.
00:01:10.480 --> 00:01:13.680
We're so excited to just go through this journey with you, Jacqueline.
00:01:13.760 --> 00:01:18.959
And Sherry, we know that it's been, Jaclyn mentioned to me, almost eight years since the accident happened.
00:01:19.120 --> 00:01:20.799
So let's start from the beginning.
00:01:20.959 --> 00:01:22.239
Can we go back to 2018?
00:01:22.319 --> 00:01:25.280
Can you just tell me 20-year-old Jacqueline Pellicott?
00:01:25.439 --> 00:01:26.159
Who was she?
00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:27.680
What was she excited to do?
00:01:27.840 --> 00:01:31.359
I mean, you're right at the beginning of all of the exciting journeys of life.
00:01:31.439 --> 00:01:33.680
So can you just take us back to 2018?
00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:34.319
Yes.
00:01:34.400 --> 00:01:38.959
So I was a sophomore UTIP at that time and I was modeling.
00:01:39.040 --> 00:01:41.200
That was my full-time job.
00:01:41.439 --> 00:01:48.640
I would go to school and I was modeling, and I just loved being with all my friends and family.
00:01:48.879 --> 00:01:56.319
I always loved to read my Bible, and I loved to be a jokester, which now I still am, praise the Lord for that.
00:01:56.560 --> 00:02:10.560
So I was just always running around and just being so crazy and just loving life to the fullest, and had no idea that my whole life was about to change on daddy's birthday, October 30th, 2018.
00:02:10.879 --> 00:02:16.719
And Jacqueline, you walked into the studio today in this gorgeous blue dress with sparkles on it.
00:02:16.800 --> 00:02:21.360
And I know when I was texting you beforehand, you said, I'm getting my hair done, I'm getting ready to come in.
00:02:21.599 --> 00:02:25.199
So you have always had an interest in fashion.
00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:31.759
And can you tell me a little bit why modeling you were really drawn to that at that period of time in your life?
00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:36.159
I just love the camera, which is you know what I'm saying.
00:02:36.319 --> 00:02:42.000
I love to people would take pictures of me, and I even got best dressed in the yearbook in high school.
00:02:42.080 --> 00:02:51.039
So I said, I have to live up to that tea and I have to show everyone how fashionable I am and just take pictures of me, and I'm not gonna say no to you.
00:02:51.120 --> 00:02:55.520
So I just really enjoyed having pictures taken of me.
00:02:56.000 --> 00:03:03.439
And Sherry, I don't know if you want to mention a little bit about Jacqueline at that time and just who she who she was as a person.
00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:07.120
She was, like she said, she was definitely a jokester.
00:03:07.280 --> 00:03:10.080
She was always having fun, she was a life of the party.
00:03:10.159 --> 00:03:14.960
She would always make tickets for us when she was little and you know, come see my show.
00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:18.159
I'm gonna sing for you or dance for you or act for you.
00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:24.159
Um, so she was always that type of kid, you know, just very outspoken, unlike her brother.
00:03:24.319 --> 00:03:34.080
Her brother was more reserved and a little bit more quiet, and she was like, we like to say the wild one, but she was, you know, the kindest wild one.
00:03:34.240 --> 00:03:37.840
She cared for people a lot, even at even before her accident.
00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:39.199
She cared for others.
00:03:39.599 --> 00:03:44.159
So that day, October 30th, 2018, it was your dad's birthday.
00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:50.960
And Jacqueline, I know, of course, those memories of that time period are hard to remember.
00:03:51.039 --> 00:03:54.159
And Sherry, if you can just help us kind of walk through that time.
00:03:54.319 --> 00:03:57.120
I know you're riding in that Jeep on Montana.
00:03:57.360 --> 00:04:05.360
And Sherry, can you just tell us when did you find out about what had happened and when was it that you found out Jacqueline was being taken to UMC?
00:04:05.439 --> 00:04:08.080
Can you kind of walk us through what you remember from that day?
00:04:08.319 --> 00:04:11.199
Yeah, I remember everything from that day.
00:04:11.439 --> 00:04:18.800
Um, I was actually principal at Scottsdale Elementary at the time, and we were gonna go to lunch for her dad's birthday.
00:04:19.120 --> 00:04:24.480
And so I was pulling out of the parking lot and we were all texting each other, where do you want to go?
00:04:24.879 --> 00:04:31.040
And we said like chilies or something like that, and she texts back like a little throat face, like, I don't want to go there.
00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:35.120
Well, of course, it's not her birthday, but she had to put in her two cents.
00:04:35.199 --> 00:04:38.399
So we were kind of laughing, okay, princess, where do you want to go?
00:04:38.480 --> 00:04:39.839
And she's like, Chick-fil-A.
00:04:39.920 --> 00:04:42.160
I mean, I remember like it was yesterday.
00:04:42.399 --> 00:04:46.959
And so I'm pulling out of the parking lot while I texted her, where are you at?
00:04:47.199 --> 00:04:48.480
And she didn't text me back.
00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:52.160
And I was like, that's weird because she had her phone attached to her hip.
00:04:52.319 --> 00:04:53.839
And then I got a phone call.
00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:59.279
I was backing out of the parking lot, and I got a phone call and it said University Medical Center.
00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:03.680
And I had declined because I'm like, oh, they're not, I don't know why they're calling me, right?
00:05:03.759 --> 00:05:05.279
So I didn't answer it.
00:05:05.680 --> 00:05:11.680
Um, and then they called right back, and I'm like, I better answer that.
00:05:11.920 --> 00:05:16.560
So I picked up the phone and I'm like, hello, and they said, Do you know a young man named?
00:05:16.720 --> 00:05:22.079
I'm gonna say John, because that's not his name, but we'll protect him from that.
00:05:22.319 --> 00:05:24.079
So I said, Yes, I do.
00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:26.959
And they said, I said, Is everything okay?
00:05:27.120 --> 00:05:28.319
And they said, No.
00:05:29.120 --> 00:05:34.000
He was in a terrible car accident, and you need to get to UMC now.
00:05:34.079 --> 00:05:37.839
And I said, Was there a blonde haired girl with blue eyes with him?
00:05:37.920 --> 00:05:38.639
Can you tell me that?
00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:40.480
And she's like, I can't tell you that.
00:05:40.800 --> 00:05:43.360
All I can tell you is you need to be here now.
00:05:43.680 --> 00:05:57.680
And so I called my husband, and I I remember speeding to get to her, you know, in in frantic mode, trying to reach her, but I I just it was a blur how I even got there.
00:05:57.839 --> 00:06:03.680
You know, it's kind of scary to think because I was speeding and I was trying to get there as fast as I could.
00:06:03.920 --> 00:06:11.199
When I got there, my husband had beat, he was already there, he had beat me there, and and I said, Well, how is she?
00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:12.000
Can we see her?
00:06:12.079 --> 00:06:15.439
And they're like, Um, it's not good.
00:06:15.759 --> 00:06:18.879
You know, she probably will not survive through the night.
00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:23.920
There's she has a TBI, and I'm like, I don't even know what a TBI was.
00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:25.680
I'm like, could you explain that?
00:06:25.920 --> 00:06:35.759
And they're like, it's a traumatic brain injury, and I'm like, okay, but and they're like, no, you need to get your affairs in order because she's probably not gonna live through the night.
00:06:36.560 --> 00:06:41.120
I can't even imagine that feeling of going to the hospital.
00:06:41.199 --> 00:06:44.000
And like you said, knowing my heart's bumpy now.
00:06:44.240 --> 00:06:48.560
And it's hard to put yourself back in that situation and feel those emotions.
00:06:48.639 --> 00:07:01.759
And I know through talking with people who were there that day, and and Jacqueline, I mean, they remember the nurses who were there, they brought up immediately, you know, she was in an open Jeep, she was hit from the side, right where she was sitting, by an F-150.
00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:08.720
And when you put that into perspective and you think about what had happened, and then the moments leading up to you finding that out.
00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:14.639
So we did speak with the nurse who was the first one to go to the ambulance to get Jaclyn that day.
00:07:14.720 --> 00:07:16.079
Her name is Nancy McGrail.
00:07:16.160 --> 00:07:17.680
She still works at UMC.
00:07:17.839 --> 00:07:21.680
And we spoke with her and she walked us through what she remembered.
00:07:21.839 --> 00:07:29.199
So I'm gonna go ahead and play that for us really quick, just so we can hear from Nancy's perspective what that day was like.
00:07:29.519 --> 00:07:30.959
It was a really pretty day.
00:07:31.040 --> 00:07:32.480
It was bright and sunny.
00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:39.920
Um, and we got the call that she was coming in, and she was probably one of the worst traumas I'd ever worked on.
00:07:40.160 --> 00:07:43.680
She had really catastrophic head injuries.
00:07:43.839 --> 00:07:47.519
Um, she had been in an open Jeep and was struck on her side.
00:07:47.759 --> 00:07:52.079
And we were just, I was really taken aback by her injuries and how incredibly young she was.
00:07:52.240 --> 00:07:53.920
I think she was 18 at the time.
00:07:54.240 --> 00:07:58.720
So that was really um difficult to kind of maneuver.
00:07:58.959 --> 00:08:02.160
And it um it was a very bad situation.
00:08:02.399 --> 00:08:09.839
I do remember her parents being incredibly calm and having an incredible level of faith.
00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:13.360
And they kept saying, We're gonna get through this, we're gonna get through this.
00:08:13.600 --> 00:08:15.839
And they she did, so I'm kind of tearing it.
00:08:16.079 --> 00:08:17.600
Sorry, it's so emotional.
00:08:17.839 --> 00:08:21.519
Um because she was in really bad shape.
00:08:21.839 --> 00:08:25.600
And I know it's hard to hear from Nancy.
00:08:25.759 --> 00:08:30.319
I was speaking with her and how vividly she remembers that day.
00:08:30.560 --> 00:08:36.080
And we have so many patients at UMC, but your case in particular stuck with her.
00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:39.759
And you know, she mentioned that you were not expected to survive through the night.
00:08:39.919 --> 00:08:42.480
Jaclyn, you had severe swelling in your brain.
00:08:42.639 --> 00:08:49.039
And neurosurgeons, I know Sherry, you've mentioned, you know, they saw some activity and they did the operations.
00:08:49.279 --> 00:09:01.840
But can you just tell me, just hearing from Nancy after taking yourself back to that moment, just and hearing that your faith that your family had was immediate, you know, it stuck with her through these years.
00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:04.559
Just how how is it hearing from from Nancy?
00:09:05.679 --> 00:09:13.759
Um, I knew how bad it was, but when you hear her, wow, it's like you don't, I guess you don't really realize it.
00:09:13.840 --> 00:09:17.279
Like you're trying to protect yourself, I think, you know, as a parent.
00:09:17.919 --> 00:09:22.240
Um it's it's hard to hear, honestly.
00:09:22.960 --> 00:09:26.399
Um but you we knew she was in trouble.
00:09:26.559 --> 00:09:29.360
I guess we didn't know the severity of it, you know.
00:09:29.519 --> 00:09:32.960
Obviously, it was severe because she wasn't supposed to live.
00:09:33.279 --> 00:09:37.759
But listening to her right now, it's like wow, she was really in bad shape.
00:09:37.840 --> 00:09:42.559
But we just focused on God and we we honestly just prayed.
00:09:42.639 --> 00:09:50.320
And my mom's a prayer warrior, and we we just started crawling everyone, and we're like, we need you guys praying that she lives through the night.
00:09:50.480 --> 00:09:52.720
Like, um, this is serious.
00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:58.240
Like, you know, there's I think as a parent, you always protect your kids, you know.
00:09:58.559 --> 00:10:01.679
And when you can't, what do you do, you know?
00:10:01.840 --> 00:10:08.320
And so we knew we had a a big God, and so we knew that we were gonna give it to him.
00:10:08.879 --> 00:10:09.759
Was it easy?
00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:14.399
No, no, but you don't have a choice, right?
00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:16.159
I mean, that's what it is.
00:10:16.320 --> 00:10:27.679
You don't have a choice, you are you're in that moment, so you really have to cling on to your faith and trust him 100%, even in the hardest moment of your life.
00:10:28.080 --> 00:10:30.639
And the surgeon, our trauma surgeon, Dr.
00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:49.519
Susan McLean, she operated on you when you first arrived to UMC, and she also remembers you, and she remembers you and your husband and how you were in the hospital and the way that you reacted to all of these situations and with her going into surgery and everything.
00:10:49.679 --> 00:10:56.559
And and she specifically says something that stuck with her was how much you fought for Jaclyn.
00:10:56.799 --> 00:10:58.639
You said she's not ready to give up.
00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:00.799
And I I do want to play for you as well.
00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:02.879
Um, just a message from from Dr.
00:11:02.960 --> 00:11:03.519
McLean.
00:11:03.919 --> 00:11:04.960
She was so critical.
00:11:05.039 --> 00:11:15.759
It it was some time into her hospital stay where um she seemed to be turning the corner.
00:11:15.919 --> 00:11:20.000
I mean, the very first few weeks, it was minute to minute.
00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:28.639
Um I remember a time when the neurosurgeons told us um they did not think she was gonna recover.
00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:30.159
And I remember speaking to the parents.
00:11:30.240 --> 00:11:31.519
I think that's what really helped her.
00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:33.120
They were there all the time.
00:11:33.600 --> 00:11:40.960
And they said, We don't think she's ready to give up and we're not ready to give up.
00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:52.559
And I said, Okay, we're gonna do everything that we can as a trauma team, if you that's what you think, because as the parents, they know we're better than anybody.
00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:59.519
And no matter what the patient looks like from the outside, the parents always know them better than anybody in the hospital.
00:12:00.080 --> 00:12:03.679
So I said, Okay, you know, we'll do everything we possibly can.
00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:15.440
And but I tell you, uh initially the specialists taking care of her were very were very bleak about their prognosis.
00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:16.639
Yeah.
00:12:16.960 --> 00:12:23.039
And Cherry, I know I saw Jacqueline looking over at you and smiling while we're listening to that.
00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:30.240
Obviously, very emotional to hear, I mean, from our surgeon who remembers you and the way that you fought for your daughter.
00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:33.919
Just Jacqueline, can you tell me what is it about your mom?
00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:39.039
You know, she had those feelings about you that set made her say, no, we're not done.
00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:40.159
We're still gonna fight.
00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:46.240
Just what is it about your mom that just has inspired you to keep fighting as well?
00:12:46.480 --> 00:12:51.039
Well, my mom is definitely such a blessing to me.
00:12:51.519 --> 00:13:07.759
And God gave her to me for a reason, and I'm so grateful because she's always fought so hard for me, and she pushes me and encourages me, and daddy, and it's just like, thank you, Father, for giving me such amazing parents that never gave up.
00:13:07.919 --> 00:13:25.039
And another blessing is when I was in the hospital, I was always crying, I was in so much pain, and mama prayed that I would not remember one thing, and I don't remember anything, and I'm like, thank you, God, that I don't remember that because I can't imagine how much pain I was in.
00:13:25.200 --> 00:13:30.480
So she's just such a blessing to me, and I'm so grateful for everything that she does for me.
00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:32.240
Thank you, Mama.
00:13:32.559 --> 00:13:35.759
And Sherry, Jacqueline, you know, your prayers were answered.
00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:38.000
She doesn't remember that time, but you do.
00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:42.159
And I know that's something in our ICU that you've mentioned before.
00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:47.200
You you both have been, you know, back to UMC and visited with those who cared for you.
00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:51.279
But when you walk into our ICU, we have a sign above.
00:13:51.440 --> 00:14:02.159
And Sherry, I don't know if you want to take us back to maybe those days in the hospital and what kind of came next, and maybe how that sign carried you through or gave you some strength in those moments.
00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:02.720
Yeah.
00:14:02.960 --> 00:14:06.879
Well, I can tell you I was a wreck, obviously.
00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:12.480
Um, I never knew the meaning of weaken the knees until that day of the accident.
00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:15.200
Because I remember I literally could not stand up.
00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:16.559
I was on my knees.
00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:18.960
I just I was a mess.
00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:26.960
Um, I wasn't eating, I was praying and trusting God, but I was just a wreck for the first couple of days.
00:14:27.200 --> 00:14:33.679
The third day in, they'd already taken out the right side of her skull and the swelling was not subsiding.
00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:42.879
And so by the third day, they they said, We need to see you and your husband, they the ladies at the receptionist.
00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:47.200
And I told my husband, I can't, I can't go in.
00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:56.799
I every time I would go into a room and see all the tubes and it didn't look like her, I'm like, I I I just can't I can't stomach it right now.
00:14:56.879 --> 00:14:58.879
I said, I'm sorry, can you just go?
00:14:59.200 --> 00:15:00.320
And he walked away.
00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:01.360
He goes, Yeah, I'll go.
00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:18.159
And so he went, and um I was in prayer, and I was I said, God, I know that you love my daughter more than I do, which is hard to fathom, but I'm trusting you and I'm giving her to you.
00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:22.879
So I need you to do what you need to do with her because I can't do this, but you can.
00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:30.399
And loud as day, he's like, Your daughter will be a hundred percent healed, she'll have a foundation, and she'll bring thousands to me through testimony.
00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:32.240
I heard it clear as day.
00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:38.399
And I was like, Okay, well then my husband walks back out and he's like, they want us both.
00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:42.240
And I'm like, Okay, okay, I can do this.
00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:48.799
So we grab hands, and when you walk down the ICU room on the very top, it's Faith, you know, the sign.
00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:51.360
And I'm like, I know he's got us.
00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:58.960
And right then and there, I was like, from that moment on, I was like, okay, he's got it, you know.
00:15:59.120 --> 00:16:01.440
It was like a turning point for me.
00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:06.320
Um, we were walking hand in hand, her room was at the very end of the hall.
00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:11.519
I mean, I to me it seemed like a forever walk, but I've been back since and it's short.
00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:15.279
But for me, that day, it seemed like the hall was like forever long.
00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:20.399
And there was all these doctors standing outside of her room and white coats, all of them.
00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:34.000
And we had told them, you know, if you have anything to say about her healing, we want it done outside, if it's not positive, only positive things in her room.
00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:36.879
And so they were all standing outside the room.
00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:41.440
And one doctor looked devastated, Jessica.
00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:52.799
I remember, and she looked like she wanted to cry, and she said the swelling's not going down, and we already took out one side of the skull and it's not going away.
00:16:53.600 --> 00:17:01.279
And she said, The only option we have is to take the other side of her head out, the other side of her skull out.
00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:09.039
And I remember we look we looked at her and we said, Well, if you think that will help her, where do we sign?
00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:10.240
Let's do this, you know.
00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:21.519
We she was devastated and she was sad, she was worried, but we knew, okay, God has said this, you know, has a plan.
00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:26.559
And Dennis signed the paperwork, and away they took Jaclyn back into surgery.
00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:27.519
Yeah.
00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:34.960
And Jaclyn had a total of 16 surgeries throughout this entire process that has happened.
00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:44.880
And to go back to that moment and hear, you have to make that decision, and to know now that that decision, you know, it saved Jaclyn's life.
00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:48.000
She's here with us today, and you never stopped fighting.
00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:53.119
And so we talk about the journey to recovery after all of this.
00:17:53.359 --> 00:17:58.400
You made it through those surgeries, but then it was relearning how to live again.
00:17:58.480 --> 00:18:06.160
And I know you talked to us about, you know, you played volleyball, you were a model, you had so much life and so much that you wanted to do.
00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:11.599
So to have to relearn, can you just tell us when do you start remembering those moments?
00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:20.319
What maybe comes to your mind about after all of this and the recovery process, or or what were those first moments that you remembered, Jacqueline?
00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:24.720
She she has a hard time remembering.
00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:29.279
I think, I think for her, you remember Jimmy working with you, right?
00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:33.519
Um, when we came back to Opasa, we put her in an outpatient rehab center.
00:18:35.839 --> 00:18:36.880
She calls him her husband.
00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:38.559
He's married and he has kids.
00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:39.839
But I did anything for him.
00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:41.279
She loved him.
00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:43.759
She did flirt with him, and she was non-verbal.
00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:50.160
So she wasn't speaking, but she would she would smile at him and Google eyes.
00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:53.680
I'm like, oh my gosh, she's actually flirting with this man, you know?
00:18:53.920 --> 00:18:56.160
And we tease him about it now, he knows.
00:18:56.240 --> 00:18:58.079
So if he hears this, he'll be laughing.
00:18:58.799 --> 00:19:04.799
Um, but anyway, I think that's when she started like coming back.
00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:08.079
Now she doesn't remember all of that because she still was.
00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:12.000
Then we went to UMC outpatient therapy after that.
00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:16.799
So she's gone through several of them.
00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:27.440
But I think her her memory really started to come out where she started remembering, might be in 23, 24, something like that.
00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:31.279
And Jacqueline, when was it through this time?
00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:41.599
I know you went to Houston, you went to Tier, and your neuropsychologist there inspired you to pursue neuropsychology yourself.
00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:45.359
You're going to UTEF now, you're gonna graduate in the fall.
00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:46.319
Yes, ma'am.
00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:47.759
So that's very exciting.
00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:55.440
So can you just tell us what was that moment where maybe it really set in that this is what you wanted to do and focus on?
00:19:55.759 --> 00:20:02.240
Well, I wanted to be a pediatrician before my accident, but afterwards I just found the brain so interesting.
00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:13.440
And when we would go to Tier to give money away from my foundation, we would be with the neuropsychologist, and she would tell me everything she did, and it just really like sparked my interest.
00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:23.680
And I thought, I would love to do this because one, I've been through it, and two, I can help other patients and tell them I was just like your loved one.
00:20:23.759 --> 00:20:28.240
I was laying in the hospital, but I couldn't move anything, and now look at me.
00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:43.440
So being able to be a neuropsychologist and help others just like really excites me, and I'm just like it would be so cool to tell them I was where your loved one was, I had a traumatic brain injury, and now I'm a doctor, so it's not impossible.
00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:45.599
So I'm looking forward to that.
00:20:45.920 --> 00:20:48.000
And you're gonna graduate in the fall?
00:20:48.160 --> 00:20:59.039
Yes, and I know that you are telling me, you know, you were at UTEP before the accident, and you mentioned to me that this year is eight years, and that you see it as a celebration.
00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:04.000
So to think about that, you're gonna be graduating this fall around.
00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:06.319
I mean, I think graduation's December, probably.
00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:12.079
Yes, but October, I mean, you're gonna be celebrating that eighth birthday, as you say, since the accident.
00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:15.839
So, can you tell me why do you all see it as a celebration?
00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:18.240
And I know you were even saying it's your dad's birthday, too.
00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:20.640
So, can you kind of It's our birthday now?
00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:25.599
It's like I was born again, but even better than before.
00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:26.799
The accident.
00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:37.440
So we celebrate that day because God didn't take me, He saved me, and now He uses me every day to just spread his glory and to spread his honor.
00:21:37.839 --> 00:21:38.559
His word, yeah.
00:21:38.880 --> 00:21:39.119
His word.
00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:43.359
I think it's important to understand Jacqueline did not talk for a year.
00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:44.640
And now I don't shut up.
00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:46.559
That's both worlds, if you ask me.
00:21:46.880 --> 00:21:48.160
So she would hum.
00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:57.359
You know, we have videos of I would be like, Jacqueline, say hi, and she would literally, uh, that was her way of speaking.
00:21:57.759 --> 00:21:59.599
She couldn't speak for a year.
00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:09.759
And so typically, if you're in this kind of predicament and you're thinking you know, she's not talking, but yet we knew she was healed.
00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:11.519
We're like, we're just waiting.
00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:14.480
Um, people are like, Don't you give up.
00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:16.160
Like, wouldn't you give up?
00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:16.880
She's not talking.
00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:17.680
It's been a year.
00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:19.759
She's in a wheelchair, she can't move.
00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:26.400
And it's like you can't because you're you're fighting this battle with them.
00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:28.160
She's in there trying to get out.
00:22:28.400 --> 00:22:31.519
Traumatic brain injuries, if you've seen one, you've seen one.
00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:33.759
They're very different.
00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:40.079
There's hundreds and thousands of TBIs every day in this in the United States.
00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:45.519
We just went to Congress um and fought to have the TBI Act reenacted.
00:22:45.599 --> 00:22:47.440
We were in DC in March.
00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:53.200
I mean, it it's a battle not only for us, but for other people coming behind her.
00:22:53.599 --> 00:23:00.799
I mean, it's crazy because it was like two in the morning, and I had baby monitors in my room, and I was moving around.
00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:03.839
So mama comes in and she says, Is everything okay?
00:23:03.920 --> 00:23:04.880
And I go like this.
00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:06.480
She says, You need anything.
00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:08.880
I went like this, and she said, Okay, I love you.
00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:13.119
My very first words after my accident, I said, I love you too.
00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:15.119
She starts screaming out of control.
00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:16.880
So daddy runs in, my brother runs in.
00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:17.279
What's wrong?
00:23:17.359 --> 00:23:17.759
What's wrong?
00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:18.720
She's talking.
00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:19.599
Not a word.
00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:20.720
I said, Tell him.
00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:22.240
Tell him what you told me.
00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:23.680
I said, She said I love you.
00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:26.000
And and I'm like, Jaclyn, say it.
00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:29.200
And she just looked at me, and they're like, You're hearing things.
00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:30.799
I'm like, She's talking.
00:23:30.880 --> 00:23:31.519
And they're like, uh.
00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:33.519
Thank God I talked the next day.
00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:34.319
Yeah, she did.
00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:39.519
So it was right after that, after that moment that you heard her say, I love you.
00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:42.799
Then everyone else heard her start talking as well.
00:23:42.880 --> 00:23:48.000
And do you remember what that first day was like when you were finally able to communicate with one another?
00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:49.759
It wasn't, I don't remember.
00:23:50.079 --> 00:23:52.400
It wasn't talking like this by any means.
00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:54.319
It was very a whisper.
00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:56.720
You would have to get right by her mouth to hear her push.
00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:02.319
She would say one to two words at a time.
00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:04.799
Hi, by love you.
00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:09.680
It was it wasn't she did not have her full vocabulary yet.
00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:12.400
She did not, she wasn't not speaking in sentences by.
00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:19.119
Or I would get the blanket and put it over my head and I would point to the door at like my best friends, and they were hurt.
00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:22.079
And my parents said it's not her, it's the brain injury.
00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:24.480
So it was crazy that I would even do that.
00:24:24.799 --> 00:24:27.279
The recovery was it was long.
00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:35.279
But I mean, look, I'm you know, you just it's it's an amazing journey, right?
00:24:35.359 --> 00:24:46.559
It it's something that if someone's listening and they're in, we tell people when we go, we travel the United States and speak, but we tell people everyone has a story.
00:24:46.880 --> 00:25:03.839
Like our story isn't anything special, but if it gives you that hope and that inspiration and that motivation to never give up sometime in your life when you hit a a bump in the road, then that's what we're here for, you know, that God protects you no matter what.
00:25:04.079 --> 00:25:15.359
Um it's been it has not been easy on her, on us, but you know, it's very rewarding that we get to help others now with our foundation.
00:25:15.680 --> 00:25:22.079
And I was going to ask you about the foundation, and you have both made this your mission now in life.
00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:28.000
And Sherry, I know you wrote a book and you're helping others who are going through similar circumstances.
00:25:28.160 --> 00:25:34.720
I know today we're going to UMC and we're gonna get to visit with patients, and I'm gonna get to see you in action doing that.
00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:38.799
But just can you tell me what is it that you want to tell these families?
00:25:38.880 --> 00:25:46.319
I know through your foundation there's so many little things that people don't even realize, like parking when you go to the hospital or you leave town for a while.
00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:53.039
Just what do you want people to know about the need to support families who are going through this?
00:25:53.759 --> 00:26:01.680
You don't know the need until you go through it, you know, and and so you hear of families or tragedies and people starting foundations.
00:26:01.759 --> 00:26:04.559
And of course, that's why we started Jaclyn Strong.
00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:08.799
Um, when we got to Houston, it's in the medical center.
00:26:08.880 --> 00:26:16.799
None of the every parking lot, anywhere you park in Houston, downtown or in the medical center, at that time it was like$15.
00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:21.440
Every time you go in, you leave, you come back in, it's another 15.
00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:24.480
It's not for the day, it's like 15, 15, 15.
00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:27.920
Now it's up to 17 or 18 dollars.
00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:37.440
Um we were in Houston for almost five months, so it adds up, you know, every time you're parking, and you're just trying to make ends meet.
00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:40.480
You're trying to figure out where was my next meal coming from.
00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:43.039
We literally lived in the hospital.
00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:45.839
Um, we didn't know we were gonna be there that long.
00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:53.279
We just took a suitcase and Dennis and I ended up having to buy clothes and buy, you know, things that we needed.
00:26:53.440 --> 00:26:57.200
Um, and it's hard because neither one of us were working.
00:26:57.359 --> 00:27:01.119
We left our jobs, we left our house, we left our son.
00:27:01.279 --> 00:27:06.720
He was going to UTEP getting his degree in engineering, and we're like, good luck, buddy, you know, poor guy.
00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:10.000
Um, he did amazing because he was young himself.
00:27:10.160 --> 00:27:14.079
Um so we know these families need that support.
00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:23.119
So it's super important, not just emotional support, not just support of seeing what you can be after a brain injury.
00:27:23.359 --> 00:27:26.880
I mean, Jacqueline walks in a room, and I'll tell you the families.
00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:40.640
We have a photo book, and our book shows just all the pictures of our journey, but it shows her, and when they see her, they honestly can't believe it's her because you can't imagine the picture.
00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:43.200
You're thinking, how did this girl survive?
00:27:43.440 --> 00:27:43.680
Right.
00:27:43.839 --> 00:27:48.960
So it gives the families that hope and that inspiration that they can too get through it.
00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:54.000
So inspiring to hear what both of you have overcome together.
00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:56.880
And I do have another message, too, that I did want to play.
00:27:56.960 --> 00:28:06.559
I know that Nancy McGrail, who I mentioned was the nurse who was the first to arrive when Jacqueline was in the ambulance and help her.
00:28:06.880 --> 00:28:09.279
She met you in 2023.
00:28:09.359 --> 00:28:12.400
You came back to the hospital and she got to see you for the first time.
00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:15.759
And she said that a lot of times she doesn't know what happens to her patients.
00:28:15.839 --> 00:28:20.559
You know, she saw you that day in the emergency department and she didn't know if you were gonna make it.
00:28:21.039 --> 00:28:27.039
And she got to see you walk into the hospital and come in and speak with her.
00:28:27.119 --> 00:28:31.759
And she says, Well, I'll just let you, I'll just let you hear what she had to say.
00:28:31.920 --> 00:28:33.279
I'm gonna play it for you.
00:28:33.599 --> 00:28:35.519
Well, they inspired me that day.
00:28:35.680 --> 00:28:53.440
I mean, I mean, I was so impressed by their faith, it actually um impacted me in a positive way, and then to go first full circle and and reunite with her in January 2023, that was a career-defining moment for me because I saw someone who had been broken standing in front of me whole again.
00:28:53.519 --> 00:28:56.640
And I cannot tell you the joy.
00:28:57.359 --> 00:29:00.880
I mean, it still impacts me three years later.
00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:02.240
It's incredible.
00:29:02.480 --> 00:29:02.880
Wow.
00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:07.920
And Nancy has gone to your events that you have had, your runs.
00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:13.119
She just loves getting to be a part of your life still today.
00:29:13.359 --> 00:29:17.839
So just to hear that impact, and we talk about these threads that are there.
00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:26.480
I mean, just how does it feel to know that she was the one, you know, who was there with you that first day and you continue to impact her life?
00:29:26.880 --> 00:29:36.799
I just think it's so cool that God's using me and that I'm able to talk to people now and do things like I wasn't able to do in the past.
00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:46.480
And I'm just like, thank you, Father, for giving me this chance to be able to do things that I couldn't do seven years ago, eight years ago.
00:29:46.799 --> 00:29:48.240
Well, impacting her, even.
00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:50.960
Yeah, and impacting so many people.
00:29:51.279 --> 00:29:52.480
That's also a blessing.
00:29:52.559 --> 00:30:03.039
Like when we go up to Houston to tear, and I walk in, they just start bawling, and they're like, You're a light in this room because you just bring us so much hope.
00:30:03.119 --> 00:30:08.880
And I'm telling them, it's it's God who does all of this, and this helped me tremendously.
00:30:09.279 --> 00:30:11.359
You are a light, Jacqueline, and everything.
00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:17.200
I remember even in 2018 when this happened, and I know it was reported on widely.
00:30:17.519 --> 00:30:20.480
And seeing just your recovery process from them, though.
00:30:20.559 --> 00:30:28.480
I mean, your whole family, all of you, you just the faith that you had and the way that you all just never stopped fighting.
00:30:28.559 --> 00:30:30.480
I mean, it sh it showed through through all these years.
00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:35.839
I mean, and now I know we're eight years later and we're seeing you in the most exciting time with school and everything.
00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:39.279
But it's really those threads that bring us back together.
00:30:39.359 --> 00:30:53.599
And I know another one that I was learning about as hearing your story is one of your friends, Yvonne Acosta, who works at UMC, went with you to the hospital that day, Sherry, when when Jacqueline was injured.
00:30:53.920 --> 00:31:06.000
And her daughter, who was your friend, Jacqueline, Amanda, she said that she was texting you that day that the crash happened and that you stopped answering.
00:31:06.160 --> 00:31:10.240
And she spoke to us as well about you know that whole experience.
00:31:10.319 --> 00:31:17.440
But Sherry, what do you remember about those connections and those friends and still having those ties to UMC in that way?
00:31:17.680 --> 00:31:18.000
Yeah.
00:31:18.559 --> 00:31:21.599
Yvonne is an angel in disguise for us.
00:31:21.839 --> 00:31:23.039
I will tell you that right now.
00:31:23.279 --> 00:31:23.519
Definitely.
00:31:23.759 --> 00:31:24.880
She's family.
00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:29.759
Um she she taught us how to advocate for Jaclyn.
00:31:30.079 --> 00:31:30.880
She's one of them.
00:31:31.039 --> 00:31:37.759
There's many nurses there that I could name that that really helped us advocate.
00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:41.119
Because we, for one, had never been in a hospital setting.
00:31:41.359 --> 00:31:43.680
For two, we didn't know what a TBI was.
00:31:44.240 --> 00:31:56.480
Um, you get thrown into this, you're one minute working your career and living life, and the next minute you're in a hospital, and we never left.
00:31:56.640 --> 00:31:59.680
I mean, everyone's like, you need to go home and shower.
00:31:59.759 --> 00:32:03.039
I'm like, nope, you'll bring me stuff here because I'm not leaving.
00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:05.519
My husband and I, we stayed there.
00:32:05.680 --> 00:32:13.680
Um, and when you get thrown into that situation, you have people like Yvonne and family and friends coming to the hospital.
00:32:13.759 --> 00:32:14.880
And what do you need?
00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:15.759
What can I give you?
00:32:15.839 --> 00:32:34.079
But Yvonne taught us ask the doctors this, you know, make sure you you ask why or or get a second opinion, or but she taught us how to, she's been in the medical field her whole life, so she kind of knows we don't know it.
00:32:34.319 --> 00:32:40.079
So she taught us very quickly like how we need to advocate for Jaclyn.
00:32:40.400 --> 00:32:41.279
And this is so important.
00:32:41.359 --> 00:32:47.759
I mean, even what you're saying, the amount of people who will will hear this, and it is so important to advocate for yourself.
00:32:47.839 --> 00:32:51.920
And and Jaclyn, your mom talks about her relationship with Yvonne.
00:32:52.079 --> 00:33:03.200
If you can tell me a little bit about your friendship with Amanda, I know you two played volleyball together um in middle school and high school, and then she was in college in Arizona.
00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:04.720
Yeah, but she had to leave me.
00:33:04.799 --> 00:33:05.759
What the heck?
00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:08.559
Yeah, and she's like best friend does that.
00:33:09.599 --> 00:33:10.240
I agree.
00:33:10.880 --> 00:33:12.319
Distance, it's too far.
00:33:12.559 --> 00:33:16.799
But can you just tell me a little bit about your relationship with her then and now too?
00:33:18.079 --> 00:33:20.400
We were best friends and we were out of control.
00:33:20.720 --> 00:33:21.759
It was her, not me.
00:33:21.920 --> 00:33:30.720
I'm the angel here, and and we had so much fun together, and then she would left for college, but we would still text and everything.
00:33:30.960 --> 00:33:33.039
Their family is our family, yeah.
00:33:33.200 --> 00:33:34.960
You know, they really are family, yeah.
00:33:35.200 --> 00:33:36.799
Amanda and Yvonne.
00:33:36.960 --> 00:33:38.000
Yeah, definitely.
00:33:38.240 --> 00:33:42.079
And Amanda now also works at UMC.
00:33:42.480 --> 00:33:47.200
Again, those threads that keep leading us back, and we're gonna get to see Amanda as well.
00:33:47.279 --> 00:33:49.519
We're gonna go visit the hospital and see her as well.
00:33:49.599 --> 00:33:53.599
And she left a message for you, Jacqueline, that I do want to play for you.
00:33:54.240 --> 00:34:03.839
Statement to her strength and her resilience, or there's no words, you know, it this a situation like this would break even the strongest people, you know.
00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:08.320
So it just is a test a testament to how strong and amazing she is.
00:34:08.559 --> 00:34:16.880
And yes, she graduates this fall, and you know, even though with the odds stacked against her, she's uh she's crushing them one by one.
00:34:16.960 --> 00:34:19.599
She's you know, fighting back and not quitting.
00:34:19.840 --> 00:34:25.440
Um, so we of course still keep in touch and it's it's like it never changed.
00:34:25.599 --> 00:34:29.760
Jacqueline's never faltered with her faith, let alone with her sense of humor.
00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:31.920
Whenever we see each other, we hang out.
00:34:32.079 --> 00:34:37.679
She's still like that spunky girl that I've always known with a heart of gold, you know.
00:34:37.920 --> 00:34:50.000
So um it's just really beautiful to see her, you know, again, seeing her from the bed to now, you know, walking, and she still has her sense of fashion that has not changed at all.
00:34:50.239 --> 00:34:57.679
So um, yeah, it's just it's really beautiful, and it's really, if anything, an inspiration to me that there's, you know, no excuses.
00:34:57.840 --> 00:35:03.199
Like we always have to push ourselves, even when we might not believe in ourselves in some moments, you know.
00:35:03.280 --> 00:35:07.360
So she's very much a really big inspiration in my life.
00:35:07.440 --> 00:35:12.400
And I'm just so happy that she's gone this far and she's not even halfway done.
00:35:12.480 --> 00:35:14.719
You know, she's gonna keep pushing that glass ceiling.
00:35:14.800 --> 00:35:20.159
So I'm so elated to be able to be one of the people close to her to witness this firsthand.
00:35:20.559 --> 00:35:27.360
I loved it because she brought up your fashion and your sense of style and everything and and your faith, of course.
00:35:27.519 --> 00:35:30.320
Those you never faltered in any of those.
00:35:30.480 --> 00:35:36.320
But just anything else that you two want to share um with us today before we we embark on our journey.
00:35:36.400 --> 00:35:43.840
We're gonna go to UMC, we're gonna go visit with with some patience, and and I just look forward to seeing everything that you you achieve, Jaclyn.
00:35:44.239 --> 00:35:45.119
Thank you so much.
00:35:45.280 --> 00:35:48.719
I'm definitely looking forward to everything God has planned for me.
00:35:48.880 --> 00:35:53.679
And I know he's just getting started, so I'm like, let me put my seatbelt on.
00:35:53.920 --> 00:35:56.000
All right, I'm buckled up, let's go.
00:35:56.159 --> 00:36:00.880
So we'll see everything that God has in store for me, but I'm definitely looking forward to it.
00:36:01.039 --> 00:36:07.280
And people say you don't see October 30th as like a day that you hate and you can't stand.
00:36:07.360 --> 00:36:13.199
And I said, no, I love it because God saved me and now He uses me every single day.
00:36:13.360 --> 00:36:18.639
So it's actually a blessing because of all the amazing things that have come out of it.
00:36:19.039 --> 00:36:25.760
And hearing your story today and the connection we talk about our threads again that we are making with you again at UMC.
00:36:25.840 --> 00:36:41.280
I mean, so many years later, we're so happy to be able to sit down with you and see all of the exciting things that are going on in your life, and you are just both your family, everyone, just such a testament of the faith and resilience, and you're an inspiration to others.
00:36:41.360 --> 00:36:42.719
And we appreciate you so much for coming.
00:36:42.880 --> 00:36:48.079
We are going to before we end, we right after we're gonna take a picture of you both with a Polaroid.
00:36:48.159 --> 00:36:50.960
We're gonna start a tradition on the podcast.
00:36:51.360 --> 00:36:55.760
So, this all began when we found those old photo albums that I mentioned in the beginning.
00:36:55.840 --> 00:36:58.159
Yes, and we want to start our own photo album.
00:36:58.320 --> 00:37:03.840
So we're gonna start a photo album with you as our first guest, and we'll continue that on.
00:37:03.920 --> 00:37:05.039
So we'll take that photo.
00:37:05.360 --> 00:37:06.400
Thank you so much.
00:37:06.639 --> 00:37:08.480
Yes, well, thank you both for being here.
00:37:12.079 --> 00:37:16.559
Well, thank you so much, we appreciate you, and thank you to all of our listeners for joining as well.
00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:20.159
And we'll see you next time to discover where the threads take us.
00:00:04.400 --> 00:00:09.439
Welcome to Threads Between Us, a podcast by University Medical Center of El Paso.
00:00:09.599 --> 00:00:15.679
We discovered old photo albums in a storage unit at the hospital, and it took us on a journey through decades of stories.
00:00:15.919 --> 00:00:23.839
Stories of our healthcare workers and patients, families, and the threads woven throughout that connect us in ways we didn't even realize.
00:00:24.079 --> 00:00:28.559
We're excited to take this journey with you and discover where these threads lead.
00:00:30.480 --> 00:00:36.079
And today, for our first episode, we are joined by UMC traumatic brain injury patient Jaclyn Pellicott.
00:00:36.240 --> 00:00:43.439
Jacqueline was in a car accident back in 2018, and those who cared for her at UMC say she was one of the worst traumas they had ever seen.
00:00:43.600 --> 00:00:46.320
But despite all odds, Jacqueline is here with us today.
00:00:46.479 --> 00:00:48.000
She is now 27 years old.
00:00:48.159 --> 00:00:55.759
She is set to graduate from UTEP with her degree in psychology and has dreams of becoming a neuropsychologist to help other traumatic brain injury patients.
00:00:56.000 --> 00:00:58.079
Jacqueline, thank you so much for being here today.
00:00:58.399 --> 00:00:59.439
Thank you so much.
00:00:59.679 --> 00:01:00.799
So happy to be here.
00:01:01.039 --> 00:01:04.239
And we are also joined today by Jaclyn's mother, Sherry.
00:01:04.400 --> 00:01:07.920
Sherry, thank you so much for joining us and helping us tell this story today.
00:01:08.159 --> 00:01:09.200
Thank you for having us.
00:01:09.359 --> 00:01:10.239
We appreciate it.
00:01:10.480 --> 00:01:13.680
We're so excited to just go through this journey with you, Jacqueline.
00:01:13.760 --> 00:01:18.959
And Sherry, we know that it's been, Jaclyn mentioned to me, almost eight years since the accident happened.
00:01:19.120 --> 00:01:20.799
So let's start from the beginning.
00:01:20.959 --> 00:01:22.239
Can we go back to 2018?
00:01:22.319 --> 00:01:25.280
Can you just tell me 20-year-old Jacqueline Pellicott?
00:01:25.439 --> 00:01:26.159
Who was she?
00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:27.680
What was she excited to do?
00:01:27.840 --> 00:01:31.359
I mean, you're right at the beginning of all of the exciting journeys of life.
00:01:31.439 --> 00:01:33.680
So can you just take us back to 2018?
00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:34.319
Yes.
00:01:34.400 --> 00:01:38.959
So I was a sophomore UTIP at that time and I was modeling.
00:01:39.040 --> 00:01:41.200
That was my full-time job.
00:01:41.439 --> 00:01:48.640
I would go to school and I was modeling, and I just loved being with all my friends and family.
00:01:48.879 --> 00:01:56.319
I always loved to read my Bible, and I loved to be a jokester, which now I still am, praise the Lord for that.
00:01:56.560 --> 00:02:10.560
So I was just always running around and just being so crazy and just loving life to the fullest, and had no idea that my whole life was about to change on daddy's birthday, October 30th, 2018.
00:02:10.879 --> 00:02:16.719
And Jacqueline, you walked into the studio today in this gorgeous blue dress with sparkles on it.
00:02:16.800 --> 00:02:21.360
And I know when I was texting you beforehand, you said, I'm getting my hair done, I'm getting ready to come in.
00:02:21.599 --> 00:02:25.199
So you have always had an interest in fashion.
00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:31.759
And can you tell me a little bit why modeling you were really drawn to that at that period of time in your life?
00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:36.159
I just love the camera, which is you know what I'm saying.
00:02:36.319 --> 00:02:42.000
I love to people would take pictures of me, and I even got best dressed in the yearbook in high school.
00:02:42.080 --> 00:02:51.039
So I said, I have to live up to that tea and I have to show everyone how fashionable I am and just take pictures of me, and I'm not gonna say no to you.
00:02:51.120 --> 00:02:55.520
So I just really enjoyed having pictures taken of me.
00:02:56.000 --> 00:03:03.439
And Sherry, I don't know if you want to mention a little bit about Jacqueline at that time and just who she who she was as a person.
00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:07.120
She was, like she said, she was definitely a jokester.
00:03:07.280 --> 00:03:10.080
She was always having fun, she was a life of the party.
00:03:10.159 --> 00:03:14.960
She would always make tickets for us when she was little and you know, come see my show.
00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:18.159
I'm gonna sing for you or dance for you or act for you.
00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:24.159
Um, so she was always that type of kid, you know, just very outspoken, unlike her brother.
00:03:24.319 --> 00:03:34.080
Her brother was more reserved and a little bit more quiet, and she was like, we like to say the wild one, but she was, you know, the kindest wild one.
00:03:34.240 --> 00:03:37.840
She cared for people a lot, even at even before her accident.
00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:39.199
She cared for others.
00:03:39.599 --> 00:03:44.159
So that day, October 30th, 2018, it was your dad's birthday.
00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:50.960
And Jacqueline, I know, of course, those memories of that time period are hard to remember.
00:03:51.039 --> 00:03:54.159
And Sherry, if you can just help us kind of walk through that time.
00:03:54.319 --> 00:03:57.120
I know you're riding in that Jeep on Montana.
00:03:57.360 --> 00:04:05.360
And Sherry, can you just tell us when did you find out about what had happened and when was it that you found out Jacqueline was being taken to UMC?
00:04:05.439 --> 00:04:08.080
Can you kind of walk us through what you remember from that day?
00:04:08.319 --> 00:04:11.199
Yeah, I remember everything from that day.
00:04:11.439 --> 00:04:18.800
Um, I was actually principal at Scottsdale Elementary at the time, and we were gonna go to lunch for her dad's birthday.
00:04:19.120 --> 00:04:24.480
And so I was pulling out of the parking lot and we were all texting each other, where do you want to go?
00:04:24.879 --> 00:04:31.040
And we said like chilies or something like that, and she texts back like a little throat face, like, I don't want to go there.
00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:35.120
Well, of course, it's not her birthday, but she had to put in her two cents.
00:04:35.199 --> 00:04:38.399
So we were kind of laughing, okay, princess, where do you want to go?
00:04:38.480 --> 00:04:39.839
And she's like, Chick-fil-A.
00:04:39.920 --> 00:04:42.160
I mean, I remember like it was yesterday.
00:04:42.399 --> 00:04:46.959
And so I'm pulling out of the parking lot while I texted her, where are you at?
00:04:47.199 --> 00:04:48.480
And she didn't text me back.
00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:52.160
And I was like, that's weird because she had her phone attached to her hip.
00:04:52.319 --> 00:04:53.839
And then I got a phone call.
00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:59.279
I was backing out of the parking lot, and I got a phone call and it said University Medical Center.
00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:03.680
And I had declined because I'm like, oh, they're not, I don't know why they're calling me, right?
00:05:03.759 --> 00:05:05.279
So I didn't answer it.
00:05:05.680 --> 00:05:11.680
Um, and then they called right back, and I'm like, I better answer that.
00:05:11.920 --> 00:05:16.560
So I picked up the phone and I'm like, hello, and they said, Do you know a young man named?
00:05:16.720 --> 00:05:22.079
I'm gonna say John, because that's not his name, but we'll protect him from that.
00:05:22.319 --> 00:05:24.079
So I said, Yes, I do.
00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:26.959
And they said, I said, Is everything okay?
00:05:27.120 --> 00:05:28.319
And they said, No.
00:05:29.120 --> 00:05:34.000
He was in a terrible car accident, and you need to get to UMC now.
00:05:34.079 --> 00:05:37.839
And I said, Was there a blonde haired girl with blue eyes with him?
00:05:37.920 --> 00:05:38.639
Can you tell me that?
00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:40.480
And she's like, I can't tell you that.
00:05:40.800 --> 00:05:43.360
All I can tell you is you need to be here now.
00:05:43.680 --> 00:05:57.680
And so I called my husband, and I I remember speeding to get to her, you know, in in frantic mode, trying to reach her, but I I just it was a blur how I even got there.
00:05:57.839 --> 00:06:03.680
You know, it's kind of scary to think because I was speeding and I was trying to get there as fast as I could.
00:06:03.920 --> 00:06:11.199
When I got there, my husband had beat, he was already there, he had beat me there, and and I said, Well, how is she?
00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:12.000
Can we see her?
00:06:12.079 --> 00:06:15.439
And they're like, Um, it's not good.
00:06:15.759 --> 00:06:18.879
You know, she probably will not survive through the night.
00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:23.920
There's she has a TBI, and I'm like, I don't even know what a TBI was.
00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:25.680
I'm like, could you explain that?
00:06:25.920 --> 00:06:35.759
And they're like, it's a traumatic brain injury, and I'm like, okay, but and they're like, no, you need to get your affairs in order because she's probably not gonna live through the night.
00:06:36.560 --> 00:06:41.120
I can't even imagine that feeling of going to the hospital.
00:06:41.199 --> 00:06:44.000
And like you said, knowing my heart's bumpy now.
00:06:44.240 --> 00:06:48.560
And it's hard to put yourself back in that situation and feel those emotions.
00:06:48.639 --> 00:07:01.759
And I know through talking with people who were there that day, and and Jacqueline, I mean, they remember the nurses who were there, they brought up immediately, you know, she was in an open Jeep, she was hit from the side, right where she was sitting, by an F-150.
00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:08.720
And when you put that into perspective and you think about what had happened, and then the moments leading up to you finding that out.
00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:14.639
So we did speak with the nurse who was the first one to go to the ambulance to get Jaclyn that day.
00:07:14.720 --> 00:07:16.079
Her name is Nancy McGrail.
00:07:16.160 --> 00:07:17.680
She still works at UMC.
00:07:17.839 --> 00:07:21.680
And we spoke with her and she walked us through what she remembered.
00:07:21.839 --> 00:07:29.199
So I'm gonna go ahead and play that for us really quick, just so we can hear from Nancy's perspective what that day was like.
00:07:29.519 --> 00:07:30.959
It was a really pretty day.
00:07:31.040 --> 00:07:32.480
It was bright and sunny.
00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:39.920
Um, and we got the call that she was coming in, and she was probably one of the worst traumas I'd ever worked on.
00:07:40.160 --> 00:07:43.680
She had really catastrophic head injuries.
00:07:43.839 --> 00:07:47.519
Um, she had been in an open Jeep and was struck on her side.
00:07:47.759 --> 00:07:52.079
And we were just, I was really taken aback by her injuries and how incredibly young she was.
00:07:52.240 --> 00:07:53.920
I think she was 18 at the time.
00:07:54.240 --> 00:07:58.720
So that was really um difficult to kind of maneuver.
00:07:58.959 --> 00:08:02.160
And it um it was a very bad situation.
00:08:02.399 --> 00:08:09.839
I do remember her parents being incredibly calm and having an incredible level of faith.
00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:13.360
And they kept saying, We're gonna get through this, we're gonna get through this.
00:08:13.600 --> 00:08:15.839
And they she did, so I'm kind of tearing it.
00:08:16.079 --> 00:08:17.600
Sorry, it's so emotional.
00:08:17.839 --> 00:08:21.519
Um because she was in really bad shape.
00:08:21.839 --> 00:08:25.600
And I know it's hard to hear from Nancy.
00:08:25.759 --> 00:08:30.319
I was speaking with her and how vividly she remembers that day.
00:08:30.560 --> 00:08:36.080
And we have so many patients at UMC, but your case in particular stuck with her.
00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:39.759
And you know, she mentioned that you were not expected to survive through the night.
00:08:39.919 --> 00:08:42.480
Jaclyn, you had severe swelling in your brain.
00:08:42.639 --> 00:08:49.039
And neurosurgeons, I know Sherry, you've mentioned, you know, they saw some activity and they did the operations.
00:08:49.279 --> 00:09:01.840
But can you just tell me, just hearing from Nancy after taking yourself back to that moment, just and hearing that your faith that your family had was immediate, you know, it stuck with her through these years.
00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:04.559
Just how how is it hearing from from Nancy?
00:09:05.679 --> 00:09:13.759
Um, I knew how bad it was, but when you hear her, wow, it's like you don't, I guess you don't really realize it.
00:09:13.840 --> 00:09:17.279
Like you're trying to protect yourself, I think, you know, as a parent.
00:09:17.919 --> 00:09:22.240
Um it's it's hard to hear, honestly.
00:09:22.960 --> 00:09:26.399
Um but you we knew she was in trouble.
00:09:26.559 --> 00:09:29.360
I guess we didn't know the severity of it, you know.
00:09:29.519 --> 00:09:32.960
Obviously, it was severe because she wasn't supposed to live.
00:09:33.279 --> 00:09:37.759
But listening to her right now, it's like wow, she was really in bad shape.
00:09:37.840 --> 00:09:42.559
But we just focused on God and we we honestly just prayed.
00:09:42.639 --> 00:09:50.320
And my mom's a prayer warrior, and we we just started crawling everyone, and we're like, we need you guys praying that she lives through the night.
00:09:50.480 --> 00:09:52.720
Like, um, this is serious.
00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:58.240
Like, you know, there's I think as a parent, you always protect your kids, you know.
00:09:58.559 --> 00:10:01.679
And when you can't, what do you do, you know?
00:10:01.840 --> 00:10:08.320
And so we knew we had a a big God, and so we knew that we were gonna give it to him.
00:10:08.879 --> 00:10:09.759
Was it easy?
00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:14.399
No, no, but you don't have a choice, right?
00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:16.159
I mean, that's what it is.
00:10:16.320 --> 00:10:27.679
You don't have a choice, you are you're in that moment, so you really have to cling on to your faith and trust him 100%, even in the hardest moment of your life.
00:10:28.080 --> 00:10:30.639
And the surgeon, our trauma surgeon, Dr.
00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:49.519
Susan McLean, she operated on you when you first arrived to UMC, and she also remembers you, and she remembers you and your husband and how you were in the hospital and the way that you reacted to all of these situations and with her going into surgery and everything.
00:10:49.679 --> 00:10:56.559
And and she specifically says something that stuck with her was how much you fought for Jaclyn.
00:10:56.799 --> 00:10:58.639
You said she's not ready to give up.
00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:00.799
And I I do want to play for you as well.
00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:02.879
Um, just a message from from Dr.
00:11:02.960 --> 00:11:03.519
McLean.
00:11:03.919 --> 00:11:04.960
She was so critical.
00:11:05.039 --> 00:11:15.759
It it was some time into her hospital stay where um she seemed to be turning the corner.
00:11:15.919 --> 00:11:20.000
I mean, the very first few weeks, it was minute to minute.
00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:28.639
Um I remember a time when the neurosurgeons told us um they did not think she was gonna recover.
00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:30.159
And I remember speaking to the parents.
00:11:30.240 --> 00:11:31.519
I think that's what really helped her.
00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:33.120
They were there all the time.
00:11:33.600 --> 00:11:40.960
And they said, We don't think she's ready to give up and we're not ready to give up.
00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:52.559
And I said, Okay, we're gonna do everything that we can as a trauma team, if you that's what you think, because as the parents, they know we're better than anybody.
00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:59.519
And no matter what the patient looks like from the outside, the parents always know them better than anybody in the hospital.
00:12:00.080 --> 00:12:03.679
So I said, Okay, you know, we'll do everything we possibly can.
00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:15.440
And but I tell you, uh initially the specialists taking care of her were very were very bleak about their prognosis.
00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:16.639
Yeah.
00:12:16.960 --> 00:12:23.039
And Cherry, I know I saw Jacqueline looking over at you and smiling while we're listening to that.
00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:30.240
Obviously, very emotional to hear, I mean, from our surgeon who remembers you and the way that you fought for your daughter.
00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:33.919
Just Jacqueline, can you tell me what is it about your mom?
00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:39.039
You know, she had those feelings about you that set made her say, no, we're not done.
00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:40.159
We're still gonna fight.
00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:46.240
Just what is it about your mom that just has inspired you to keep fighting as well?
00:12:46.480 --> 00:12:51.039
Well, my mom is definitely such a blessing to me.
00:12:51.519 --> 00:13:07.759
And God gave her to me for a reason, and I'm so grateful because she's always fought so hard for me, and she pushes me and encourages me, and daddy, and it's just like, thank you, Father, for giving me such amazing parents that never gave up.
00:13:07.919 --> 00:13:25.039
And another blessing is when I was in the hospital, I was always crying, I was in so much pain, and mama prayed that I would not remember one thing, and I don't remember anything, and I'm like, thank you, God, that I don't remember that because I can't imagine how much pain I was in.
00:13:25.200 --> 00:13:30.480
So she's just such a blessing to me, and I'm so grateful for everything that she does for me.
00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:32.240
Thank you, Mama.
00:13:32.559 --> 00:13:35.759
And Sherry, Jacqueline, you know, your prayers were answered.
00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:38.000
She doesn't remember that time, but you do.
00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:42.159
And I know that's something in our ICU that you've mentioned before.
00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:47.200
You you both have been, you know, back to UMC and visited with those who cared for you.
00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:51.279
But when you walk into our ICU, we have a sign above.
00:13:51.440 --> 00:14:02.159
And Sherry, I don't know if you want to take us back to maybe those days in the hospital and what kind of came next, and maybe how that sign carried you through or gave you some strength in those moments.
00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:02.720
Yeah.
00:14:02.960 --> 00:14:06.879
Well, I can tell you I was a wreck, obviously.
00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:12.480
Um, I never knew the meaning of weaken the knees until that day of the accident.
00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:15.200
Because I remember I literally could not stand up.
00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:16.559
I was on my knees.
00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:18.960
I just I was a mess.
00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:26.960
Um, I wasn't eating, I was praying and trusting God, but I was just a wreck for the first couple of days.
00:14:27.200 --> 00:14:33.679
The third day in, they'd already taken out the right side of her skull and the swelling was not subsiding.
00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:42.879
And so by the third day, they they said, We need to see you and your husband, they the ladies at the receptionist.
00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:47.200
And I told my husband, I can't, I can't go in.
00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:56.799
I every time I would go into a room and see all the tubes and it didn't look like her, I'm like, I I I just can't I can't stomach it right now.
00:14:56.879 --> 00:14:58.879
I said, I'm sorry, can you just go?
00:14:59.200 --> 00:15:00.320
And he walked away.
00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:01.360
He goes, Yeah, I'll go.
00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:18.159
And so he went, and um I was in prayer, and I was I said, God, I know that you love my daughter more than I do, which is hard to fathom, but I'm trusting you and I'm giving her to you.
00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:22.879
So I need you to do what you need to do with her because I can't do this, but you can.
00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:30.399
And loud as day, he's like, Your daughter will be a hundred percent healed, she'll have a foundation, and she'll bring thousands to me through testimony.
00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:32.240
I heard it clear as day.
00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:38.399
And I was like, Okay, well then my husband walks back out and he's like, they want us both.
00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:42.240
And I'm like, Okay, okay, I can do this.
00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:48.799
So we grab hands, and when you walk down the ICU room on the very top, it's Faith, you know, the sign.
00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:51.360
And I'm like, I know he's got us.
00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:58.960
And right then and there, I was like, from that moment on, I was like, okay, he's got it, you know.
00:15:59.120 --> 00:16:01.440
It was like a turning point for me.
00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:06.320
Um, we were walking hand in hand, her room was at the very end of the hall.
00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:11.519
I mean, I to me it seemed like a forever walk, but I've been back since and it's short.
00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:15.279
But for me, that day, it seemed like the hall was like forever long.
00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:20.399
And there was all these doctors standing outside of her room and white coats, all of them.
00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:34.000
And we had told them, you know, if you have anything to say about her healing, we want it done outside, if it's not positive, only positive things in her room.
00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:36.879
And so they were all standing outside the room.
00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:41.440
And one doctor looked devastated, Jessica.
00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:52.799
I remember, and she looked like she wanted to cry, and she said the swelling's not going down, and we already took out one side of the skull and it's not going away.
00:16:53.600 --> 00:17:01.279
And she said, The only option we have is to take the other side of her head out, the other side of her skull out.
00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:09.039
And I remember we look we looked at her and we said, Well, if you think that will help her, where do we sign?
00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:10.240
Let's do this, you know.
00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:21.519
We she was devastated and she was sad, she was worried, but we knew, okay, God has said this, you know, has a plan.
00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:26.559
And Dennis signed the paperwork, and away they took Jaclyn back into surgery.
00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:27.519
Yeah.
00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:34.960
And Jaclyn had a total of 16 surgeries throughout this entire process that has happened.
00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:44.880
And to go back to that moment and hear, you have to make that decision, and to know now that that decision, you know, it saved Jaclyn's life.
00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:48.000
She's here with us today, and you never stopped fighting.
00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:53.119
And so we talk about the journey to recovery after all of this.
00:17:53.359 --> 00:17:58.400
You made it through those surgeries, but then it was relearning how to live again.
00:17:58.480 --> 00:18:06.160
And I know you talked to us about, you know, you played volleyball, you were a model, you had so much life and so much that you wanted to do.
00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:11.599
So to have to relearn, can you just tell us when do you start remembering those moments?
00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:20.319
What maybe comes to your mind about after all of this and the recovery process, or or what were those first moments that you remembered, Jacqueline?
00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:24.720
She she has a hard time remembering.
00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:29.279
I think, I think for her, you remember Jimmy working with you, right?
00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:33.519
Um, when we came back to Opasa, we put her in an outpatient rehab center.
00:18:35.839 --> 00:18:36.880
She calls him her husband.
00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:38.559
He's married and he has kids.
00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:39.839
But I did anything for him.
00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:41.279
She loved him.
00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:43.759
She did flirt with him, and she was non-verbal.
00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:50.160
So she wasn't speaking, but she would she would smile at him and Google eyes.
00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:53.680
I'm like, oh my gosh, she's actually flirting with this man, you know?
00:18:53.920 --> 00:18:56.160
And we tease him about it now, he knows.
00:18:56.240 --> 00:18:58.079
So if he hears this, he'll be laughing.
00:18:58.799 --> 00:19:04.799
Um, but anyway, I think that's when she started like coming back.
00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:08.079
Now she doesn't remember all of that because she still was.
00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:12.000
Then we went to UMC outpatient therapy after that.
00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:16.799
So she's gone through several of them.
00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:27.440
But I think her her memory really started to come out where she started remembering, might be in 23, 24, something like that.
00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:31.279
And Jacqueline, when was it through this time?
00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:41.599
I know you went to Houston, you went to Tier, and your neuropsychologist there inspired you to pursue neuropsychology yourself.
00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:45.359
You're going to UTEF now, you're gonna graduate in the fall.
00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:46.319
Yes, ma'am.
00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:47.759
So that's very exciting.
00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:55.440
So can you just tell us what was that moment where maybe it really set in that this is what you wanted to do and focus on?
00:19:55.759 --> 00:20:02.240
Well, I wanted to be a pediatrician before my accident, but afterwards I just found the brain so interesting.
00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:13.440
And when we would go to Tier to give money away from my foundation, we would be with the neuropsychologist, and she would tell me everything she did, and it just really like sparked my interest.
00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:23.680
And I thought, I would love to do this because one, I've been through it, and two, I can help other patients and tell them I was just like your loved one.
00:20:23.759 --> 00:20:28.240
I was laying in the hospital, but I couldn't move anything, and now look at me.
00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:43.440
So being able to be a neuropsychologist and help others just like really excites me, and I'm just like it would be so cool to tell them I was where your loved one was, I had a traumatic brain injury, and now I'm a doctor, so it's not impossible.
00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:45.599
So I'm looking forward to that.
00:20:45.920 --> 00:20:48.000
And you're gonna graduate in the fall?
00:20:48.160 --> 00:20:59.039
Yes, and I know that you are telling me, you know, you were at UTEP before the accident, and you mentioned to me that this year is eight years, and that you see it as a celebration.
00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:04.000
So to think about that, you're gonna be graduating this fall around.
00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:06.319
I mean, I think graduation's December, probably.
00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:12.079
Yes, but October, I mean, you're gonna be celebrating that eighth birthday, as you say, since the accident.
00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:15.839
So, can you tell me why do you all see it as a celebration?
00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:18.240
And I know you were even saying it's your dad's birthday, too.
00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:20.640
So, can you kind of It's our birthday now?
00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:25.599
It's like I was born again, but even better than before.
00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:26.799
The accident.
00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:37.440
So we celebrate that day because God didn't take me, He saved me, and now He uses me every day to just spread his glory and to spread his honor.
00:21:37.839 --> 00:21:38.559
His word, yeah.
00:21:38.880 --> 00:21:39.119
His word.
00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:43.359
I think it's important to understand Jacqueline did not talk for a year.
00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:44.640
And now I don't shut up.
00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:46.559
That's both worlds, if you ask me.
00:21:46.880 --> 00:21:48.160
So she would hum.
00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:57.359
You know, we have videos of I would be like, Jacqueline, say hi, and she would literally, uh, that was her way of speaking.
00:21:57.759 --> 00:21:59.599
She couldn't speak for a year.
00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:09.759
And so typically, if you're in this kind of predicament and you're thinking you know, she's not talking, but yet we knew she was healed.
00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:11.519
We're like, we're just waiting.
00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:14.480
Um, people are like, Don't you give up.
00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:16.160
Like, wouldn't you give up?
00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:16.880
She's not talking.
00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:17.680
It's been a year.
00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:19.759
She's in a wheelchair, she can't move.
00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:26.400
And it's like you can't because you're you're fighting this battle with them.
00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:28.160
She's in there trying to get out.
00:22:28.400 --> 00:22:31.519
Traumatic brain injuries, if you've seen one, you've seen one.
00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:33.759
They're very different.
00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:40.079
There's hundreds and thousands of TBIs every day in this in the United States.
00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:45.519
We just went to Congress um and fought to have the TBI Act reenacted.
00:22:45.599 --> 00:22:47.440
We were in DC in March.
00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:53.200
I mean, it it's a battle not only for us, but for other people coming behind her.
00:22:53.599 --> 00:23:00.799
I mean, it's crazy because it was like two in the morning, and I had baby monitors in my room, and I was moving around.
00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:03.839
So mama comes in and she says, Is everything okay?
00:23:03.920 --> 00:23:04.880
And I go like this.
00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:06.480
She says, You need anything.
00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:08.880
I went like this, and she said, Okay, I love you.
00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:13.119
My very first words after my accident, I said, I love you too.
00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:15.119
She starts screaming out of control.
00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:16.880
So daddy runs in, my brother runs in.
00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:17.279
What's wrong?
00:23:17.359 --> 00:23:17.759
What's wrong?
00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:18.720
She's talking.
00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:19.599
Not a word.
00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:20.720
I said, Tell him.
00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:22.240
Tell him what you told me.
00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:23.680
I said, She said I love you.
00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:26.000
And and I'm like, Jaclyn, say it.
00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:29.200
And she just looked at me, and they're like, You're hearing things.
00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:30.799
I'm like, She's talking.
00:23:30.880 --> 00:23:31.519
And they're like, uh.
00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:33.519
Thank God I talked the next day.
00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:34.319
Yeah, she did.
00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:39.519
So it was right after that, after that moment that you heard her say, I love you.
00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:42.799
Then everyone else heard her start talking as well.
00:23:42.880 --> 00:23:48.000
And do you remember what that first day was like when you were finally able to communicate with one another?
00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:49.759
It wasn't, I don't remember.
00:23:50.079 --> 00:23:52.400
It wasn't talking like this by any means.
00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:54.319
It was very a whisper.
00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:56.720
You would have to get right by her mouth to hear her push.
00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:02.319
She would say one to two words at a time.
00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:04.799
Hi, by love you.
00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:09.680
It was it wasn't she did not have her full vocabulary yet.
00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:12.400
She did not, she wasn't not speaking in sentences by.
00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:19.119
Or I would get the blanket and put it over my head and I would point to the door at like my best friends, and they were hurt.
00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:22.079
And my parents said it's not her, it's the brain injury.
00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:24.480
So it was crazy that I would even do that.
00:24:24.799 --> 00:24:27.279
The recovery was it was long.
00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:35.279
But I mean, look, I'm you know, you just it's it's an amazing journey, right?
00:24:35.359 --> 00:24:46.559
It it's something that if someone's listening and they're in, we tell people when we go, we travel the United States and speak, but we tell people everyone has a story.
00:24:46.880 --> 00:25:03.839
Like our story isn't anything special, but if it gives you that hope and that inspiration and that motivation to never give up sometime in your life when you hit a a bump in the road, then that's what we're here for, you know, that God protects you no matter what.
00:25:04.079 --> 00:25:15.359
Um it's been it has not been easy on her, on us, but you know, it's very rewarding that we get to help others now with our foundation.
00:25:15.680 --> 00:25:22.079
And I was going to ask you about the foundation, and you have both made this your mission now in life.
00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:28.000
And Sherry, I know you wrote a book and you're helping others who are going through similar circumstances.
00:25:28.160 --> 00:25:34.720
I know today we're going to UMC and we're gonna get to visit with patients, and I'm gonna get to see you in action doing that.
00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:38.799
But just can you tell me what is it that you want to tell these families?
00:25:38.880 --> 00:25:46.319
I know through your foundation there's so many little things that people don't even realize, like parking when you go to the hospital or you leave town for a while.
00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:53.039
Just what do you want people to know about the need to support families who are going through this?
00:25:53.759 --> 00:26:01.680
You don't know the need until you go through it, you know, and and so you hear of families or tragedies and people starting foundations.
00:26:01.759 --> 00:26:04.559
And of course, that's why we started Jaclyn Strong.
00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:08.799
Um, when we got to Houston, it's in the medical center.
00:26:08.880 --> 00:26:16.799
None of the every parking lot, anywhere you park in Houston, downtown or in the medical center, at that time it was like$15.
00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:21.440
Every time you go in, you leave, you come back in, it's another 15.
00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:24.480
It's not for the day, it's like 15, 15, 15.
00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:27.920
Now it's up to 17 or 18 dollars.
00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:37.440
Um we were in Houston for almost five months, so it adds up, you know, every time you're parking, and you're just trying to make ends meet.
00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:40.480
You're trying to figure out where was my next meal coming from.
00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:43.039
We literally lived in the hospital.
00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:45.839
Um, we didn't know we were gonna be there that long.
00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:53.279
We just took a suitcase and Dennis and I ended up having to buy clothes and buy, you know, things that we needed.
00:26:53.440 --> 00:26:57.200
Um, and it's hard because neither one of us were working.
00:26:57.359 --> 00:27:01.119
We left our jobs, we left our house, we left our son.
00:27:01.279 --> 00:27:06.720
He was going to UTEP getting his degree in engineering, and we're like, good luck, buddy, you know, poor guy.
00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:10.000
Um, he did amazing because he was young himself.
00:27:10.160 --> 00:27:14.079
Um so we know these families need that support.
00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:23.119
So it's super important, not just emotional support, not just support of seeing what you can be after a brain injury.
00:27:23.359 --> 00:27:26.880
I mean, Jacqueline walks in a room, and I'll tell you the families.
00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:40.640
We have a photo book, and our book shows just all the pictures of our journey, but it shows her, and when they see her, they honestly can't believe it's her because you can't imagine the picture.
00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:43.200
You're thinking, how did this girl survive?
00:27:43.440 --> 00:27:43.680
Right.
00:27:43.839 --> 00:27:48.960
So it gives the families that hope and that inspiration that they can too get through it.
00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:54.000
So inspiring to hear what both of you have overcome together.
00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:56.880
And I do have another message, too, that I did want to play.
00:27:56.960 --> 00:28:06.559
I know that Nancy McGrail, who I mentioned was the nurse who was the first to arrive when Jacqueline was in the ambulance and help her.
00:28:06.880 --> 00:28:09.279
She met you in 2023.
00:28:09.359 --> 00:28:12.400
You came back to the hospital and she got to see you for the first time.
00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:15.759
And she said that a lot of times she doesn't know what happens to her patients.
00:28:15.839 --> 00:28:20.559
You know, she saw you that day in the emergency department and she didn't know if you were gonna make it.
00:28:21.039 --> 00:28:27.039
And she got to see you walk into the hospital and come in and speak with her.
00:28:27.119 --> 00:28:31.759
And she says, Well, I'll just let you, I'll just let you hear what she had to say.
00:28:31.920 --> 00:28:33.279
I'm gonna play it for you.
00:28:33.599 --> 00:28:35.519
Well, they inspired me that day.
00:28:35.680 --> 00:28:53.440
I mean, I mean, I was so impressed by their faith, it actually um impacted me in a positive way, and then to go first full circle and and reunite with her in January 2023, that was a career-defining moment for me because I saw someone who had been broken standing in front of me whole again.
00:28:53.519 --> 00:28:56.640
And I cannot tell you the joy.
00:28:57.359 --> 00:29:00.880
I mean, it still impacts me three years later.
00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:02.240
It's incredible.
00:29:02.480 --> 00:29:02.880
Wow.
00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:07.920
And Nancy has gone to your events that you have had, your runs.
00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:13.119
She just loves getting to be a part of your life still today.
00:29:13.359 --> 00:29:17.839
So just to hear that impact, and we talk about these threads that are there.
00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:26.480
I mean, just how does it feel to know that she was the one, you know, who was there with you that first day and you continue to impact her life?
00:29:26.880 --> 00:29:36.799
I just think it's so cool that God's using me and that I'm able to talk to people now and do things like I wasn't able to do in the past.
00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:46.480
And I'm just like, thank you, Father, for giving me this chance to be able to do things that I couldn't do seven years ago, eight years ago.
00:29:46.799 --> 00:29:48.240
Well, impacting her, even.
00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:50.960
Yeah, and impacting so many people.
00:29:51.279 --> 00:29:52.480
That's also a blessing.
00:29:52.559 --> 00:30:03.039
Like when we go up to Houston to tear, and I walk in, they just start bawling, and they're like, You're a light in this room because you just bring us so much hope.
00:30:03.119 --> 00:30:08.880
And I'm telling them, it's it's God who does all of this, and this helped me tremendously.
00:30:09.279 --> 00:30:11.359
You are a light, Jacqueline, and everything.
00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:17.200
I remember even in 2018 when this happened, and I know it was reported on widely.
00:30:17.519 --> 00:30:20.480
And seeing just your recovery process from them, though.
00:30:20.559 --> 00:30:28.480
I mean, your whole family, all of you, you just the faith that you had and the way that you all just never stopped fighting.
00:30:28.559 --> 00:30:30.480
I mean, it sh it showed through through all these years.
00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:35.839
I mean, and now I know we're eight years later and we're seeing you in the most exciting time with school and everything.
00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:39.279
But it's really those threads that bring us back together.
00:30:39.359 --> 00:30:53.599
And I know another one that I was learning about as hearing your story is one of your friends, Yvonne Acosta, who works at UMC, went with you to the hospital that day, Sherry, when when Jacqueline was injured.
00:30:53.920 --> 00:31:06.000
And her daughter, who was your friend, Jacqueline, Amanda, she said that she was texting you that day that the crash happened and that you stopped answering.
00:31:06.160 --> 00:31:10.240
And she spoke to us as well about you know that whole experience.
00:31:10.319 --> 00:31:17.440
But Sherry, what do you remember about those connections and those friends and still having those ties to UMC in that way?
00:31:17.680 --> 00:31:18.000
Yeah.
00:31:18.559 --> 00:31:21.599
Yvonne is an angel in disguise for us.
00:31:21.839 --> 00:31:23.039
I will tell you that right now.
00:31:23.279 --> 00:31:23.519
Definitely.
00:31:23.759 --> 00:31:24.880
She's family.
00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:29.759
Um she she taught us how to advocate for Jaclyn.
00:31:30.079 --> 00:31:30.880
She's one of them.
00:31:31.039 --> 00:31:37.759
There's many nurses there that I could name that that really helped us advocate.
00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:41.119
Because we, for one, had never been in a hospital setting.
00:31:41.359 --> 00:31:43.680
For two, we didn't know what a TBI was.
00:31:44.240 --> 00:31:56.480
Um, you get thrown into this, you're one minute working your career and living life, and the next minute you're in a hospital, and we never left.
00:31:56.640 --> 00:31:59.680
I mean, everyone's like, you need to go home and shower.
00:31:59.759 --> 00:32:03.039
I'm like, nope, you'll bring me stuff here because I'm not leaving.
00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:05.519
My husband and I, we stayed there.
00:32:05.680 --> 00:32:13.680
Um, and when you get thrown into that situation, you have people like Yvonne and family and friends coming to the hospital.
00:32:13.759 --> 00:32:14.880
And what do you need?
00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:15.759
What can I give you?
00:32:15.839 --> 00:32:34.079
But Yvonne taught us ask the doctors this, you know, make sure you you ask why or or get a second opinion, or but she taught us how to, she's been in the medical field her whole life, so she kind of knows we don't know it.
00:32:34.319 --> 00:32:40.079
So she taught us very quickly like how we need to advocate for Jaclyn.
00:32:40.400 --> 00:32:41.279
And this is so important.
00:32:41.359 --> 00:32:47.759
I mean, even what you're saying, the amount of people who will will hear this, and it is so important to advocate for yourself.
00:32:47.839 --> 00:32:51.920
And and Jaclyn, your mom talks about her relationship with Yvonne.
00:32:52.079 --> 00:33:03.200
If you can tell me a little bit about your friendship with Amanda, I know you two played volleyball together um in middle school and high school, and then she was in college in Arizona.
00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:04.720
Yeah, but she had to leave me.
00:33:04.799 --> 00:33:05.759
What the heck?
00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:08.559
Yeah, and she's like best friend does that.
00:33:09.599 --> 00:33:10.240
I agree.
00:33:10.880 --> 00:33:12.319
Distance, it's too far.
00:33:12.559 --> 00:33:16.799
But can you just tell me a little bit about your relationship with her then and now too?
00:33:18.079 --> 00:33:20.400
We were best friends and we were out of control.
00:33:20.720 --> 00:33:21.759
It was her, not me.
00:33:21.920 --> 00:33:30.720
I'm the angel here, and and we had so much fun together, and then she would left for college, but we would still text and everything.
00:33:30.960 --> 00:33:33.039
Their family is our family, yeah.
00:33:33.200 --> 00:33:34.960
You know, they really are family, yeah.
00:33:35.200 --> 00:33:36.799
Amanda and Yvonne.
00:33:36.960 --> 00:33:38.000
Yeah, definitely.
00:33:38.240 --> 00:33:42.079
And Amanda now also works at UMC.
00:33:42.480 --> 00:33:47.200
Again, those threads that keep leading us back, and we're gonna get to see Amanda as well.
00:33:47.279 --> 00:33:49.519
We're gonna go visit the hospital and see her as well.
00:33:49.599 --> 00:33:53.599
And she left a message for you, Jacqueline, that I do want to play for you.
00:33:54.240 --> 00:34:03.839
Statement to her strength and her resilience, or there's no words, you know, it this a situation like this would break even the strongest people, you know.
00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:08.320
So it just is a test a testament to how strong and amazing she is.
00:34:08.559 --> 00:34:16.880
And yes, she graduates this fall, and you know, even though with the odds stacked against her, she's uh she's crushing them one by one.
00:34:16.960 --> 00:34:19.599
She's you know, fighting back and not quitting.
00:34:19.840 --> 00:34:25.440
Um, so we of course still keep in touch and it's it's like it never changed.
00:34:25.599 --> 00:34:29.760
Jacqueline's never faltered with her faith, let alone with her sense of humor.
00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:31.920
Whenever we see each other, we hang out.
00:34:32.079 --> 00:34:37.679
She's still like that spunky girl that I've always known with a heart of gold, you know.
00:34:37.920 --> 00:34:50.000
So um it's just really beautiful to see her, you know, again, seeing her from the bed to now, you know, walking, and she still has her sense of fashion that has not changed at all.
00:34:50.239 --> 00:34:57.679
So um, yeah, it's just it's really beautiful, and it's really, if anything, an inspiration to me that there's, you know, no excuses.
00:34:57.840 --> 00:35:03.199
Like we always have to push ourselves, even when we might not believe in ourselves in some moments, you know.
00:35:03.280 --> 00:35:07.360
So she's very much a really big inspiration in my life.
00:35:07.440 --> 00:35:12.400
And I'm just so happy that she's gone this far and she's not even halfway done.
00:35:12.480 --> 00:35:14.719
You know, she's gonna keep pushing that glass ceiling.
00:35:14.800 --> 00:35:20.159
So I'm so elated to be able to be one of the people close to her to witness this firsthand.
00:35:20.559 --> 00:35:27.360
I loved it because she brought up your fashion and your sense of style and everything and and your faith, of course.
00:35:27.519 --> 00:35:30.320
Those you never faltered in any of those.
00:35:30.480 --> 00:35:36.320
But just anything else that you two want to share um with us today before we we embark on our journey.
00:35:36.400 --> 00:35:43.840
We're gonna go to UMC, we're gonna go visit with with some patience, and and I just look forward to seeing everything that you you achieve, Jaclyn.
00:35:44.239 --> 00:35:45.119
Thank you so much.
00:35:45.280 --> 00:35:48.719
I'm definitely looking forward to everything God has planned for me.
00:35:48.880 --> 00:35:53.679
And I know he's just getting started, so I'm like, let me put my seatbelt on.
00:35:53.920 --> 00:35:56.000
All right, I'm buckled up, let's go.
00:35:56.159 --> 00:36:00.880
So we'll see everything that God has in store for me, but I'm definitely looking forward to it.
00:36:01.039 --> 00:36:07.280
And people say you don't see October 30th as like a day that you hate and you can't stand.
00:36:07.360 --> 00:36:13.199
And I said, no, I love it because God saved me and now He uses me every single day.
00:36:13.360 --> 00:36:18.639
So it's actually a blessing because of all the amazing things that have come out of it.
00:36:19.039 --> 00:36:25.760
And hearing your story today and the connection we talk about our threads again that we are making with you again at UMC.
00:36:25.840 --> 00:36:41.280
I mean, so many years later, we're so happy to be able to sit down with you and see all of the exciting things that are going on in your life, and you are just both your family, everyone, just such a testament of the faith and resilience, and you're an inspiration to others.
00:36:41.360 --> 00:36:42.719
And we appreciate you so much for coming.
00:36:42.880 --> 00:36:48.079
We are going to before we end, we right after we're gonna take a picture of you both with a Polaroid.
00:36:48.159 --> 00:36:50.960
We're gonna start a tradition on the podcast.
00:36:51.360 --> 00:36:55.760
So, this all began when we found those old photo albums that I mentioned in the beginning.
00:36:55.840 --> 00:36:58.159
Yes, and we want to start our own photo album.
00:36:58.320 --> 00:37:03.840
So we're gonna start a photo album with you as our first guest, and we'll continue that on.
00:37:03.920 --> 00:37:05.039
So we'll take that photo.
00:37:05.360 --> 00:37:06.400
Thank you so much.
00:37:06.639 --> 00:37:08.480
Yes, well, thank you both for being here.
00:37:12.079 --> 00:37:16.559
Well, thank you so much, we appreciate you, and thank you to all of our listeners for joining as well.
00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:20.159
And we'll see you next time to discover where the threads take us.
