The accident scene

At the age of nineteen, Cara Atkins became the victim of a head on collision with a drunken driver at 8:00pm on a very cold night in January, 1997. Cara was driving home on Virginia Route 259 when her life suddenly changed. A 1987 Ford Escort hit Cara's 1995 Hyundai Scoupe head on. Her car had no air bags; her best safety features were her seatbelt and the fact that the engine dropped upon impact. Cara was cut from the car and flown by Pegasus, a helicopter ambulance, as a priority one patient to the trauma center at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Cara sustained a broken left femur, a crushed left elbow, broken metatarsals, broken right wrist, dislocated right hip, collapsed lung, and severe traumatic brain injury. Her mother, Darlene Spitler, was allowed to move into the intensive care unit to be by Cara's side for the entire five months she was in the hospital. Her family was given no hope for her recovery while she remained in a deep coma. They were told that Cara could not be rehabilitated and should be placed in a nursing home for coma patients. But her family did not give up hope. Cara has undergone twenty-one surgeries so far. Through faith and determination, Cara has surpassed the doctors original prediction

Cara's mother, Darlene Spitler

to expect little recovery.

Darlene's hope transformed into Cara's hope. Together, through the help and prayers of others, Cara is making a miraculous recovery. Cara recently graduated from Eastern Mennonite University, with a major in Social Work. Cara and her mother would like to share the journey of Cara’s recovery with you. The soon to be released book, From Coma to College, is a story of encouragement and hope for families of victims of life changing accidents. Cara has undergone twenty-four surgeries so far, the latest in 2006. Written by James G. T. Fairfield, it documents her years of rehabilitation and miraculous recovery.

Jack and Darlene Spitler

Cara Atkins' Story is a program designed to empower people faced by tragedy to meet one day at a time with hope and purpose. It includes actual video footage of the scene of the accident. You will see documentation of Cara's progress out of her coma as she learns again to walk, talk, move, and sit up again. You will hear how hard work and persistence guided her quest for university studies and a new life. Cara and Darlene will share a story of love, hope and determination; a story of family support backed up by a supportive community of loving and prayerful people. The lives of all who hear her speak are forever changed. This dramatic presentation will also educate and influence your group about the dangers of driving under the influence.