On May 21, 2011, Jenifer Axman completed her freshman year of college and celebrated with friends in Hays, Kansas. Driving home around 1 a.m.,
the 18-year-old fell asleep at the wheel. Her car veered across lanes, went airborne and landed on its top. Airlifted to Wesley Medical Center, Jenifer was numb with morphine when doctors explained she’d never walk again. “I thought, ‘well, okay then’ and drifted back to sleep,” said Jenifer, an outgoing young woman with striking blue eyes.
Jenifer chose Madonna for rehabilitation based on its reputation for treatment of young adults with spinal cord injuries. She arrived on May 26, in a back brace, frustrated at having to rely on others. This quote became her mantra:
“God doesn’t give us what we can’t handle, God helps us handle what we are given.”
Jenifer’s goals were to be psychologically and physically strong. “I had to learn how to live again,” she said.
“Discussions with the neuropsychology team helped Jenifer gain perspective on her new life. Physical and occupational therapies taught the young woman the skills to live independently.
Within three months, Jenifer moved into an apartment in Hays, Kansas and went back to college. After her first solo trip to Walmart, she called her mom and excitedly shouted,
“I did it!” Confident in her abilities, Jenifer worked at the local implement dealer. This summer, she navigated the airlines to join her family on a cruise.
In December 2015, Jenifer will graduate from college and is pursuing internship options. Nothing is out of her realm of possibility.
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