Corn, OKLA.–On a stretch of Highway 54 between Weatherford and Corn, all that remains of the accident that took one life and left permanent scars on four others and their families last September 30 is a cross attached to a fence on the side of the road. In the eleven months since the collision, the victims of the accident have worked hard to put the pieces of their lives back together and have returned to fairly normal lives following surgeries, therapy, and countless doctor appointments. One of the Corn Bible Academy students who was severely injured in the accident has surpassed the doctors’ expectations and has returned to the football field as a member of the Crusader team this season.
Aaron Slagell, Weatherford, was an athletic ninth grade CBA student last year, a member of the football team and a promising future star on the field. The morning of the accident, he was a passenger in the backseat of the suburban driven by faculty member Patty Schimmer, and like many young adults, Aaron didn’t take the few extra seconds to use the seatbelt before beginning the fifteen minute ride to school. When an oncoming car hit the suburban head-on, Aaron, Paul Blake, a classmate, and Mrs. Schimmer were all severely injured and all three were air-lifted to Oklahoma City to undergo many surgeries and months of rehabilitation.
In the hospital, the doctors told Aaron and his parents that he would most likely never play football again. He had a broken leg and hip among other serious injuries, and as a result, he now has a rod in his femur and multiple screws in his kneecap, femur and pelvis. The determination in rehab was intense, though, and Aaron was faithful with his therapy, improving daily and surpassing the goals that were set for his recovery process.
Aaron and his classmate, Paul, continued to improve, were dismissed from the rehab hospital in record time and both returned to school to finish out the second semester. Not long after, faculty, staff, and students witnessed several miracles – the return of not only Aaron and Paul, but their beloved teacher, Mrs. Schimmer, as well.
The doctors have determined that Aaron made a full recovery and gave the green light to return to normal activities. A few weeks ago, he walked onto the football field for the first time since the accident. Dressed and ready for practice, Aaron wasn’t nervous or hesitant. “I decided to leave it all in God’s hands. If I get hurt, it’s God’s will. If I don’t get hurt, it’s definitely an answer to a lot of prayer.” Aaron spent the summer preparing for this day, running and slowly gaining strength in the leg now anchored with hardware. After the first day of practice, he was sore but felt confident that he would be able to return to a sport the doctors had been less than optimistic about just a few months earlier.
Aaron’s position is at cornerback and safety on defense, and he plays end – for now. “I want to start working on tailback. I just need to work on my speed.”
When he gets into a vehicle with a group of friends, he insists they all put on seatbelts. If he sees someone slacking, he always asks, “You want to hear a story?” Not timid about sharing his experience, Aaron makes sure his peers understand the importance of seatbelts and vehicle safety. When asked to share what he has learned through this past year, Aaron did not hesitate to answer. “I have strengthened the foundation of my faith. When I had some pretty depressing health issues, I learned to fully depend on God. I can feel His presence and it is a huge confidence boost. I have grown a lot, and I know I don’t have to worry. I can give everything to God.”
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Rhonda Goering
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