From Left to Right: Paul Blake, Patty Schimmer, Joshua Jantzen, and Aaron Slagell
CORN, Okla. – It has been a year since her life was changed forever. A year of the unknown. A year of many ups and downs. A year of rehabilitation. But for Patty Schimmer, faculty member at Corn Bible Academy (CBA), it has also been a year of continuous miracles. As she reflects on what has taken place in her life during the past twelve months, Patty marvels at the power of prayer and the strength that surrounds her – strength from her family, friends, students and co-workers, as well as the strength that God has given her to thrive when the odds were against her.
The early morning of Tuesday, September 30, 2008, was a typical morning for the teacher who resides with her husband Kenny in Custer City, and she stopped in Weatherford on her way to school to pick up three freshmen boys, her regular morning routine. Joshua Jantzen sat in the front passenger seat with Paul Blake and Aaron Slagell taking the back seat. Conversation lagged – it was too early for the guys. As the suburban headed south on Highway 54, none of its occupants knew what was about to happen.
“I was sitting in my seat and I heard Mrs. Schimmer say, ‘If that little black car keeps coming, it is going to hit us,’ and then I heard a ‘bang’ and woke up out on the grass with a broken leg,” said Paul Blake. Joshua, sitting in the front seat, watched as the car came over the hill and witnessed the crash only to be knocked out immediately afterward for several seconds. Aaron was spared any memory of the accident, and Patty recalled seeing the car coming towards the suburban and then remembered hearing emergency medical personnel caring for Paul and Aaron at the scene. She also remembered the EMTs applying a neck brace, her husband arriving at the scene telling her not to look down at her legs, and the sound of the AirVac helicopter.
In the accident that ended the life of the young man driving the small black car, the three boys and their teacher were injured but Joshua suffered only minor injuries and did not have to be hospitalized. Paul had a broken femur, pelvis, and nose, while Aaron also had a compound fracture in his femur, broken pelvis, jaw, cheekbone and other facial fractures. Patty had eight broken ribs, a collapsed lung, two tears in her abdominal wall, a broken left femur and tibia, broken right tibia, her left foot was crushed, and she had a chipped vertebrae. Paul, Aaron, and Patty were all airlifted to OU Medical Center that day and spent several weeks in the hospital and in rehab in Oklahoma City.
Joshua, Paul and Aaron have made complete recoveries and have resumed their normal lives. All three are very careful to wear their seatbelts and encourage others to do the same. Aaron, taking it a step further, urges others to “live every day like it is your last and live it for Jesus.”
Aaron’s mom, Rosa Slagell, was his main support throughout his ordeal. “An even greater miracle for me is that I never felt depressed while in the hospital. I somehow knew I would be fine and I definitely knew it was God comforting me. I really appreciated all of the nurses and doctors who took care of me, but the person I appreciate the most is my mom. She stayed beside me no matter what – every day. She showed me how much she loves me and I will never forget that. I don’t know what I would do without her.”
Patty has endured twelve surgeries so far and will undergo more surgery this week on her right leg. After the accident, administration and faculty at CBA were concerned that Mrs. Schimmer may never return to teach, but Patty was determined to overcome and prevail, and in January, she returned to school in a wheelchair and finished the year where she had begun – in her classroom with her students. She is unwavering in her determination to walk again without a walker, crutches, or cane. “I am unable to put over 50 pounds of weight on my right leg, but I may have more rehabilitation when I am allowed to try to walk. Surgery is expected on my left foot but I am using it to bear my full weight at this time. I will walk when the bone graft in my right leg is able to sustain my weight.”
In her own words, Patty wants the world to know what she has learned from this life-changing experience. “My family and my CBA family were wonderful. The school met the needs of my family, and my family was with me almost continually until I was awake enough to send them home to rest. God was so faithful to answer so many prayers which included not allowing infection – truly a miracle.
I believe that the passengers in my car will always wear their seatbelts. The lack of injuries to Joshua was dramatic considering the damage to the suburban and to the other passengers in the car. I understand that the ICU waiting room was full with friends and family during those early hours, just as many of these same people have stayed in my home with me or pushed my wheelchair. What a blessing everyone has been.
It was evident that even before the accident, God was leading people to pray. I believe my calmness at the accident was an answer to prayer. CBA began praying within twenty minutes of the accident. I was able to stay alert until I was taken into surgery, which was helpful to the doctors, and I believe this was because many were lifting me up in prayer. There have been few setbacks or complications, which is a miracle considering the open wounds I had. I am not in any significant pain. This was not expected to be the case at all! I am doing many things I did before, but I am looking forward to walking again soon.”
It has been a year of contemplation about a tragic accident that ended the life of one young man and injured four others. For Patty Schimmer and her students, they realize that they are in God’s hands and are living life to its fullest and reflecting on the anniversary of their life-changing experience. That’s an anniversary worth celebrating.
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Media Contact:
Rhonda Goering
580.343.2262