Elizabeth Ramos is a 23-year-old senior who now walks with the help of a cane.
Since she was put in a medically induced coma after being hit by a car, Ramos has returned for her final semester at Cal State Long Beach.
Ramos, a senior nutrition major, was struck by a car on Bellflower Boulevard while jogging without identification on Feb. 4, 2013. She said it wasn’t until six weeks after the accident that she woke up for the first time in the hospital.
Today, her recovery continues and she plans to host a fundraising campaign to give back to the Long Beach Memorial Acute Rehab Center.
The fundraiser, which will take place on Feb. 20 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of the University Bookstore, is just as much about asking runners to wear ID tags as it is about giving back to those who helped Ramos.
The accident
After Ramos was struck, she remained unidentified for more than a day because she was not carrying any form of identification at the time of the accident. It wasn’t until the next day that her parents identified her.
Ramos said she was put into a medically induced coma following the accident.
“I know that my brain was swollen and bleeding just ‘cause my head hit the windshield so hard,” she said.
Ramos, who currently uses a cane to walk, also suffered a broken leg and arm when she was admitted to St. Mary Medical Center.
When she began to talk again on March 11, 2013, she said her parents were overcome with joy.
“I don’t think they wanted to tell me everything about how they were feeling,” she said.
“They were there for 24 hours a day. Maybe they got four hours of sleep [each day] by the end. They were the best parents.”
Ramos said that when she woke up for the first time, she thought she had broken her leg and did not remember being hit by a car. Her mother gave her a summary of the events that led to her arriving at the hospital.
“[My parents] didn’t really care how I came out, as long as I came out of the coma,” she said.
In late April, Ramos had recovered enough to allow her to return home.
Road to recovery
Although it has been little more than one year since the accident, Ramos said the time has passed quickly.
“It’s been a quick year,” she said. “It’s been so fast that I don’t even know what happened.”
She said it took some time adjusting to life outside of the hospital.
“I had to learn how to eat again,” she said.
In addition to relying on her cane to walk, Ramos must wear a brace on her left leg 24 hours a day. She said the only time she takes it off is to swim or shower. One activity she does for fun is aqua aerobics.
“I definitely take every day as a new day,” she said. “I can’t be thinking of the future. You never know what’s going to happen.”
Appreciating life
Ramos said that she has learned to appreciate those around her more since the accident.
She said she was thankful for the many cards and letters she received while she was in the hospital.
“I feel like I don’t want to complain anymore,” she said. “Don’t take for granted what you have. I hear a lot of people complaining. You’re lucky to be here — at least you can read and walk.”
Ramos is taking two classes this semester. She is set to graduate in May and said she plans to take the Medical College Admission Test.
Ramos said her two biggest goals are to go to medical school and run a marathon.
“Maybe someone will take me out [to medical school],” she said. “I’ve got a pretty good story.”
Through her fundraiser for the Long Beach Memorial Acute Rehab Center, Ramos said she hopes to raise money for an institution that helped her during her recovery as well as to inform runners about the importance of wearing ID tags at all times.
According to a flyer provided by Ramos, all of the proceeds for the fundraiser will go to purchasing new equipment for Long Beach Memorial. Each ID tag costs $2.
Although she said she has put most of the accident behind her, Ramos
“I still always think about it,” she said. “I can’t do what I did before. I won’t be the same person as I was before. That’s fine with me. Maybe I’m better.”