Erlanger: Healing. Teaching. Leading.

On April 7, 2006, Anne Taylor, a resident of Atlanta, Georgia, was on a road trip with four friends from college, when the driver of the vehicle suddenly lost control. The vehicle flipped several times before crashing into a guardrail and rolling over into an embankment. Although she survived the horrific accident, Anne was suddenly left with a multitude of severe injuries.

She was quickly airlifted to Erlanger Hospital, where she would later learn that she had suffered from multiple leg and ankle fractures, torn ligaments and her left foot had been partially severed.

During her stay at Erlanger, Anne underwent a total of 10 surgeries in 22 days. In that time she also faced a heartbreaking decision. Doctors informed her that she could continue with the complicated surgeries on her partial foot or she could decide to amputate below the knee. Knowing that this would lead to a quicker and more certain recovery, Anne, along with her family and the knowledge of her team of doctors, chose amputation.

While trying to keep a positive attitude, Anne says she knew that amputation was the best option for her and that she was just lucky to be alive. “You just have to do what you can to get by and I was taking all of these changes one day at a time.”

Anne soon began rehabilitation at Siskin Hospital and on July 11, 2006 she received her prosthetic leg and quickly learned to walk again.

Anne still keeps in touch with many of the nurses who treated her at Erlanger. “The entire time I was there they were always sharing stories with me and helping me get through it. Several times they would even come visit me on their off days.”

In just four months, Anne was able to return to classes at the University of Georgia. She says that there is little change in her lifestyle since the accident. “I can do pretty much everything that I used to be able to. I walk to class everyday and even conquered my fear of wearing dresses.”

Anne and her family are extremely grateful for the care that they received in Chattanooga. “My family and I were out of town and we di dn’t know anyone. The team of doctors and nurses bent over backwards for us,” says Anne.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the Trauma Center at Erlanger.