DON'T DRINK & DRIVE
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It's NOT Worth It!!

I AM AVAILABLE TO SPEAK FOR GROUPS, BOTH LARGE AND SMALL, ABOUT THE DANGERS OF DRINKING AND DRIVING. PLEASE EMAIL ME AT HOPETOWALK@HOTMAIL.COM IF INTERESTED IN HAVING ME COME SPEAK ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE WHILE ALSO LEAVING A MOTIVATIONAL KICK TO THE END. 

READ THIS!!!! 
I thought I'd share a message I got on myspace the other day. I was asked by someone with the profile name "Chadwick" if I was the one drinking in my accident or if someone else was. This is how I responded...
 
"Unfortunately, I was the one drinking. It was a single car accident so thankfully I did not hurt anybody else in my stupid decision making. I spoke at high schools in my town of Richmond, va so I hope I reached out to several young adults. It really is such a problem these days. Why do you ask???"
 
AND THIS WAS THE FIRST RESPONSE:
  "Just curious.. I was looking through your Myspace, and for a moment i felt sympathetic, then it occurred to me that you were probably the drunk driver...      have to say, I think it is a blessing for people EVERYWHERE that people like you get hurt and end up in wheel chairs. You risk the lives of OTHERS when you do stuff like that, and quite honestly, if you died in the process, then I think that makes the world a better place. I'd rather see idiots everywhere kill themselves through single car crashes than hurt others."

GETTING MAD WAS MY FIRST FEELING... BUT I RESPONDED WITH:
 
 "Guess what... GOD LOVES ME WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT."  (OH and the profile picture of this person reads: God loves everyone, whether you like it or not.)
 
AND THEY RESPONDED AGAIN WITH:
 
 "I have nothing against people that are hurt, and I definitely with they could all get better..

What I have a problem with is people that put others in danger. You did not have a car accident just because. You had a car accident because you were DRINKING. Drunk drivers EASILY kill innocent people. If some moron went out drinking and ended up running over a kid, it would be the DRIVERS fault. No one would feel pity for the dumbass driver. So why should people feel pity for YOU? Your accident could have easily killed someone, instead of hurt yourself. Stop trying to make yourself look like the victim. If you were not the one that had gotten hurt, no one would give a shit about you, and you would just be another one of those pretty stupid girls that drinks and parties and kills someone. "
 

So after reading all that you are probably thinking...what a fool and prick to talk about Steph like that... Well, all I can say is that this kind of response is expected... this is why. 

When people ask me how I was injured, I am given the choice of admitting my wrong-doing, or I can just say a car accident. I choose to tell people that Im paralyzed due to my decision to drink and drive. I know that some people out there will either respond out of anger, think negative thoughts in their head, or just accept it and forgive me for my mistakes. But regardless, I did make a stupid decision that soooo many make so often. If I stop one person from drinking and driving from my testimony, then I have done my job. People are going to judge me, but I have never let that stop me before. Could this person have been a little more sensitive with their response, Yes, they could have been. When you think about it though, D&D is a huge problem these days and people are killed everyday from a drunk driver. I am just thankful that I did not hurt anyone or kill any one in my crash. God kept me alive that day to fulfill a purpose on this earth. He has huge plans for me and has forgiven me for my sins, so I am okay with that. 

Don't take the risk! You never know who is on the road. You could kill someone, maybe even a loved one... Think about it!