A then 17-year-old Bethany suffered a broken and dislocated tibia that resulted in a severed peritoneal artery, which cut off blood flow to her left foot. She was taken to Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, where she spent a month in the hospital and had 12 surgeries between there and UAB Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, where doctors were unable to save her left leg.
James has since healed from a broken pelvis and back — although he is convinced most of his leftover pain today can be attributed primarily to old age.
Now, eight months later, Bethany can walk to class.
“That just felt like such a big accomplishment to me to do stairs,” she said.