By Jade Waddy

Victoria Duran’s excitement for meeting the men and women who played a role in saving her life could be seen on her bright smile.

A terrifying Easter Sunday

On Easter Sunday 2012, Duran and her family were involved in a serious motor vehicle collision in Baytown, 26 miles south of Houston. The family was headed to spend time with extended family on the holiday weekend when they were t-boned by another driver.

“I was the only passenger severely injured and my entire body felt the impact of the crash,” Duran said. “Everything on the my right side of my body was broken from my jaw down to my leg.”

Baytown Fire Department & LaPorte EMS rushed to the scene, assessed her injuries and determined she needed to be flown via Memorial Hermann Life Flight® to Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center to address her severe injuries.

“I was fortunate that I had no head trauma, however I did have internal bleeding, broken ribs and a number of other broken bones,” Duran added.

Duran spent 23 days in the hospital and underwent three weeks of rehabilitation therapy after she was discharged.

“My body was able to heal and recover and by the end of summer I was back cheering for my high school,” Duran said.

Inspired by her heroes

Seven years after her accident, Duran recently started her first semester in the San Jacinto College Emergency Medical Services Program.

“Years after my accident, I began to realize I wanted to pursue this field because of the care I received by the first responders that saved my life,” Duran said. “Seeing everything firsthand really inspired me.”

Duran had the opportunity to meet the EMS personnel and a member of her original Life Flight crew, Flight Nurse Clint Kneuven, at her recent EMS Day.

“It was a special moment to meet the people who made the decisions that saved my life,” Duran said. “I’m forever grateful for them.”