About Tiffany

On Friday the 13th in January of 2017 I was in a car accident. While on my way home from the bank, it suddenly started raining, causing my car to hydroplane into traffic. Everything happened so fast. I remember everything leading up to the sound of the impact of the first vehicle hitting me. Everything went black. Days later, I regained consciousness in the hospital. I was told that I had sustained a concussion, a spinal cord injury, and complete paralysis from the neck down. Due to the ventilator tube, I was unable to speak and ask all the questions I had. The main one, "What now?" "Will I ever get better?"

When I was discharged from the hospital, I was sent to a nursing home to live. With no choice, however, I wasn't willing to accept that this was going to be my life: living in a nursing home at age 22. In every challenge, there's an opportunity to rewrite our narrative. I wasn't willing to give up.

Throughout all of this, I never lost my creativity or determination. I remain determined to improve, not allowing anything or anyone to hinder me or persuade me otherwise! Thankfully, over time, I was able to regain some movement in my shoulders and lungs. Enough to be able to learn how to breathe on my own again and to get off the ventilator. This was a HUGE step towards gaining my freedom and moving out of the nursing home to my own apartment. A lot has changed for me since that day. From near-death experience, tragedy, and vulnerability to resilience and self-discovery.

Today I am thankful to be able to sell my art and attend events such as The Omaha Summer Art Festival, Dundee Days, Benson Days, or Waterloo Days. I love advocating for people in similar situations and inspiring those who are feeling stuck. We should stick together. For some, it's hard to truly have the best interest of someone's livelihood unless you've experienced similar struggles in your past.

Although we all have different stories, we share personal struggles. Through determination, we can view life's challenges as steppingstones, not roadblocks. I want people to know that you can gain strength from struggle. No matter how many people surround you in life, remember, never give up on yourself or your needs. Sometimes, you might be the only person fighting for your own happiness.