December 12, 2024
Sometimes, life’s greatest lessons can come from our greatest challenges.
Amy Gomez, Wellness and Aquatics Coordinator at Lakeside, an Immanuel Signature community, knows this firsthand. Having once faced a life-altering challenge, she has dedicated nearly a decade to inspiring residents to embrace healthier, more active lifestyles.
Her own story of overcoming hardship makes her genuinely inspiring — a story she shares in her presentation, The Long Road Back.
Amy is an athlete. In high school, she competed in five sports: basketball, track, softball, volleyball, and cross country. She also ran track and field as a student at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Then, on August 11, 2003, everything changed. At 23, she was in her final year of college and planning for her future.
“I was in Wisconsin with friends and stopped at a gas station. When I pulled out, another car hit me on the passenger side at 55 miles per hour,” she said. “I was wearing a seatbelt, which saved my life. They airlifted me to a hospital in Wisconsin because they didn’t think I’d survive the trip back to Iowa. The doctors told my family to prepare for the worst.”
Amy suffered a traumatic brain injury, with contusions and tears in her brain, and was paralyzed on her right side. She was in a coma for a month. When she woke up, doctors told her that she would never walk again.
“The scariest part was the unknown,” Amy said. “They told me I might have to live in a care facility for the rest of my life.”
Amy refused to give up despite her slow and grueling recovery.
“I never believed (the doctors),” she said. “Maybe that stubborn mindset helped me — I don’t know — but I was determined.”
Amy’s family took turns staying with her at the hospital in Madison, Wisconsin. As another result of her injuries, she struggled with lapses in her short-term memory. But every slight improvement gave her hope.
“One day, I yawned, and my (paralyzed) hand opened,” she said. “That was a big moment.”
Her first sense of feeling returned when a nurse pricked her arm with a needle.
“It hurt! But we celebrated that day,” Amy said.
Physical therapy became part of her daily life. Her mom pushed her in a wheelchair outside almost every day. Slowly, Amy started to regain movement.
“The first time my dad saw me after the accident, I was able to stand up and hug him,” she said. “That was an incredible moment. He had always been my mentor and biggest supporter.”
Amy also found a constant source of support and strength in her faith. She and her mother would visit the hospital chapel daily, and she found her prayers answered in “little ways.”
“Eventually, I moved back home to Iowa, continued physical therapy, and even finished my college classes online — something that wasn’t common at the time,” she said. “Walking across the stage to get my diploma in 2004 was a huge milestone.”
After college, she moved to Omaha, where her sister lived. In 2016, she joined the Lakeside wellness team. She now uses her experience to inspire others, especially seniors dealing with fall injuries.
“I know what it’s like to feel like you’ve lost everything. When residents feel discouraged after a fall or an injury, I remind them, ‘Don’t give up.’ Recovery doesn’t happen overnight, but progress is possible,” she said.
Amy also shares her story in presentations to show others the power of perseverance.
“Sharing my story isn’t easy — it brings back a lot of emotions — but if it helps even one person keep going, it’s worth it.”
Amy’s resilience extends beyond her recovery. She’s competed in stair climbs like Trek Up the Tower in downtown Omaha — a 40-flight trek up the First National Bank tower — and won first place in her group. In Des Moines, she competed in a similar competition that involved 85 flights of stairs across four buildings and placed first in the women’s category.
“People see me limping and can’t believe I’m competing, but I’m just grateful to be walking,” Amy said.
Her message is simple:
“Never give up,” she said. “Life is precious, and I was given a second chance. If I can inspire others to keep trying, then sharing my story is worth it.”
