SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - Wednesday was a special day for trauma survivors across the United States. On Wednesday, Kendall Regional Medical Center hosted the fifth annual Trauma Awareness Day honoring survivors.
The event celebrates survivors of traumatic injuries and offers survivors the opportunity to thank all of the medical professionals who helped save their lives, including doctors, nurses, hospital staff and of course, first responders.
Among those who attended were Corrine Moree, a woman who was almost killed after a dog attacked her in October. “All I kept saying was, ‘Are you going to save my arm?’ And they kept saying, ‘We are going to do the best we can.'”
After spending two months hospitalized and having to undergo 11 surgeries, Moree made it. “Gives us the opportunity to say thank you,” said Moree. “Had they not been there, I wouldn’t be here, and they’re calling us the heroes, but we wouldn’t be survivors had they not been our heroes.”
The celebration was truly a celebration of people who have beaten the odds. Moree said, “I want to thank the big guy upstairs for keeping me here.”
Also thanking doctors, nurses, staff and first responders were patients only a few months into their recovery. While they have yet to fully recover, they are on their way.
One trauma patient here has an especially long way to go. This patient is South Dade Senior High School principal Javier “Javi” Perez.
According to police, the principal was run over by an SUV in April driven by 51-year-old Marilyn Aguilera who was driving drunk and slammed into him at a ballpark.
Both of his legs had to be amputated. On Tuesday, his wife posted an update on their GoFundMe page, which stated, “More surgeries ahead. The road to recovery is long and slow.”
As he fights to recover, trauma survivors who have traveled that difficult road offered him a message of hope. “We’ve struggled,” said Moree. “We have to stay strong. Don’t give up. As much as it hurts, try harder. As angry as you get, try to release it. It’s very hard, but don’t give up.”
The survivors and those recovering hope to inspire others with traumatic injuries to keep fighting.
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