CHESTERFIELD, Va. (WWBT/Gray News) – A Virginia woman reunited with the first responders who saved her life after a farm equipment malfunction mangled her leg.
Ashley Lawrence met the emergency team that saved her life last summer in a touching reunion Thursday inside a hanger at the Chesterfield County Airport. She was full of energy and positivity, WWBT reports.
“I don’t remember any of their faces,” Lawrence said. “I remember a couple of them came to visit me at VCU when I was there, hospitalized, but it’s nice to see everybody and tell them thank you.”
Lawrence, who lost her leg in the accident, walked into the hanger, saying she wanted crews to see her progress as she recovers.
“I’m glad to see her walk in here today… It’s a testament to her determination,” said Chris Orr, a paramedic for Chesterfield Fire & EMS.
In August, Lawrence and her husband were working on their farm in Amelia County when something went terribly wrong with the auger.
“All I remember is I was near the tiller part of it. My husband was on the tractor. From there, I started yelling to cut it off,” Lawrence said. “I saw my left leg completely wrapped around it. My hands were stuck. I was upside down.”
Several crews of first responders, including Amelia Volunteer EMS Squad, state police Med-flight and Chesterfield EMS, swiftly arrived at the farm.
Lawrence needed tourniquets on both her legs and right arm before she was flown to the hospital. Crews say she was alert and talking the entire time, something they say is rare for an injury as severe as hers.
“I’m really surprised that Ashley was awake during the whole situation, and believe it or not, she was actually joking,” said Amelia Volunteer EMT Savanna Banton during the reunion.
Lawrence says there was someone fueling her fire to stay alive.
“My daughter and the drive not to leave her,” she said.
She received two units of whole blood, which is a newer procedure used in the field.
“The blood was a miracle. Up until a couple of years ago, we would have never thought about doing that in the field,” said Kathy Eubank, Lawrence’s aunt.
Eubank says doctors believe that blood is what helped save her niece’s life.
Lawrence lost not only her leg in the accident but also her pinky, and she permanently shattered one of her fingers. Despite her injuries, she says she’s grateful to still be able to work on her farm, caring for her rabbits and chickens, just like she used to.
“The only difference is I can’t do the hay, which is great, because when hay season comes because we do our own hay, I don’t have to touch anything,” said Lawrence with a smile.
After her accident, Lawrence is now urging everyone to donate blood, saying it could help others who desperately need it.
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