Survivors Of Traumatic Injuries Reunite With Those Who Saved Them
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Survivors of traumatic injuries got the chance to reunite with those who saved their lives at Kendall Regional Medical Center in Southwest Miami-Dade.
Doctors, nurses, emergency responders and their patients were all in the same room again. This time they were celebrating survival. The patients met their heroes and thanked them for being alive.
"It's amazing to be here," said Danielle Diaz. Diaz was injured in a motorcycle accident back in 2013. She fractured her head and was in a coma for two weeks. At the reunion, she was able to thank the doctors that saved her life. "They are my life savers. They are the reason why I'm still here. This whole place, intensive care unit, is the reason why I'm standing here," said Diaz.
Other survivors also took the stage, along with their doctors, to share their traumatic stories and their road to recovery.
"My accident was literally two months ago and I'm already back walking and driving," said survivor Javier. "I'm going out and going back to school. I feel pretty much normal, just a couple of battle scars."
CLICK HERE to watch Irika Sargent's report
"We're proud to see the patients coming back from injuries that are nearly un-survivable," said Dr. Mark McKenney of Kendall Regional Medical Center. "The mass majority won't make it and to see people survive and get better and go back to college and go back to their lives is heartwarming."
Survivors we're also given a medal of awareness as a symbol of never giving up.
Every May, doctors observe Trauma Awareness Day to remind others that trauma is inevitable.
Trauma centers treat more than 40-thousand patients every year in Florida.
