Donna Morris’ life changed in a blink two years ago to the day. Her Camry was rammed by this large truck as she approached the Dossett Road cut across.

By Jim Freeman

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – Monday, March 15, 2021, was like any other day for Donna Morris or so she thought. She left her neighborhood for a drive through supper pick up at Hardee’s. However, her decision on how to cross back over traffic and head home proved to be a day and life changer.

“I thought I’d be safer to turn right, swing through the Big Lots parking lot and come out at the Dossett Road light as opposed to crossing traffic and going out left from the cut across,” said Morris. As it turned out, that was not the safer of the two moves, at least not on this afternoon.

“I was the third car coming out on the green light going left, and the next thing I remember is opening my eyes and seeing all this sparkly shattered glass,” said Morris. She had no recollection of the collision where a truck ran the light and plowed into her Toyota Camry just moments before.

Morris was extricated from her car on this date two years ago.

A state trooper with the Tennessee Highway Patrol came to Morris’ car door and told her “We’re gonna get you out.” She also remembers the loud sound of the saw used to free her from the wreckage.

“They took me to the La Follette Medical Center, and on the way, I asked if I could make a phone call. The paramedic handed me his phone, and the only number I knew off my head was my sister Linda’s.

The LMC emergency staff feared she had a concussion and had her flown out to a Knoxville hospital, according to Morris.

Morris was sent to surgery that evening to repair her femur following the 5:43pm wreck. She did not have a concussion. However, she did suffer that broken right femur, several broken bones in her pelvic region, fractured ribs and a broken left shoulder. The shoulder took the impact at the door with her right leg ramming into the console. “The steering wheel was pushed so far to the right that they could not get the keys out of the ignition,” said Morris. It wasn’t really until after the surgery that she understood what happened.

It was a six week stay, one at the hospital, and the rest at the rehab center. “This was during COVID, and I was not able to have any visitors. That didn’t stop family, friends and fellow church goers from dropping off goodies to me. Everyone was so good to me,” said Morris.

Donna Morris’ routine trip to pick up supper turned into anything but routine.

At her church, New Horizon Baptist, the song “Thankful for the Scars” was sung every Sunday for a while just for Morris. “It’s miraculous,” said Morris, and when asked if she was a walking miracle, she exclaimed, “Yes!”

Once home in late April, Morris was fairly independent even having to use a walker to get her 5’4 100 pound body around the house. “My broken bones heeled quickly, and physicians would say they couldn’t believe how well I was doing,” said Morris. But it was a while before she could get back behind the wheel.

Here, two years to the day of her wreck, Donna will tell you she’s still a bit antsy. “I drive like an old woman now,” laughs Morris. “I just feel blessed.” (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 03/15/2023-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF WLAF’S CHARLOTTE UNDERWOOD)

4 Replies to “‘Am I a walking miracle? Yes!’-Donna Morris”

  1. One of the sweetest people I’ve ever met. So glad that she’s ok and going strong. Love you Donna!

  2. The sweetest women ever! We still need to go to lunch sometime. Love you Donna and miss you at the Bank!

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