Leigh Young Tragedy to triumph
June 13, 2017 was a day that changed Leigh Young’s life. It was the day the tragedy to triumph started. Leigh was involved in a serious car accident in which she broke both femurs, both knees, her right ankle, her left arm and dislocated her left wrist. To say she is lucky to be alive is an understatement. Following her accident, Leigh underwent three surgeries on her left leg, one on her right leg, one on her ankle and one on her wrist for a total of six different surgeries. She followed her surgeries with two weeks in the hospital and another two months at an in-patient rehab facility. Once she was released by the rehab facility and her doctors, Leigh brought her at-home rehab to the YMCA.
Leigh started coming to our Witham Family YMCA in November 2017. She started out visiting twice a day in her wheelchair and using our Nustep machine that she could barely extend her knees to move. Perseverance, a positive attitude and a positive atmosphere kept Leigh going. After months of work, Leigh graduated to other machines and eventually to walking with a walker and now to a cane. Leigh continues with her two-a-day workouts in our wellness center and can even be found walking some without the aid of her cane.
It is no secret that Leigh has become an inspiration to our staff and members who have watched her work so hard to get her mobility back. Her tragedy to triumph story has inspired everyone around her. She says that her workouts at our Y have done wonders for her rehab, but beyond the rehab, the encouragement of members and staff at the Y have made a difference in her recovery.
Leigh and her husband, Robert, shared that the tragedy to triumph process has taught them, “if you can’t see the little steps – the little bit of progress each day – then you can’t see the big steps.”
