Nationwide — Ronnie “Tre” Lawson, an African American educator from Macon, Georgia, who survived a 2017 automotive crash that precipitated a spinal twine harm, resides past what docs first anticipated. He has since regained mobility, constructed a profession in educating, and shared his story by writing.
Lawson was 17 when he was concerned in a crash on the way in which house from a summer time observe meet. A good friend driving the automobile fell asleep, inflicting the automotive to veer off the highway and fall right into a 30-foot ravine. He suffered a mind harm, an incomplete T12-L1 spinal twine harm, and belly trauma that resulted in lack of sensation from the waist down.
Within the months that adopted, Lawson mentioned he confronted severe psychological well being struggles and uncertainty about his future. He described a interval the place he questioned whether or not he would survive, whereas counting on assist from household, buddies, and religion to maintain going.
In response to 11Alive, he later underwent rehabilitation on the Shepherd Heart in Atlanta, the place therapists helped him relearn primary each day features and rebuild energy. Over time, his situation improved past preliminary expectations, and he progressed to standing and strolling brief distances with help.
Regardless of ongoing restoration, Lawson continued his schooling at Fort Valley State College, the place he graduated with honors in early childhood and particular schooling. He later pursued graduate research at Louisiana State College.
Lawson started his educating profession in February 2021 and now works in particular schooling at Southfield Elementary Faculty in Macon. He teaches kindergarten and first grade college students and says the classroom has develop into a central a part of his restoration and objective by each day interplay with kids.
In January, he printed a e book titled “The Hurdle That Broke Me,” which covers his life earlier than and after the crash. The e book explores his harm, psychological well being challenges, and the restoration course of that adopted.
Wanting forward, Lawson plans to open a college in Macon known as Roll of Hope Academy. He goals to create extra academic alternatives for college students in his hometown whereas persevering with his work in particular schooling.
