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There Is Still Plenty of Life to Live

By The Artful Woman
Lately, it has been hot, so I decided to do something that would make life a little easier. I cooked a bunch of different meals in the crock pot, put them into containers, and froze them. That way, when the weather is hot, I wouldn't have to do much cooking. Then a flyer came in from the local Mexican market. They had pineapples, plantains, mangoes, watermelon, cucumbers—fresh fruits and vegetables at really good prices. They also had beef shanks. So after the gym, I had my caretaker take me to the store. I already had plenty of food at home. I had meals in the freezer, food in the refrigerator, and everything I needed. I wasn't going to the store because I was running out of food. But when I got there, something happened. I felt happy. The store was colorful and full of fresh food. I could choose one of this, two of that, three of something else. I wasn't limited to whatever quantity happened to come in a package. I could actually look at what I wanted and decide what I wa...
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Why My Ortega Highway Crash Should Be a Wake-Up Call for Every Driver

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By The Artful Woman

  



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Surviving Ortega Highway: Why Road Safety Can't Wait


Lake Elsinore, California – July 2, 2026 — Nearly ten months after surviving a catastrophic head-on collision on Ortega Highway, Jean Marshall is speaking publicly about the crash that forever changed her life. By sharing her experience, she hopes to raise awareness about the devastating consequences of reckless driving and the lifelong challenges many survivors face long after the headlines disappear.

On September 6, 2025, Marshall was driving home on Ortega Highway when another vehicle crossed into her lane, causing a violent head-on collision. The crash left her with life-threatening injuries, including the loss of her right leg, multiple fractures throughout her body, broken ribs, spinal injuries, a shattered left leg, and internal injuries that resulted in heart and kidney failure. She spent four months in the hospital undergoing multiple surgeries before beginning the long process of rehabilitation.

Today, Marshall continues to recover while learning to navigate life with a prosthetic leg. Physical therapy remains a daily challenge, and every milestone—from standing to walking again—has required determination, patience, and resilience.

"I don't speak from theory," Marshall said. "I speak from lived experience. Recovery isn't something that happens in a few months. It's something you fight for every single day."

Marshall is using her platform to document her recovery, offering an honest look at both the physical and emotional realities of rebuilding a life after catastrophic trauma. Through her writing, videos, and public outreach, she hopes to encourage other survivors while also reminding drivers that one careless decision can change countless lives forever.

"Ortega Highway is beautiful, but it's also unforgiving," Marshall said. "People often don't think about the consequences of distracted or reckless driving until tragedy happens. If sharing my story helps even one person slow down, stay alert, or make a safer choice behind the wheel, then something positive can come from what happened to me."

Marshall also hopes her story sheds light on the long-term realities of recovery. While emergency responders save lives every day, survivors often spend months—or years—rebuilding physically, emotionally, and financially. Her own journey continues as she works toward regaining her independence while adapting to a completely different way of life.

Members of the media interested in speaking with Jean Marshall about her recovery, road safety advocacy, or life after catastrophic injury are encouraged to reach out for interviews and feature stories.

Media Contact:
Jean Marshall
Email: Jeanmarshall36@yahoo.com 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanmarshallsurvivor/

If you'd like to help me continue my recovery and rehabilitation, you can contribute here: GoFundMe link 




SurvivorStory, LifeAfterTrauma, TraumaRecovery, AmputeeLife, DisabilityAwareness, ChronicPainAwareness, PhantomPain, InvisibleDisability, LifeAfterAccident, RoadSafetyAwareness, StopRecklessDriving, HealingJourney, ResilienceStory, RealLifeSurvivor, GoFundMe, SupportRecovery, MedicalFund, LifeAfterInjury, RebuildingLife, HumanImpact, StoryBehindSurvival, AccidentSurvivor, CaliforniaStories





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Location: Lake Elsinore, CA, USA

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