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Marilyn Stevens was a healthy, vivacious 22-year-old with a big, bright world ahead of her until May 16, 1985 when an accident involving a semi truck on an interstate highway in Tampa left her with severe brain damage. The only reason she is alive today is because she was fortunate the accident occurred near Tampa General Hospital, a Level 1 Trauma Center. She had extreme damage to her brain and her family was warned that if she lived, it would likely be in a vegetative state. But the excellent team of physicians, specialists, therapists, and nurses at Tampa General refused to give up on the hope of a productive life for their 22-year-old coma patient. While she suffered a tracheotomy, strokes and cardiac arrests, the team of surgeons operated on her brain and put their invaluable skill into keeping her alive. Each trauma center team member was key to her survival and brought a high-degree of knowledge and expertise, from the neurosurgeon to critical care specialists.

Marilyn was in a coma for seven weeks and woke up on her 23rd birthday. When she awoke, she asked the nurse who the visitors were who kept coming to see her. She had no memory of the accident or of her family. Five-and-a-half months of rehabilitation followed; she had to relearn among other things how to walk, eat, brush her teeth, and write.

Tampa General has touched this family in many ways; their daughter was born there. And Marilyn's life was saved and rehabilitated there. While she walks with the aid of a cane, speaks slowly, and is unable to open her left hand, Marilyn and her husband, Terence, are thankful she is alive. Although she is damaged from the accident, she realizes what a gift life is and how fortunate she was to be treated at a Level I Trauma Center. "We appreciate life more... it's like having a second chance at life," expressed Marilyn Stevens.