Scarred for life by a violent traffic accident that cost her a leg and her dog, a 51-year-old trucker who can no longer make a living from her passion wants to “be useful to society” in other ways.
On October 4, Isabelle Ouellet was on her way to her home in Bas-Saint-Laurent after a delivery when the tragedy struck on Highway 90 in Buffalo, United States.
An accident forced a significant traffic delay just as a tow truck pulled up right in front of his 18-wheel truck, forcing him to brake suddenly and veer from his lane. But it was too little, too late.
Photo provided by Isabelle Ouellet
The accident happened on October 4th on Highway 90 in Buffalo.
Under the force of the impact, her dog, Louka, who was accompanying her, lost her life as the body of her truck crashed into her.
His left foot was pierced while his right leg was trapped under the sheet metal.
“To save me, the rescuers had no choice but to strip my leg. I was afraid of dying, I drained my blood through the femoral artery, ”says the one who was taken to a Buffalo hospital by helicopter.
Photo provided by Isabelle Ouellet
His dog, Louka, who was with him, died under the force of the impact.
A variety of operations
Three weeks later, with her leg amputated and out of danger, Ms. Ouellet was transferred to Enfant-Jésus Hospital in Quebec, where she underwent a variety of surgeries to save her remaining foot.
However, the severity of her injuries will require her to use a walker, cane or wheelchair for the rest of her life.
Photo provided by Isabelle Ouellet
Isabelle Ouellet’s left foot was also pierced by an iron bar in the collision.
preserve morale
She will have to say goodbye to the job she loves and forget her dream of working with her husband, who is also a truck driver.
“Our lives have been completely turned upside down, but I’m happy with that,” says the 51-year-old with 20 years of truck experience.
“After the surgery I looked at what was left of my leg and thanked her for her sacrifice. She absorbed the shock and allowed me to be alive,” she says, keeping my spirits up.
Despite her disability, Isabelle Ouellet wants to “make herself useful to society” and would like to teach future truckers the trade. Her own way of staying in the universe she saw growing up.
“I want to get out of there by sharing my passion with young people, I have no intention of staying in my corner and doing nothing!” she says.
To do this, however, she must be able to travel with the help of an adapted vehicle, an acquisition that is beyond her means when the family income has halved since the accident.
So his family started a fundraiser on the GoFundMe platform to help him thrive despite his new condition.
A difficult recovery
- October 4, 2022: Accident near Buffalo, USA and transport to Erie County Medical Center.
- October 8, 2022: Amputation of the right leg.
- October 25, 2022: Transferred from Buffalo to Enfant-Jésus Hospital in Quebec.
- November to December 2022: Several operations on the left foot to ‘save’ it and ensure healing of the right leg stump.
- December 21, 2022: Drive to Charny Physical Disability Rehabilitation Center.
- 2023 to 2024: Rehabilitation to improve left leg mobility and learning to move using various equipment.
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