FLORENCE, S.C. — A veteran South Carolina paramedic who was critically injured after her ambulance was struck by a drunk driver is turning her attention back to helping others again.
WBTW reported that it has been two months since Florence County EMS paramedic Tessie Odom Smith was injured in the crash. Smith had five operations over the course of 22 days and lost her right leg as a result of the crash. Joshua Craig, the EMT who was also in the ambulance at the time of the crash, suffered minor injuries.
Smith said she doesn’t remember much from before and after the crash, but she’s looking ahead.
“It can happen that quick and nobody is immune to it,” Smith said. “I have my good days and bad days, but for the most part they are good … and on those bad days they give me about five minutes and I’m done with the bad days.”
Smith received an outpour of support from the community, from a GoFundMe page to an escort home after being in the hospital.
On May 9, she’s helping with a blood drive at the Howe Springs Fire Department — an event she has been in charge of for the past six years.
“I used 25 units of blood and that’s our goal every time we have a blood drive,” she said. “So in just a day or two I used a whole blood drive.”
The driver who hit Smith’s ambulance was charged with driving under suspension and felony DUI.
“At this point, I couldn’t tell you his name. I don’t know what he looks like,” Smith said. “That’s the last thing on my mind right now. My goal is to get better.”