Debbi Thomson Geren

I immediately jumped into college, attending 1 semster in Missouri. I found college to be a lot harder after my accident. I then jumped around- one semester at NSU, and then achieved an associates degree in applied science at TJC (now TCC). At first, I was thinking about continuing on with journalism, as I had throughout high school. Then my interest in helping handicapped children came out. So I started looking into becoming a recreational therapist. Reality hit! The working world proved slightly difficult for me, with short term memory limitations and such.
I married a man I had lived with, platonically, the summer of 1988. He is a Union '85 graduate, but we met in Colorado! Funny!! On the night of 7/21/88, I attended a party for a co-worker. Before I left this party, I shared a romantic kiss with the man who is now my husband of 16+ years!
I got a ride home from this party with someone who had too much to drink. He drove his Mazda RX-7 off the highway road, down a mountain slope. The car flipped and all passengers were ejected. That night, I was flown to a Denver hospital by Life Flight Helicopter! I spent the next 2 months comatose! I came out of it by flipping my father off, lol! I was shown lots of photographs from my past, hoping to jog my memory! Jolynn Kendrick (now Harges) even flew up to visit me in rehab. She brought a banner signed by friends and Q-spot friends, where we used to hang out.
Luckily I remember everything well, except for the '87-'88 school year.
I am now the mother of two boys, and that is the best job I could ever ask for!

I attended all 12 years at BA. However, I was in an serious automobile accident the summer of 88, which caused me to miss all of our first semester of our senior year. I was released from the hospital on the condition that I attend a "handicapped" school to further my theraputic recovery. I had to relearn how to walk, talk, all of my self care skills. But I was bummed because I was like the only senior in this school!!! (no senior activities there!) I returned to BA for 2 weeks of school in 1989, so that I could attend our senior prom and attend graduation! What a ride!
Jolynn Kendrick and I used to live at the BA Q-Spot. At least until we found out where the party was! I remember going out to the resevoir out on county line and getting drunk! When I was attending 2nd semester of our senior year in Colorado, I participated in a Humanities project about prom manners. I was changing into my prom dress in a room, with the help of my teacher assistant. I could barely walk any faster than a snail at this point! The fire alarm went off!!! My teacher aide was scrambling, trying to zip me up and I walked slowly out of the school in a poufy prom dress. Two senior guys met me at the door, dressed in their Sunday best, as they were also part of the demonstration. They scooped me up and carried me to the back of the parking lot. Of course, my prom dress hoop skirt made things interesting!