A Georgia man paralyzed from the neck down from a car crash in a third world country had the presence of mind to tell paramedics there how to care for him.
Not long before he went on vacation to Trinidad and Tobago, Justin Lake finished his EMT training. What he learned there -- and how quickly his family was able to get him home -- may have been the difference between life and death.
Lake is currently undergoing treatment at the Shepherd Center for the devastating injuries he suffered in Tobago after a drunk driver hit him.
"Came over the top of the hill and just slammed into the back of us, going about 80 to 100 probably," said Lake.
The crash compressed his spin and broke five vertebrae.
"I can just remember laying in the backseat, being about as helpless as I possibly could be. Couldn't really yell or talk or anything. Just being paralyzed," said Lake.
In those moments of incredible fear, Justin realized that the first responders caring for him had never seen anything like this, so he directed them on what to do.
"And I was just trying to walk him through it, pretty much just on pure adrenaline, knowing this is my legs,knowing how bad my injuries are going to be is determined in these few minutes of c-spine stabilization," said Lake.
His parents back home soon got the news.
"It was really a life or death situation that they get him back here," said Larry Lake, Justin's father.
Justin described conditions in his first hospital as horrific. Doctors at the second didn't discover all his injuries. It wasn't until he was back in Georgia that Justin felt like he was in capable hands.
"We know that God has him here for a reason, and he knows that, so we're going to build from that," said his mother, Linda Lake.
Now in physical therapy, Justin says his lowest point is behind him.
"People think that they're healing me, you know, ‘You're going to be better when you leave.' It's not like that. They're preparing me, if this is what I'm going to be like for the rest of my life," said Justin Lake.
Right now Justin can control his head, his shoulders and arms. He's hoping to expand that to his hands. He says he hopes his story inspires anyone traveling to a third world country to have an emergency plan in place.
A federal court has struck down Fayette County's at-large method of electing members to certain county offices, saying the method was a violation of the Voting Rights Act.
A federal court has struck down Fayette County's at-large method of electing members to certain county offices, saying the method was a violation of the Voting Rights Act.
Two Clark Atlanta University students who call themselves brothers despite being from opposite sides of the world have graduated as valedictorian and salutatorian.
Two Clark Atlanta University students who call themselves brothers despite being from opposite sides of the world have graduated as valedictorian and salutatorian.
Gov. Nathan Deal says he believes in the right of atheist groups to donate literature for use in cabins and lodges in Georgia's state parks just as Bibles are allowed.
Gov. Nathan Deal says he believes in the right of atheist groups to donate literature for use in cabins and lodges in Georgia's state parks just as Bibles are allowed.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:44 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:44:17 GMT
A Jasper County teen was reunited with an EMT who helped save her life 13 years ago.
A Jasper County teen was reunited with an EMT who helped save her life 13 years ago. FOX 5 viewers provided information that led Alyssa Haskew to the moment she's waited more than a decade for: to say thank you to Scott Thomas.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:34 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:34:58 GMT
Parents are asking about the safety of the schools in the event of a tornado after the devastation suffered in Moore, Okla.
Parents are asking about the safety of the schools in the event of a tornado after the devastation suffered in Moore, Okla. School and emergency officials insist having kids sheltered in school buildings rather than being picked up is the best solution.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:22 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:22:14 GMT
Tea party groups and Georgia Republican leaders are gathered at the state Capitol on Tuesday to protest the targeting of conservative groups by the Internal Revenue Service.
Tea party groups and Georgia Republican leaders are gathered at the state Capitol on Tuesday to protest the targeting of conservative groups by the Internal Revenue Service.
1551 Briarcliff Rd., NE Atlanta, GA 30306
Main Number: (404) 875-5555 News Tips: (404) 898-0100
Justin Lake was paralyzed from the neck down from a car crash in Tobago.
