When Sean Speaks

Recently, Sean Carter and his mom, Jenny Carter, came to visit Graham High School students to speak about the consequences of one’s actions. On March 27, 2005, 22-year-old Sean Carter was out around Wichita Falls at some of the bars checking out girls, drinking, and living a normal college life. His overly drunk friend took both Sean and his other friend home that night. Just five minutes away from Sean’s apartment, the driver lost control and swerved into a tree on the passenger side where Sean was sitting. The firefighters had to use “the jaws of life” to extract him from the vehicle. His pelvis among other body parts were shattered, which resulted in rods and bars being put in his body. Among his other injuries, he suffered a ruptured bladder and spleen and liver lacerations that caused internal bleeding which resulted in being cut open to find and stop the bleeding. One thing he has not been able to recover from was his brain injury. Sean Carter suffered a diffuse axonal injury, a brain injury in which scattered lesions occur over a widespread area in white matter tracts as well as grey matter. Statistically, 90% of people with this injury never wake up from their coma, they stay in a vegetation state. 

Sean described his life as soon as his cognitive ability came back. Life became a living hell as soon as he realized he could not do anything. He quickly became depressed and even wanted to commit suicide. He questioned God as to why He would let that happen to him. Sean quickly realized that his abuse of alcohol was responsible and that God had nothing to do with it and that the Lord is with him through it all. He realized so much while having to cope and learn a new life. Sean spoke about the hardships of life after the accident, like the inability to move around in his bed to get comfortable. Over the course of a decade, Sean has regained some movement in his body, which means he can at least turn over on his side and is continuing to slowly regain use. 

Why God left him here is beyond him but he enjoys every last breath he has. Sean Carter and Jenny Carter spend their time together speaking around the country. He said a lot of things do not matter because he is gonna be the best person he can be. The doctors said he would not be able to walk or talk again but he knew that if he believes he can then he will. Sean believes that drunk driving should be treated as the crime it truly is and be punished for their actions.

The driver in Sean Carter’s accident walked off the scene extremely drunk with no injuries. He was charged for his actions and had a maximum sentence of 12 years but was given probation. This driver had a full-ride athletic scholarship to Baylor and Midwestern State but got kicked out of both due to his drinking habits. The driver has been in and out of rehab since.

Sean Carter says the hardest challenge he has had to overcome is losing his friends. He has made new friends because life goes on, but all of his high school friends have grown up and now have jobs and families. He continues to stay motivated through God. Sean challenges us to not drink until we are at the rightful age of 21. Sean also encourages us to listen to our mothers, after all, they do know best because with age comes wisdom, or so Sean says. Sean, in the state of Texas, is not considered disabled and actually makes his own salary. Sean’s message to everyone is that cars are killing machines and one little choice could affect your entire life.