Before Everything Changed
At nineteen, Amy Mines lived inside an uncertain world. She was a college student studying to become a veterinarian, deeply connected to her parents, and very certain of the path in front of her. But within a few months, her world shifted in ways no young adult could ever prepare for. A snowmobile accident, a traumatic brain injury, and the unexpected loss of both parents left her navigating the sort of grief and recovery that seeped into every corner of her days.
Yet even in the disorienting fog that followed, those weeks when her memory felt slippery - when time moved unevenly, when the future looked dim - her story found a strong foothold. When her family didn’t know where to turn, Easterseals Midwest stepped in, offering stability, support, and place to begin again. What began as help finding somewhere safe to live gradually grew into something a lot bigger: a long, determined path toward independence and the life she feared had disappeared forever.
A Season of Loss and Survival
In the time following her accident, Amy faced challenges that went beyond physical recovery. The traumatic brain injury left her with gaps in memory and a world she no longer recognized. The loss of her parents, coming one right after the other, meant that the emotional scaffolding she had always depended on was suddenly gone. She describes that period as a blur she can’t fully recall, yet one she still feels the weight of all the time.
Without a stable place to live and still learning how to walk, communicate, and navigate daily life again, she and her family were overwhelmed.
“I didn’t really have a chance to grieve,” she said, and in many ways, that remains the quiet truth beneath everything.
The grief wasn’t just for her parents, but for her independence, her plans, and the version of her life she thought she was returning to after winter break. The thing she desperately needed was more than therapy or temporary help. She needed structure, safety, and a community that could hold space for her healing while giving her a place to grow. Something steady enough to anchor her, but also flexible enough to build a future that looked nothing like she had envisioned.
Finding a Lifeline in the Unknown
When Amy and her family first walked through the doors of Easterseals Midwest, they were looking for a lifeline, and what they found was a team ready to offer that. The first act of support was simple: helping Amy secure a safe place to live. An apartment with a roommate was a foundation for rebuilding a life that had been interrupted in every imaginable way.
From there, Easterseals became a constant presence in her recovery. Therapists, case managers, and staff helped her relearn everyday skills and navigate the emotional terrain of trauma and loss. They understood that healing for Amy was more than something physical, but also deeply personal. Each goal they set with her acknowledged the independent young woman she had been and the independent adult she longed to become.
Slowly regaining her strength, Easterseals was there for each milestone: adapting her home so she could shower on her own for the first time in years, building routines that restored a sense of stability, and encouraging her to take ownership of her own health. Whenever confidence wavered, something that Amy has been open about, her team held the belief for her until she could hold more of it herself.
At the beginning, Easterseals was a service provider for Amy. Now, it’s a community that has reminded her she’s not alone, a place where progress was noticed, celebrated, and gently nudged ahead. The first real step toward reclaiming the life she had fought so hard to build again.
"Each new step I take feels like I’m getting one piece of my independence back.”
Small Steps to Rebuild
Amy’s journey was never marked by dramatic leaps, but by small, steady steps that slowly reshaped her world. The transformation she describes is equal parts physical, emotional, and deeply practical. Relearning how to walk, for example, was likely the hardest challenge she’s ever faced. But every appointment and each moment of trying again became part of the foundation she stands on today.
And over time, those steps added up. She became a lot more involved in her own care, learning medications by sight, name, and purpose. She attended grief and anxiety lectures, not because anyone required it, but because she wanted to understand herself a little better and take control of her life. Slowly, these decisions brewed up confidence about her health, her routines, and how she wanted the future to look.
“It’s just one step further,” she said, and in her voice there’s mountains of humility.
The way Amy carries her growth stands out the most: gently, honestly, and without romanticizing the hard parts. She acknowledges the confidence she’s still working to rebuild and she honors the progress she’s already made. None of this is a finished chapter, but instead an unfolding one, that is powered by resilience, community, and her steadfast determination.
Her Life: Today
Today, her life looks very different from the uncertain years that followed her accident, and the progress she’s made is woven into the rhythms of her everyday independence.
Her family remains a source of support, especially her brother, who shows up for everything from home repairs to helping her navigate big life events. With their encouragement, along with the backing of Easterseals Midwest, she’s moving forward with a clear vision.
And she still admits she’s working on feeling a little more confident, but knows she’s closer than ever. Each new milestone gives her the proof, in her own words, that she’s “one step further.” And while her journey is still unfolding, Amy stands today as someone who has fought hard to reclaim her life and continues to shape it on her own terms.
Hope
It’s a story that isn’t wrapped in neat conclusions or a dramatic declaration, but something braver. More enduring. She continues to build her confidence, trusting that each new skill and milestone is proof that a fuller, more independent future is within reach. She knows there is still work ahead, but meets that future the same way she faced everything else: with determination, and a belief that she is not alone on the path.
When she thinks about what she wants others to take away from her experience, her words are unwavering: speak up for yourself, stay positive, and remember that help exists. Healing rarely rides a straight line. Independence doesn’t come from a single moment. Everything is a collection of steady, courageous choices made over a long period of time.
With her family beside her, her care team behind her, and a community around her, Amy is moving toward a life defined not by what she lost, but by what she has yet to build… piece by piece, step by step, with the steady strength that has carried her this far.
“Don’t be afraid to speak up for yourself. You’re not alone. There’s help.”
This Is Just One Voice
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