University of Nebraska Medical Center nursing student, Christi Lehman has been selected as a nominee for the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics N4A Wilma Rudolph Student Athlete Achievement Award. But 10 years ago, Lehman didn’t know if she would ever walk again.
At 12-years-old, Lehman lay in a hospital bed with a broken back. Lehman, who had been active in sports since first grade, was suppose to go to the U.S. Olympic Training Center to train in gymnastics just one week after the accident.
Lehman, who grew up in Newton, Kan., just north of Wichita, was helping her father cut down a tree in their yard. The tree fell on her back.
Then began the painful and long process of surgeries and rehabilitation. During an 8-and-a-half-hour emergency surgery, surgeons took bone from her hip and fused three or four vertebrae together and stabilized the spine with two steel rods.
“It was a waiting game then,” Lehman said. “After about a week in the hospital in Wichita, I was transferred to a rehabilitation hospital for a month. I had a great PT (physical therapist) who specialized in spinal injuries.”
For the first time in her life, Lehman said she felt helpless.
“I was feeling angry, frustrated and depressed,” Lehman said. “I went from being an active child to nothing, not knowing if I could have ever walked. I lost control of my bowel and bladder, I couldn’t even roll over, bathe myself, dress or anything. It was a really hard time. My dad had a lot of guilt. It was difficult on our whole family.
“When I went back to school in seventh grade, I was in a wheelchair and felt everyone was looking at me. I was 12 and it’s a tough age anyway,” she said.
Talking about her experience years later still brings tears to her eyes.
Physicians told her and her family she had a 50/50 chance of being able to walk again. At first she was in a wheelchair, then amazingly, graduated to a walker then braces, and finally a cane. Then, amazingly, Lehman was walking again within six months by herself after six months. Shortly after that, began participating in sports again and within a year after the accident, could do everything she could before the accident.
“I felt the Lord has truly blessed me,” Lehman said. “I know I had so much support from my church family. They continued to pray for me. I put in the time and effort but I believe it was all God.”
“I’ve had some great experiences,” she said about being in track and nursing. “It’s challenging. I give a lot of credit to my professors and coaches for being flexible with me. I’m going to look back and be glad I did it. I have some great opportunities.”
She’s also chalked up victorious successes in track and field at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In indoor pole vault, her personal best is 13-5 ¼ and in outdoor, 13-4. Last year she was a National Collegiate Athletic Association All-American in Indoor Pole Vault. Just a few of the many honors she has under her feet are Big 12 Champion Pole Vault 2003 (indoor); Academic All-Big 12 First Team (2003, 2004); NCAA Midwest Regional Pole Vault Champion, 2003 (outdoor); NCAA Division I Track Coaches Association All-Academic Team (2003, 2004); and Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (Fall 2002, Spring 2003, Fall 2004, Spring 2004).
Most recently, Lehman was selected as the UNL woman athlete nominee for the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics N4A Wilma Rudolph Student Athlete Achievement Award. The award honors student athletes who have overcome great personal, academic, and/or emotional odds to achieve academic success while participating in intercollegiate athletics.
She is one of a number of nominees from five regions across the country who will compete in the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics N4A Wilma Rudolph Student Athlete Achievement Award. Winners from each region will be announced in June at the national convention.
One of her academic athletic advisors, Keith Zimmer, said Christi exemplifies the term “student-athlete.” “She is a dedicated student, tremendous athlete and even better person. I admire her resolve and persistence. She will no doubt excel in all future aspirations,” Zimmer said.
One of Lehman’s nursing professors, Shirley Wiggins, Ph.D., UNMC College of Nursing Lincoln Division, wrote a letter of support for her nomination. “I didn’t know anything about Christi’s sporting involvement until she asked me for a reference, but during the entire time she was on the floor in pediatrics last semester, she did exceptional work with children and their families. Her selection from this campus was an honor in itself. I consider her a winner as the nominee,” Dr. Wiggins said. Kristy has a special way she relates with the children she cares for. I’m very proud of her-this is a neat honor for a very hard working student.”
Lehman said the challenges of her accident enables her to better relate to patients. “I’ve been on the other side. I know how many family reacted and I can truly understand what they are going through,” she said.