Chelsea Aiken and Chad Ganaway are home after a serious wreck in West Texas four weeks ago. Chelsea is recovering in Warms Springs Hospital in Victoria and Chad returned to his business in Cuero just last week. (Contributed Photo)
Wreck changes lives of couple
by by Glenn Rea, Record Editor
(Posted 12/23/2009 08:28 am)
Chad Ganaway of South Texas Elite Gymnastics and Dance in Cuero and his fiance Chelsea Akin of Victoria had a harrowing experience while returning to South Texas recently.
Both Ganaway and Aiken live in Victoria.
After visiting his family in Hobbs, New Mexico, the couple was driving home at night when their vehicle struck a large cow on a rural highway.
They were driving home on Saturday night, Nov. 28. Chad said he was watching the sides of the road for deer that might run in front of the car. Traveling along FM 11 between Hobbs and Fort Stockton, he hit a 1,400 lb. black cow that was standing in the middle of the highway. He never saw it. The impact sent the animal over the top of the 2005 Honda Civic they were driving ripping the top off the vehicle. He lost control and the car left the roadway to the right and it then crossed the roadway to the left side going through a fence and hitting a tree.
The impact knocked both Ganaway and Aiken unconscious. When he awoke, he was holding his cell phone in his right hand and he was bleeding in several locations.
His fiance did not regain conscientiousness and she was bleeding from a wound to her head.
Although Chad’s left arm was shattered, he was able to call 911 for help. In about 45 minutes an ambulance arrived from Fort Stockton and they immediately called for a medical helicopter to transfer Chelsea to a hospital in Odessa because of her head injury.
Ganaway was taken to Fort Stockton by ambulance but the doctors at that hospital determined his arm injury needed extensive surgery. He was flown by medical helicopter to Odessa also.
Chelsea was in ICU for three or four days as a medical team nursed her back to conscientiousness. She had suffered major trauma to the left side of her head.
The bones in Chad’s arm had been broken in so many places they had to be pinned together.
After two weeks in the Odessa hospital Chelsea was transferred to Warm Springs Hospital in Victoria for recovery therapy.
Ganaway said her recovery has been slow. “Only time will tell,” he said. “We are definitely believing God that she will be healed and restored to her old self.”
He and Chelsea met in 2001 and became engaged in 2006. They are scheduled to be married in March. Ganaway said he is not sure that date is realistic at this point.
“I can’t imagine going through this situation without God,” he said. “I feel I have a second chance and a new purpose on this Earth.”
“My purpose and hopefully with Chelsea, will be to get the word out about God. We know we have a purpose here on Earth and we are anxious for Him to lead us into that.”
Chelsea continues to show signs of recovery. Last week she was able to lift her leg onto the bed as she was assisted back into bed. “Seeing her lift that leg made my day,” Ganaway said.
Chelsea taught ballet and dance at Ganaway’s gym and she was a Zumbia instructor in the Victoria area. Zumbia is a fast, moving dance.
Ganaway’s first day back at his gym was Monday of last week.
Friends and family of Ganaway and Aiken have opened an account at Wells Fargo Bank to assist with medical expenses. It is called the Chad and Chelsea Fund. Those making donations are asked to mention that it was opened by Chad’s father, Billy Ganaway, at a New Mexico Wells Fargo Bank.
Friends and staff members of South Texas Elite Gym also have t-shirts for sale with the words “Pray for Chad and Chelsea”. Proceeds will be to offset medical expenses. Contact Marise Dudley at 361-676-2565 for more information or call South Texas Elite Gym at 275-3547 for more information. Other benefits will be announced in the near future.
“We are anxious and excited to tell our story. It has changed my priority. The main thing is for people to pray for Chelsea’s speedy recovery. Also I want to thank every at STEG that started the fund and t-shirt benefit. Our coaches banded together to keep everything going while I was gone,” he said.
Chad listed at least three miracles that occurred in the wreck and kept them alive. The first was when he recovered conscious and was holding his cell phone. He said he probably would not have been able to find it otherwise to call for help.
The second miracle was that the cow did not come through the windshield after his car hit it.
The third was that the car did not roll as a result of the wreck. Since the cow had torn the top off the car, Chad said he did not see how they could have survived if the car had rolled.
