by Natalia Kirychuk, Public Relations Writer
One year after a near-fatal accident with a semi-truck, Cedarville University sophomore AJ Ervin believes his experience has made him a better person. If given the opportunity, he wouldn’t change anything.
That’s an incredible statement from a 19-year-old who required assistance from emergency workers to survive the accident on Route 42 in Xenia, OH. Ervin was placed in a medically induced coma at Miami Valley Hospital after suffering heavy brain damage in the December 2, 2015, accident. He returned to classes in August.
Six months after the accident, doctors were surprised at how far Ervin had progressed in such a short amount of time.
By June 2016, Ervin had completed intense therapy, and with the help of The Cove, Cedarville’s nationally recognized academic enrichment center, history professor Tom Mach, Ph.D., and some Cedarville University friends, he completed a May semester class.
“The recovery process was not all about me,” said Ervin. “Three different doctors said that the recovery was obviously a God thing.”
Now, one year after the accident, Ervin and his family are thankful for the help he’s received.
“God has been so gracious to us,” said Ervin’s mother, Amy. “So many people have come alongside us from all over the globe to walk with us through this journey.”
Ervin still struggles with short-term memory and a personality change. But he quickly points out that the accident helped him grow personally.
“The Cedarville faculty, staff and students showed so much love through my accident, from visiting the hospital, to writing notes, to giving my family meals,” said Ervin. “There was just a constant outpouring of love from so many people from the university – many of whom I didn't even personally know.”
Ervin continues to utilize The Cove and meets with a student mentor to make sure he can successfully navigate a full class schedule.
“Our biggest desire from day one of this tragedy was to honor our God whom we owe everything to,” said Amy Ervin. “We pray daily that we point others to Christ.”
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 3,760 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 100 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.
That’s an incredible statement from a 19-year-old who required assistance from emergency workers to survive the accident on Route 42 in Xenia, OH. Ervin was placed in a medically induced coma at Miami Valley Hospital after suffering heavy brain damage in the December 2, 2015, accident. He returned to classes in August.
Six months after the accident, doctors were surprised at how far Ervin had progressed in such a short amount of time.
By June 2016, Ervin had completed intense therapy, and with the help of The Cove, Cedarville’s nationally recognized academic enrichment center, history professor Tom Mach, Ph.D., and some Cedarville University friends, he completed a May semester class.
“The recovery process was not all about me,” said Ervin. “Three different doctors said that the recovery was obviously a God thing.”
Now, one year after the accident, Ervin and his family are thankful for the help he’s received.
“God has been so gracious to us,” said Ervin’s mother, Amy. “So many people have come alongside us from all over the globe to walk with us through this journey.”
Ervin still struggles with short-term memory and a personality change. But he quickly points out that the accident helped him grow personally.
“The Cedarville faculty, staff and students showed so much love through my accident, from visiting the hospital, to writing notes, to giving my family meals,” said Ervin. “There was just a constant outpouring of love from so many people from the university – many of whom I didn't even personally know.”
Ervin continues to utilize The Cove and meets with a student mentor to make sure he can successfully navigate a full class schedule.
“Our biggest desire from day one of this tragedy was to honor our God whom we owe everything to,” said Amy Ervin. “We pray daily that we point others to Christ.”
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 3,760 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 100 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.