Ronnie “Tre” Lawson, an educator from Macon, Georgia, in the U.S.A., who survived a 2017 car crash that caused a spinal cord injury, is living beyond what doctors first expected.
He has since regained mobility, built a career in teaching, and shared his story through writing. Lawson was 17 when he was involved in a crash on the way home from a summer track meet.
A friend driving the vehicle fell asleep, causing the car to veer off the road and fall into a 30-foot ravine. He suffered a brain injury, an incomplete T12-L1 spinal cord injury, and abdominal trauma that resulted in loss of sensation from the waist down.
In the months that followed, Lawson said he faced serious mental health struggles and uncertainty about his future. He described a period where he questioned whether he would survive, while relying on support from family, friends, and faith to keep going.
According to 11Alive, he later underwent rehabilitation at the Shepherd Centre in Atlanta, where therapists helped him relearn basic daily functions and rebuild strength. Over time, his condition improved beyond initial expectations, and he progressed to standing and walking short distances with assistance.
Despite ongoing recovery, Lawson continued his education at Fort Valley State University, where he graduated with honours in early childhood and special education. He later pursued graduate studies at Louisiana State University.