‘What choice do you have?’: How a Massachusetts woman redefined her life for others after tragedy

I'm Boston 25 news reporter Daniel Coats on scene in Hanson where a woman is giving back to her community Even in the face of tragedy. I lost my whole livelihood. I'm crying up He's had sometimes to talk about it 20 years later flashbacks from a Brockton Hospital tragedy still linger for 66 year old Janine Adams I lost my friend my livelihood and all of a sudden it's gone in one day The handsome woman started at the Brockton Hospital in 1977 as a student four years later the manager for a therapist in the radiation unit until October 15th 2007 when Janine was behind the front desk the next thing I remember hearing people and saying what went on and they said you were in an accident She woke up in a hospital bed Learning her co-workers a doctor and secretary in her unit had died after a senior citizen behind the wheel Barreled through their doors. I was only visible by my hair My femur was broken up by the hip and I guess it was an 18 different fragments She suffered an orbital fracture had stitches around her. I broke her pelvis and lost three teeth Charles Her husband was by her bedside until the second day. He visited when nurses realized something was wrong Well, they said he was like deer in the headlights is what I said It was almost like you like a person that wasn't there He'd suffered a spontaneous brain hemorrhage from the stress rushed to a Boston Hospital where he spent nine weeks The two got back home around the same time both requiring health aides in Hanson I ended up having to go upstairs when he came home because he needed the hospital bed after intense physical therapy Janine was able to walk on her own one year after the incident her husband though died only two years later from health complications I was just Contempt stay into the house don't go in anywhere. I was just depressed She forced herself to keep moving First signing up for a partnership program at the Hanover why where she became a volunteer just one year later for others in need she since poured herself into nearby nonprofits and foundations like the Hanson food pantry animal rescue groups and Much more on the South Shore. Everybody says how did you do it? It's like what what choice do you have her days are now packed doing what she was meant to do caring for others I just tried to find some reason to feel like I'm still Contributing to the world Adams also told me that she's still dealing with brain damage PTSD Especially on these roads and chronic pain even in the most basic activities on to enhance it I'm Daniel Coates for your local station, Boston 25