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 News from Around Banderas Bay | August 2007 
Woman Rebuilds Life After Near-Fatal Injuries
 William Bayne - Commercial Appeal
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| | Elizabeth Sullivan was badly injured in a car accident in 2002. But after multiple surgeries, Sullivan recovered from disfiguring injuries and is competing in an international modeling contest in Puerto Vallarta today. | 
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A Tennessee woman who was almost killed in a traffic accident five years ago will compete in an international modeling competition in Mexico today.
Elizabeth "Betsy" Sullivan, 25, who plans to graduate from the University of Memphis in December, was selected as one of 100 contestants from 10 countries in the 23rd annual UjENA Bikini Jam in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
The contest offers more than $200,000 in prize money, gifts and contracts from 35 corporate and media partner companies.
Chances didn't appear nearly as bright for Sullivan following an accident on Holly Grove Road near Covington, Tenn., on the night of Aug. 8, 2002.
"Bright lights from an oncoming car caused us to leave the road and when we tried to recover, there was an overcorrection and we slammed into a culvert," she said.
One friend, riding in the back seat of the convertible, was killed. Betsy and another friend were injured critically.
"I was airlifted to the (Regional Medical Center at Memphis). My father was in Canada at the time. They called him to tell him he needed to get to the hospital soon because I might not make it," she said softly.
Her injuries filled a catalog. The right side of her face was crushed, her right leg and ankle were broken, her lower lip and most of the skin on the right side of her face were torn away.
The damage to her right eye resulted in permanent blindness.
Her front teeth had been knocked out and the upper jaw bone was broken.
A piece of steel had gone through her left kneecap and she had cuts, tears and bruises all over her body.
"I was pretty much out of it for a while," she said.
But doctors and specialists at The Med went to work. There were multiple surgeries beginning after the accident and continuing through last December when Betsy's upper jawbone was replaced with an implant.
"If you get real close, you can see where they worked on my lip and you can still see where they had to work around my right eye," she said.
Three years ago she began a modeling career, serving as a spokesmodel - a model making live appearances for particular products.
"I've worked in Memphis and in L.A., North Carolina and Florida," she said. "I also had a small role in a film that was being shot for a film festival entry."
She hopes to continue her modeling career after law school and she said the Bikini Jam contest could help further that career.
"I'm probably going to be in some of UjENA's catalog shots if I do well in the contest," she said.
She has been nominated for the UjENA Talent Members Choice Award. To vote for her, log in at UjenaTalent.com HERE.
William C. Bayne: (662) 996-1408 |
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