Crash Victim Reunites With Nurse Who Saved Her Life In 1979

ATLANTA - Oct. 1, 2014 - PRLog -- Carol Harper was on her way to work in Atlanta when she was hit head-on by a drunk driver on July 7, 1979.  In the 100 m.p.h. impact, her face was ripped apart from her skull and her facial bones were crushed to powder. A nurse from Northside Hospital was behind the drunk driver and witnessed the crash.

Deborah Leslie, an intensive care nurse quickly rushed to Ms. Harper's car and pulled her out of the wreckage. She checked for a pulse but Carol was not breathing. Deborah resuscitated her and got her breathing on her own. Mrs. Leslie called an ambulance and Carol was taken to Northside Hospital.  If Mrs. Leslie hadn't witnessed the crash and come to Carol's aid, she would be dead.

A traumatic brain injury left Ms. Harper in a coma and her attending nurse was Mrs. Leslie. The doctor told Carol's husband she would not live through the night. She survived but had six surgeries to rebuild her face but never looked the same.

Ms. Harper's car was totaled, her facial bones crushed, she lost her job and her marriage ended in a divorce. Carol didn't give up but found a way to help others through her adversity.

Carol is now on the Victim Impact Panel for Mothers Against Drunk Driving and speaks at schools in hopes of educating the students about drinking and driving. Every time she speaks, she mentions the nurse who saved her life.

A few weeks ago, Ms. Harper received an anonymous email from someone who found the nurse. Deborah Leslie remarried and is now going by Oliver. Carol called Mrs. Oliver and they met today.

Ms. Harper told Deborah she has a daughter and is going to have a granddaughter on December 2nd. Deborah not only saved one life but three. Carol has been searching for her for over thirty years.

Carol wrote a book, Of Face Value, based on her true story and presented Mrs. Oliver with a copy of her book. This was one small way Carol was able to thank Deborah. It was a joyous reunion after thirty five years.

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