Out of every tragedy comes something positive, and I’m learning this first hand at a young age. I found out who Paige Anderson was and I made a decision, a decision to lead a group of students to raise funds for Paige. This money would go toward her medical bills as her family was struggling financially due to her step dad’s lay off from work.

Inattentive driving can lead to serious tragedies, and that’s what happened to three teenage girls on October 10, 2009. Emmy Foss, 18, of Bovey was a passenger in a car that was driven by 18-year-old Hailey Salo of Grand Rapids. Also in the car was Paige Anderson, 16, of Bovey.

Hailey Salo, driver of the car, apparently pulled out in front of a school bus, which was traveling on U.S. Highway 169. The girls’ car ended up in the ditch, and from there, they were airlifted to Duluth for medical care. Emmy Foss died in the emergency room of St. Mary’s in Duluth. Hailey was in stable condition at St. Luke’s Hospital, and Paige was in critical condition at the same hospital.

The IRYA (Iron Range Youth in Action) youth in Action director, Chris Ismil, informed me that Paige woke up from a coma a month after being in the hospital. When she woke up, she was unable to speak, her entire body was paralyzed, her liver was shredded, her right lung was punctured and collapsed, and her right kidney and pancreas were crushed. It’s a miracle she lived and is able to talk about it today.

I will never forget the day Chris Ismil told me Paige was going to speak to the Virginia High School. I knew I had to be there. I was beyond excited and was fortunate enough to get to meet her as well. Paige shared her story to a little over one thousand students. She shared her feelings, how she got to where she is now in her recovery, and the impact of inattentive driving. She said “Don’t be a distracted driver, that’s how I ended up in a wheelchair.” Paige also told us that we need to put our cell phone away until we get to where we are going or pull over if it is an emergency. The biggest impact for me was when I was talking to her myself and she said, “It’s a simple choice not to be distracted while driving, you could save someone’s life by doing one little thing. Concentrate on driving, nothing else.”

Paige Anderson made me look at life in a completely different way then I had been. I realized that I don’t appreciate my life as much as I should. I am able to move freely, walk, dance, and do normal teenage activities. These everyday activities are difficulties and struggles for Paige to achieve at this point of her recovery. I understand that there is more to life than these daily activities. There is the chance to smile, to laugh, and love, These gifts take precedent. Listening and watching Paige has given me love and compassion for her and for people that have suffered and lost these gifts. My love has grown for them and I want to do as much as I can to lift them up.

Iron Range Youth in Action in ten different schools across the Iron Range raised $9,000 for Paige. There were many different fundraisers; everyone was doing what they could to help support Paige and her family.

After I met Paige in Virginia, we have become great friends! We text each other and at the moment we are trying to set something up where Paige and I can just have a girl’s day. I am truly blessed to have a friend like Paige, an inspiration for myself and others.

My final thought is 'how much is too much to give' when someone has lost so much? The answer is, there isn’t enough, you can never love enough. I will always look up to and love Paige for being so strong and having the strength to share her story. Paige Anderson has opened my eyes; I hope she has opened yours.