Mark Bennett: Life changed 'in blink of an eye' -- Laura Burdick focuses on helping others

Nov. 2—Audiences listening to Laura Burdick feel a twinge of inspiration.

They might decide to write that novel, take that trip, learn a new language.

Her listeners likely realize their reasons for avoiding such challenges aren't as compelling as they thought.

Burdick's message hinges on accepting challenges.

"I think the most important thing about my approach to all of this is the willingness to say 'yes' to new things and to try new things," Burdick said Wednesday.

"I have taken the approach to put myself out there. The word that comes to mind is 'contribute.' What can I do to contribute?" she continued. "I have committed myself to make myself present to other people."

Burdick has determined to not let "all of this" inhibit her desire to interact, be herself and help others. Burdick will explain her outlook as the featured speaker at Saturday night's sold-out YMCA Inspiration Gala in the Terre Haute Convention Center downtown. The theme of the 36-year-old Terre Haute native's message is "In a Blink of an Eye."

Three years ago, life changed that quick.

Burdick — the general manager of a yoga student and nutrition-and-wellness businesswoman — was driving home from work along a frontage road on the northside of Chicago on a Friday in May 2020. The driver of a car on adjacent Interstate 94 lost control of her car, leaving I-94 and eventually crashing into Burdick's vehicle, according to Burdick's CaringBridge.org page — an online platform for health journaling and encouragement. The collision nearly killed Burdick, who suffered a spinal cord injury and brain trauma.

She was taken to the ICU of a hospital in Evanston, Ill. Hospitalized through the summer, Burdick's brain began healing. Burdick then was transferred to a premier spinal cord rehabilitation center in Omaha, Neb. She spent 11 months there. Her parents — Jim and Ellen Burdick of Terre Haute — moved to Omaha, renting an apartment there. The emerging COVID-19 pandemic limited her folks' visits to one hour weekly. Yet, they stayed in Omaha.

Burdick's parents, her brother and sister and their families rallied behind her.

"I don't really even know that I could put words to that. They were immediately and fully present and looked out for me along the way," Burdick recalled. "My family definitely showed up."

Friends and strangers pulled for her, too. Burdick's CaringBridge.org page, which explains her story and progress, has amassed 188,311 visits.

Three years later, through surgeries and physical therapies, Burdick exceeds the medical teams early expectations for a person with quadriplegia. "They were impressed with my desire to keep pushing and keep trying," she said. Burdick now can use her arms "pretty well" and can breathe on her own. She returned to Terre Haute for a year, but today lives in Indianapolis with her brother, his wife and their two kids.

Her hometown was supportive and welcoming. "I really appreciated the tightness of the community and the support my family received," Burdick said. "Terre Haute was a good place to land after all this, and a very good place to grow up."

From her wheelchair, Burdick now teaches a yoga class and crafts nutrition programs for people. She's applying to pursue a doctoral degree, hoping to become a college professor in public health or health-and-wellness research.

She's even written the first couple chapters of a potential book. That's a feat others suggested Burdick try, years before "all of this."

At that point, Burdick had earned a bachelor's degree from Notre Dame, where she also competed on the Fighting Irish's rowing team, and a master's in public health from Saint Louis University. After going through preschool through eight grade at St. Patrick School, Burdick excelled academically and athletically at Terre Haute North High School, where she earned 14 letters in four sports.

At one point, Burdick played two North tennis seasons without losing a match. "I always told my dad, 'I'm really not that good. I just refuse to lose,'" Burdick said.

With that resume and her business work, friends told her, "You should write a book."

Now, years later, she's seriously considering it. "OK, now I have plenty of content to write a book," Burdick quipped.

Her progress and rehabilitation has been helped by her athletic background. "Yes, absolutely. All of the discipline I've learned in competing in all those sports helped," she said. Burdick realized "that I could grind it out.

"And I also knew the value of teamwork," she added.

Teamwork with family, friends and healthcare staff fueled her progress in physical therapy and in conversations.

"I was going to need people who would be, one, hands on and physically helpful but, two, also being emotionally available," Burdick said.

One particular blessing has been "friends treating me like I'm not any different and including me," she said.

She doesn't like dwelling on what-ifs, but understandably has coped with those thoughts.

"If it had been a few seconds different, I'd have been the one seeing the other driver crashing her car and helping her out," Burdick said. "But that isn't what happened."

Her mission and purpose, though, are different now, too. Both have value to people she encounters.

"I think I'm able to have some good, insightful information for them," Burdick said, "because they wouldn't have to have this accident happen to them to get something out of what I have to say."

She's spoken to large groups in Terre Haute and Chicago, as well as smaller gatherings like a physical therapy class at Indiana State University earlier this week. The response has been strong.

"They say that they are inspired to do things they've been putting off," Burdick said.

Her Catholic faith plays a large role for her, too.

"I definitely have asked God some hard questions and hoped to sense some clarity and feel some clarity in what I am supposed to do with this," Burdick said. "My path is not clear, but through prayer and leaning on God, I know there is a purpose for all this. And I will uncover it someday."

In the meantime, she said, "If there's an opportunity come my way, I'm going to do my best to make it happen."

Mark Bennett can be reached at 812-231-4377 or mark.bennett@tribstar.com.