Jacqueline Saburido

A hero is someone who overcomes their fears, never gives up or gives up hope. Someone who always has their head held up high, no matter how bad things get. A hero is someone who has had their life changed but still finds a way to be strong, someone who has changed their life around. Jacqueline Saburido came from Venezuela to the US to study English. She wanted to take a break from college and industrial engineering classes when she came to the US. But what she didn’t know was a drunk driving crash would change her life completely.

Early on a Sunday morning September 19,1999 Jacqui and 4 friends were on their way home from a birthday party. Reggie Stephy, an 18 year old student, was on his way home from drinking beer with his friends. Reggie always had a couple of beer and drove himself home, so no one thought of anything when he went home that night. Driving down a dark road Jaqui and her friends came head on with Reggie's SUV. Two of Jacquis friends were killed at the scene and two were rescued. Jacqui was in the front seat stuck when the car caught fire, no one was able to help her because rescue was on their way, all they could do was watch. Jacqui burned almost 60% of her body.

Jacqui went through a lot after the accident, her whole life was changed. She hands were burned so badly that she had to have her fingers amputated. She lost all of her hair, her ears, her nose, her left eyelid and most of her vision. Since the crash she has had more than 50 operations and she still has more to come.” My life completely, completely, completely changed". Jacqui life is different now she can’t do the entire thing she was able to do before, she needs lots of care. Jacqui hopes to fall in love and have children she says, "I hope I can do so soon, you know, because life is now."

Reggie Stephey has to live with the fact that he has destroyed someone’s life. One decision he made changed his whole life. On June 2001 Reggie was convicted of two counts of intoxication manslaughter for the deaths of Jacqui’s two friends, he was sentenced to seven years in prison and fined $20,000. Jacqui and Reggie now help out with drinking and driving. Jacqui is still giving hope that one day people will stop drinking and driving.

Jacqui has never given up hope or wanted to give up. She was very brave and never doubted doctors, and always believed that she would get better. She shows people how no matter how tough things get, you can always pull through. She forgave Reggie for what he did, and doesn’t hate him for it. She has made me appreciate life as it is, and has showed me to be grateful for what I have.