On Oct. 7, OHS sophomore  Madi Lauzon was in a life-altering  side-by-side accident. Since then,  Madi has returned to school with a  refreshed outlook on her life.  

The Lauzon’s rented their  house out for the Ole Miss vs.  Arkansas football game and went  to their family’s farm along with  Knox Dixon.  

“We were driving down a gravel  road, lost control and flipped  several times with the side-by side landing on my head, neck, and  back,” Madi Lauzon said. “Knox and  Wyatt were also in the crash. They  lifted it off me.” 

Madi Lauzon’s parents got to  them as soon as they could and  rushed to the Grenada hospital.  Once arriving, Madi was airlifted  to Jackson. Not only was this scary  for Madi Lauzon, this was hard to  watch for her parents.  

“Watching her get strapped  onto a gurney to be airlifted to  Jackson was one of the absolute  scariest moments of my life,”  Lauren Lauzon said. “Once she  got to Jackson, she went into  emergency trauma surgery.” 

In Jackson, the Lauzons were  informed that Madi Lauzon had  dislocated her shoulder as well as  elbow with top and bottom bones  in her arms sticking out of her skin.  All tissues and ligaments in her  arm were ripped out. Also, her jaw  was broken in three places which  entrapped her eye muscle. They  were told by doctors and surgeons  that Madi Lauzon was expected to  be in the hospital for at least two  weeks.  

“At first, the doctors were just  trying to save her arm,” Lauren  Lauzon said. “We were concerned  that she may lose it. Once the  doctors were able to save it, the  next obstacle was getting any range  of motion back. The last doctor was  able to call her last arm surgery a  success.” 

The Lauzons are very thankful  for the progress on her arm. “We do not know if she will  ever be able to use her arm at 100  percent,” Lauren Lauzon said. “The  fact that she has recovered so well  shows that there are no limitations  to what faith, prayer, and hard work  can do.” 

Everyone’s support was much  appreciated.  

“The community of Oxford and  surrounding areas all came together  to pray for Madi and our family and  that has made a huge difference,”  Lauren Lauzon said. “You could  actually feel the weight being lifted  the more people said they were  praying or are still praying.” 

Despite what they were told,  Madi Lauzon was out of the  hospital after one week and five  surgeries. She now goes to Jackson  every other week for appointments  and attends physical therapy two to  three times a week.  

“It has been awesome to see  myself defy the odds and cut all of  the time barriers set for me in half,”  Madi Lauzon said.  

Madi Lauzon’s timely hospital  stay is just one of the many things  she is grateful for. 

“At the beginning of my  journey I had no clue what to  expect,” Madi Lauzon said. “As I  have gained understanding of what  is to come in my recovery journey,  I have become more optimistic of  the future, while being aware that  it could take more than a year to  be ‘normal’ again. I know that I will  never be completely ‘normal’ again,  though, because this has been a  life-changing experience.” 

Not only was Madi Lauzon’s  time in the hospital quicker  than expected, but she has also  continuously surprised everyone  with her quick recovery since being  home.  

“So far, recovery has been kind  of nerve-wracking and stressful  because every appointment  determines the next surgery and  every surgery determines how slow  or fast my recovery will be,” Madi  Lauzon said. “It has also been very  rewarding to see how far I have  come since the night of the crash.” 

Even though recovery can be  stressful at times, pain has not  been a big issue.  

“Pain-wise, it is not as bad as  you would expect, but I also have  an extremely high pain tolerance,”  Madi Lauzon said. “I have not taken  pain meds at all since the accident.” 

After taking time at home  to rest, Madi Lauzon returned to  school on Oct. 30. Madi teachers  have been vital in her return,  specifically her teacher Genella  Texada has been very supportive.  

“One thing I will say about  Madi is that she does not make  excuses,” Texada said. “She finds a  way to make life work.” 

Madi Lauzon’s work ethic is  

something that has made a massive  impact in her coming back to  school. 

“I think Madi has learned  to adjust to the unexpected,”  Texada said. “She is still learning  how to maneuver in a familiar  environment in an unfamiliar way.”  

Considering Madi Lauzon’s  return to school was prompt, she  has handled challenges at school  remarkably.  

“I am sure she could have  stayed out longer and healed, but  she made the decision to continue  to heal while at school,” Texada  said. “I admire her resilience and  optimism.” 

Returning to school also meant  returning back to her OHS cheer  team. Cheer is something Madi  Lauzon is very passionate about,  and she has been doing it since she  was very young.  

“Cheer is something she  has done since she was at Dixie  Dance,cheering with the Dixie  Dolls before Ole Miss games,” Lauren Lauzon said. “Watching her  grow up cheering competitively  and at school has been a big part of  our lives.” 

Cheer continues to play a role  in Madi Lauzon’s life, just in a  different way right now.  

“I have struggled with seeing  my team cheer at football games  and competitions and not being  able to be up there with them,”  Madi Lauzon said.  

There is no doubt that Madi  Lauzon is eager to cheer again soon  and will try her hardest to get there  as quickly as possible. 

“Everything she has done so  

far has been at an accelerated rate,”  Lauren Lauzon said. “Her different  teams of doctors can not believe  her progress and brag on her ev 

everytime they see her. Madi’s faith  is stronger than ever. The way she  has leaned on her family, friends,  and God through this is inspiring.” 

It is certain that the people  closest to Madi Lauzon have played  a key role in her recovery.  

“My parents have helped me  through everything by consistently  being positive, celebrating with  me through the highs, and being  my shoulder to cry on in the lows,”  Madi Lauzon said. “My best friends  have also been there for me and  have laughed and cried with me.” 

Along with her parents and  best friends, Wyatt Lauzon has  been essential in Madi Lauzon’s  recovery. 

“Wyatt has kept me laughing  through every hospital visit,  surgery, and just the hard days,”  Madi Lauzon said.  

Madi Lauzon has been persistently in good spirits in her journey  and carries that on as she progresses. 

“I hope I can handle the rest  of my life with as much grace,  positivity, happiness, and love as  Madi,” Lauren Lauzon said.  

Madi Lauzon’s positivity has  been inspiring to many people.  There are numerous things that  keep Madi motivated and that  she looks forward to as she moves  forward. 

“I am really excited when I  can go out without any arm braces  or wrappings to show off my crazy  scars,” Madi Lauzon said.