Sandra Peterson, an 81-year-old Australian, is similar to other women her age, yet she sets an example by showing people what is possible with grit and determination.
She has endured a lot in life, The Epoch Times explained. When she was 35, the car she was driving was struck by a dump truck carrying sand. Sandra was flung out of the car and landed unconscious and on her back 100 meters away with her head bleeding profusely.
At the hospital doctors determined she also had internal bleeding, a fractured sacrum, and dislocated tailbone that applied pressure to her spinal cord. Sandra experienced severe pain whenever she bent down or sat down.
It took eight years for doctors to diagnose everything that was wrong with Sandra, so she could get treatment to focus her eyes again. After a combination of physiotherapy, speech therapy, memory training, and brain injury rehabilitation, Sandra was finally able to get back on track.
Then her son, Michael, drowned after being caught in riptide while on vacation.
All those ordeals would have crushed most women. But, Sandra persevered and returned to college to complete her degree in education at age 58. Then she left a bad relationship and moved to Tasmania to start a new life.
Today, the 81-year-old works as a substitute teacher and admits she has no plans to retire soon.
“Every rotten evil thing that has happened to me has been transformed into a valuable learning situation whereby I developed genuine empathy for others, know how to respond to others sharing their distress with me, and know how to pray with them,” Sandra explained. “I see God work miracles in their lives as He has in mine.”
Sandra’s inspirational story can be found at The Epoch Times.
After closing his business and enduring several painful years of uncertainty regarding what to do with his life, Greg founded Forward From 50 to help men and women over 50 to live more purposeful lives by pursuing things they are passionate about. A Wisconsin native, Greg currently lives in Arizona.