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Hit-And-Run Victim Lives to Tell Her Story

Franque Thompson

OMAHA (KPTM)- Misty Rocha, of Council Bluffs, lives to tell her story after she was hit by a drunk driver and thrown 25 feet in the air.  Doctors say it's a miracle she's alive and walking.  But internally, her health is fragile.

"The next minute, you're staring death in the face and you make it out of it.  And I look at life totally different now and I'm so thankful that I'm alive," said Rocha.

The hit-and-run incident happened June 24^th. Rocha says it was a night that turned her whole world upside down.

"I don't know that I'll ever be the way I was before, but I work every day to try to get back to that spot. My whole body is in pain every single day," she said.

Rocha was hit by a drunk driver after leaving a bar with a friend.  She was left with a number of injuries including one that could potentially take her life.

"I have a blood clot in my vena cava which is the main artery that takes blood to your heart.  So, I have to live every day knowing that that could come loose and I could die," said Rocha.

If the blood clot travels to her heart, she could have a heart attack.  If it travels to her lungs, it would kill her.  Rocha has also suffered loss of part of her kidney, two broken ribs, a broken tailbone, cracked pelvis, a small bone broken in her back, a torn ACL and LCL in her knee, internal bleeding, 44 stitches to the head, and missing teeth.  And even with all that, she says she gets stronger everyday with the help of her family.

"They get just as excited as I do when I tell them how far mommy walked today.  And I'll tell them I walked from here to here.  And my youngest will go and tell his sister ‘Did you hear mom? She walked this far today'," said Rocha.

With stronger health, comes a stronger attitude.

"My whole body is in pain every single day.  The only reason I get up is for my kids because I have to teach them that things in life are going to get you down and you just have to get back up and to keep fighting.  You can't let things keep you down," she said.

Rocha will be hosting a benefit Saturday, August 4^th, at the Driftwood Inn, in Council Bluffs.  All benefits will help will medical expenses and funding for a new car.  You can also purchase "Team Misty" shirts and bracelets.  Donations can also be made at Great Western Bank.  Find out more ways to help on Rocha's website.