From the smallest actions to significant decisions, whatever we do in life influences our future.

For one girl, falling asleep with her feet on the car dashboard is what changed her life forever. By sharing her story, she now hopes to prevent others from committing this life-altering mistake.

Bethany Benson was only 22 years old when she found herself on an unfortunate car ride with her boyfriend. It was August 2, 2010, and the couple was just returning home from visiting her aunt. With her partner behind the wheel, young Benson decided to relax and put her feet on the dashboard. Soon after that, she fell into deep sleep.

driving.ca / Mary Lachapelle

What happened next is something that traumatized Bethany enough to make her lose all memories of it. On the road ahead of them, a motorcycle collided with another vehicle. This caused a chain effect, leading to a transport truck in front of the couple to fully hit the brakes. Bethany’s boyfriend did the same but was unable to stop in time.

Bethany only knows of the incident through the accounts of other witnesses. Experts suggest that a combination of trauma and sleeping made her brain block the unwanted memory. Looking at the old pictures of their crashed car, however, most people find it a miracle that either of them survived.

driving.ca / Mary Lachapelle

After the accident, Benson’s boyfriend received 100 stitches. Bethany, sadly, wasn’t as lucky. Her decision to put her feet up on the dashboard resulted in tragic consequences. As the airbag deployed, her knees were forced directly into her face.

The collision left Bethany with a broken nose, a fractured cheekbone, a broken left eye socket, a dislocated jaw, and a tooth piercing through her lips. Her feet also weren’t spared. The crash caused them to break and compress for nearly two sizes. Furthermore, her spleen needed to be removed.

driving.ca / Mary Lachapelle

Bethany made it out with a permanently damaged vision and temporary brain bleed, which at the time was of no concern according to the doctors.

A day after the crash, Bethany lost her French-speaking ability entirely. Her English was also not spared, therefore ending the chances of her being able to pursue a teaching career as she planned to.

Four years later, Bethany’s condition improved drastically with the help of doctors, loved ones, and the special treatment that she received. It is now hard to tell that she was ever in such an awful accident.

The Doctors / YouTube

While losing many abilities as well as her boyfriend, Bethany can now at least perform as a casual athlete with her unique footwear. “Any shoes I wear have to have these special orthotics in them. They cost $450, and the shoes they fit cost $180. I had to get rid of my high heels, I know it sounds dumb,” she said.

Bethany’s mother, Mary Lachapelle, also presented her point of view on the consequences of the crash. She said that legally Bethany is an adult, but most of the time she acts like a teenager. “My daughter is 26. I’m not legally able to know what meds she might be taking, or when. And yet, she is basically a 13-year-old, with all the immaturity and impulsiveness you would associate with that. She’s naïve,” Mary said.

For Bethany, one carefree moment turned out to be a life-changing mistake that she has to live with for the rest of her life. Let’s hope that her health will gradually progress and that nothing similar will happen to others. Raise the awareness of risks associated with placing one’s feet on the dashboard by sharing this post!