HOLLY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Holly Springs police officer and his wife injured in a Texas parade accident reached a milestone this week.
For the first time, Shane Ladner was able to take his wife, Meg, outside of the hospital while she recovers from an amputated leg and other serious injuries.
“Our life is (going) to be so different than what it was before,” Shane Ladner told Channel 2’s Craig Lucie.
Shane Ladner’s life changed forever November 15 when he and Meg were hit by a freight train while on a parade float.
When Lucie sat down with Shane Ladner at Atlanta Medical Center, he cracked a smile when talking about what makes him happy these days.
“It was absolutely amazing. I can’t put into words every day when I’m able to talk to her and little bitty things mean so much to me nowadays,” he said.
He’ll never take a conversation with Meg for granted again. He almost lost her.
Four veterans died, and at least 15 others were injured when investigators said the driver, towing the parade float, tried to cross train tracks in Midland, Texas.
Shane Ladner injured his back and Meg was placed in a medically-induced coma after losing her left leg.
But Wednesday was a big day.
“I got to take her outside, and she was outside for the first time in a month so that was pretty amazing,” he explained.
Meg Ladner hadn’t been outside for 33 days.
“Her reaction when we went outside and the sun was on her face was just ‘ahhh’,” Ladner said.
Shane said they can’t live in their old home due to its elevation so they plan to move or build a wheelchair-accessible home.
Shane said life has been hard for them, but that terrible day in Texas put everything in perspective.
“We are gonna do it together. As long as I have Meg with me, everything else will fall into place,” Shane Ladner said smiling.
He told Lucie that he has slept by her side in the hospital every night. Their friends are planning a fundraiser event Saturday, Dec. 22. Click here for more information.
WSBTV
