Sheridan Harris’s life changed in 2023 when she survived a horrific hit-and-run while riding her bike. Now, she is getting back on her feet, owning her recovery, and advocating for increased safety for Memphis runners and cyclists.
Sheridan was introduced to triathlons when she and a group of friends decided to train together as a New Year’s resolution in 2022. She soon was competing in half marathons and triathlon sprints. “Being active was always a positive coping skill for me, so I enjoyed building up that mileage and pushing myself,” Sheridan says. On February 15, 2023, Sheridan was leaving her job as an early childhood teacher at Presbyterian Day School and took her bike out to get some miles in on the Greenline as she often did after school. After arriving at the Graham Street light, she got the pedestrian light to cross, but the next thing she knew, a car swung out and side-swiped her. She took a significant hit to her leg, shoulder, and helmet. “I consider myself lucky because I had just invested in a Garmin safety system for my bike that texted my emergency contacts when the crash happened and a new helmet that saved my life,” Sheridan remembers. After the crash, she was taken to the emergency room, where she was in excruciating pain. Still, she was told her leg was not broken, but her shoulder joint had separated. She was sent home with little guidance because the hospital did not have any open beds. “I was in so much shock. I could not advocate for myself at that time,” she says. She has now seen over 15 specialists, lost 20% of hearing in one ear, resulting in a sensory processing disorder, got a full shoulder reconstruction, suffered broken ribs, and has spent nearly two years looking for solutions to the serious nerve damage in her right leg.
“Overcoming trauma is a long road, but if we can empower ourselves to cheer for each other and to stand beside each other in uncomfortable times, that can make all the difference.”
After the crash and as her leg pain continued to worsen, the only recommendation she received from most doctors was daily opioid use. “I did not want a life living on a cloud, addicted to medication, so I made it my mission to seek out doctors who respected my boundary of no opioids,” she says. Finally, Sheridan found Dr. Wright and Dr. McDonald at Semmes Murphey Clinic, who were able to diagnose her nerve damage and proposed a non-opioid solution — implantation of a spinal cord stimulator. Sheridan will soon undergo a trial period using the stimulator, and if all goes well, she will undergo implantation surgery in mid-December.
Sheridan hopes that she could be running the St. Jude 10K by this time next year. For now, on a good day, she can walk up to five miles with her rescue dog Rosie, who has helped Sheridan to feel confident and brave despite her trauma. Now, Sheridan hopes to continue to share her story and emphasizes the importance of making sure you are taking all safety precautions to prevent injuries and being your own advocate during recovery. “Overcoming trauma is a long road, but if we can empower ourselves to cheer for each other and to stand beside each other in uncomfortable times, that can make all the difference.”
By Zoe Harrison
Photos by Tindall Stephens
