Crystal Neudigate-Sharp did not want a medical condition to stop her from earning an Emergency Medical Technician certificate at Texas State Technical College.
“I wanted to teach my children that once you start something, you need to complete it, no matter the obstacles,” said Neudigate-Sharp, a candidate for graduation this semester.
After being injured in an accident, she suffered an allergic reaction to the medication and was without oxygen for 24 minutes.
“The doctor told me that I did not wake up during that time,” Neudigate-Sharp said. “I spent the weekend in the Brownwood hospital but was later transferred to a Dallas hospital.”
She spent three months last summer recovering, which included physical and occupational therapy. Neudigate-Sharp remains in speech therapy, but that did not stop her from returning to school this fall.
“I was so grateful for the online EMT program. I can say I have successfully completed the program despite my physical limitations,” she said.
It took the help of the Brownwood campus staff to get her back on track.
“Everyone at TSTC was very supportive. They were more than helpful,” she said. “They wanted to see me succeed.”
Teresa Phillips, an enrollment coach at the Brownwood campus, was one of those who made an impact on Neudigate-Sharp.
Neudigate-Sharp’s interest in the field grew while watching her husband, who is also an EMT.
“I had stayed at home for 13 years and knew one day I would go back to school,” she said. “That one day came when my husband said, ‘It’s time to go to school.'”
Neudigate-Sharp enjoys the camaraderie that EMTs have during the workday.
During TSTC’s virtual graduation celebration on Dec. 10, Neudigate-Sharp will be waiting with her family to see her name appear on the video.