11/3/2017:
Jennifer Grosz was born May 5, 1973, in Bismarck, North Dakota. For the first few years of her life she lived many places, including Ansbach, Germany, Kentucky, and Dickinson before finally moving back to Bismarck where she attended school until she was 13. At that age, she suffered a tragic accident that left her disabled. Nothing seemed unusual on this date in 1986, but for Jennifer, it marked the end of her life as typical teenager.
Jennifer was attending dance classes in Bismarck and, perhaps growing bored as teenagers sometimes do, Jennifer and her friend decided to leave class a bit early and have some risky fun with the building’s old cage elevator. The two went to the main floor and hit the button to make the elevator rise, then grab the cage to ride up before jumping off. All was fine until Jennifer got tangled with the cage and could not jump off. The elevator trapped her against the first-floor ceiling, cutting off her air supply. By the time help arrived, she had already suffered irreversible brain damage. She was confined to a wheelchair the rest of her life.
However, Jennifer continued to live with joy and love in her life. She lived at home for 20 years before moving to Valley View Nursing Home in Glasgow, Montana. She lived there many years before moving to an apartment in Roosevelt Medical Center. Despite her disability, Jennifer joined her family for trips to Medora, the Black Hills, and Washington.
She passed away peacefully in her sleep on November 5, 2016. Jennifer’s story is one example of the ability of a person to live a rewarding life after serious injury. Many thanks to the friends and family who helped Jennifer achieve a fulfilling life.
Dakota Datebook written by Lucid Thomas
Sources:
"http://www.ndcourts.gov/court/opinions/870222.htm" http://www.ndcourts.gov/court/opinions/870222.htm
"http://bismarcktribune.com/news/obituaries/jennifer-grosz/article_31844b9c-9c17-5623-aa8a-af116dfc9b5b.html" http://bismarcktribune.com/news/obituaries/jennifer-grosz/article_31844b9c-9c17-5623-aa8a-af116dfc9b5b.html