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Commending Marinel Thrasher Wood; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, Marinel Thrasher Wood, a student at Brenau University in Gainesville, Georgia, speaks frequently to groups of teenagers, particularly those who are 16 and about to receive their drivers' licenses; and

WHEREAS, she spoke at the invitation of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety on Safe Driver Awareness Day at the Capitol; and

WHEREAS, she speaks eloquently of the consequences of a tragic car accident, which killed one passenger, sent the driver to jail for 27 months, and injured her brain so severely that she was in a coma for 28 days, and spent more than 10 months in hospitals and in a rehabilitation facility; and

WHEREAS, when she recounts the accident that she can't remember because of the damage to her brain, she takes full responsibility for a "stupid decision" to ride with a driver who drove too fast after drinking "only two beers" and lost control of the car at 80 miles an hour; and

WHEREAS, if courage is grace under pressure, this young woman has exhibited courage in abundance during years of relearning to talk, walk, speak, and care for herself and confronting the daily reality that the human brain heals slowly, taking as long as nine years to recover from severe trauma; and

WHEREAS, in her determination to tell other young people about the possible consequences of risking their lives, health, and liberty by drinking, driving, and racing she shows an admirable character and exemplary concern for others; and

WHEREAS, her parents, Mary Beth Wood and Joe T. Wood, Jr., had reason to be proud of their daughter, who was an honor student and captain of the cheerleading team at Lakeview Academy before the accident, and have even more reason to be proud of her now.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body commend Marinel Thrasher Wood for her courageous work in recovering from injuries that would have overwhelmed a lesser person and in warning others about the tragic consequences of risky behavior.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to Marinel Thrasher Wood.