Photo courtesy of Sarah Panzau
She said she was digging her own grave.
She was a two time member of the National Junior College Athletic Association woman’s volleyball All-America team and earned full ride scholarships to Southwestern Illinois College, but fell in with the wrong crowd and –– started drinking.
Now she said it̢۪s hard to believe she can̢۪t even tie her own shoes.
“I thought I was invincible, I had everything, I was a star athlete, I was pretty, I mean nothing could stop me,â€Â Sarah Panzau said.
But for Panzau, 26, one poor choice did stop her; it stopped her right in her tracks.
Panzau is coming to Fresno State on Wednesday to share her remarkable story as part of Anheuser-Busch’s “Responsibility Mattersâ€Â campaign.
On Aug. 23, 2003, with a blood alcohol level nearly four times the legal limit, Panzau decided to drive home drunk, missed her highway exit and rolled over her car. That one bad decision cost Panzau her left arm –– and her future.
Cherie Pettitt, from University Health and Psychological Services,who is helping coordinate the event, said stories like Panzau̢۪s have helped change student̢۪s social norms about drinking over the past few years.
“The media at large has created this negative stereotype of Fresno State students. They only tell the horror stories that portray students as heavy binge drinkers,â€Â Pettitt said. “When the truth is, most college students party safely, but you don’t see that make the top story.â€Â
According to the most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health conducted in 2006, there has been a steady decline of full time undergraduate students drinking heavily.
Pettitt said this recent data is attributed to more widespread education about alcohol and people like Panzau telling their stories.
“Presentations like hers are changing students’ attitudes about drinking,â€Â Pettitt said.
Panzau said she believes she makes an impact because she is around the same age as the audience she tells her story to.
“‘Living Proof’ is a down to earth presentation, it’s me, my personality and I feel that’s what helps gets the message across,â€Â Panzau said.
Panzau does her presentation out amongst the audience in a tank top and shorts. She shared that she does this to show everyone what her choice has done –– which was not only the loss of an arm, but scars from 36 surgeries to help correct problems with her shoulders and fix a torn ACL.
“I know students, I have been in their place, and I want them to know to not take anything for granted,â€Â Panzau said. “And if they feel they don’t need anybody like I once did, just take one good long look at me and understand where that train of thought took me.â€Â
She hopes students get more than just the “be responsibleâ€Â message from her story, because it’s also a cautionary tale about taking your family for granted.
Before the accident, Panzau was not very close with her mother and often thought her mother was just trying to control her life. Now Panzau realizes her mother was just trying to protect her.
“My mom and I are closer than ever, we live together, I just don’t know what I would do with out her,â€Â Panzau said. “I guess that’s one of a only few blessings that came out of this tragic experience.â€Â
Jessica R. • Feb 26, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Sarah is amazing and im so thankful that i had the opputunity to listen to her speak today at my school. i dont know about all the other students but i know she got through to me. to drive safe. it was so hard not to cry. i cant imagine what she has been through. like she said, she deals with people that stare and wisper all day long, and just has to fight through it, it has to be hard but she amazing enough to do it. i always say that everything happens for a reason…and i think she lived through that crash to live an amazing life and to get her away from the friends she was hanging out with at the time. my name is Jessica,i am 13 years old almost 14. and i am from Donovan Illinois. she spoke today at my school, and made me realize how important it is to not drive under the influence.
Sarah seems like an awesome YOUNG lady. its a miracle she lived! thank you for speaking at our school, it got through to me. and i hope it did for the others too. thank you sarah.
Jessica R. • Feb 27, 2009 at 1:46 am
Sarah is amazing and im so thankful that i had the opputunity to listen to her speak today at my school. i dont know about all the other students but i know she got through to me. to drive safe. it was so hard not to cry. i cant imagine what she has been through. like she said, she deals with people that stare and wisper all day long, and just has to fight through it, it has to be hard but she amazing enough to do it. i always say that everything happens for a reason…and i think she lived through that crash to live an amazing life and to get her away from the friends she was hanging out with at the time. my name is Jessica,i am 13 years old almost 14. and i am from Donovan Illinois. she spoke today at my school, and made me realize how important it is to not drive under the influence.
Sarah seems like an awesome YOUNG lady. its a miracle she lived! thank you for speaking at our school, it got through to me. and i hope it did for the others too. thank you sarah.
jessica • Oct 31, 2008 at 2:37 pm
sarah came to my school today and i was touched! She made my school relize how are choices could impact the rest of our lives ! i loved her speech ! shes a miracle
jessica • Oct 31, 2008 at 9:37 pm
sarah came to my school today and i was touched! She made my school relize how are choices could impact the rest of our lives ! i loved her speech ! shes a miracle
CNH • Oct 29, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Sarah came to my school yesterday and i was just amazed at her story. I also had chills through her presentation. But i really think she got some people to think. I want to personally thank you sarah, for coming and going out and sharing your story, you are an amazing person and i can just see that God has done something amazing with your life. i also want to tell you that i think you are a beautiful person, inside and out. Thank you again.
CNH • Oct 29, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Sarah came to my school yesterday and i was just amazed at her story. I also had chills through her presentation. But i really think she got some people to think. I want to personally thank you sarah, for coming and going out and sharing your story, you are an amazing person and i can just see that God has done something amazing with your life. i also want to tell you that i think you are a beautiful person, inside and out. Thank you again.
Al & Janice Rhodes Driving Schools • Oct 28, 2008 at 11:30 pm
We would like to find a speaker to talk to the classes we have at our driving schools. The students are between 15 and 18 yrs. old.
Contact us at:
Rhodes Driving School
114 Ellison N.
San Antonio, Texas 78251
(210) 680-3980 ask for Gina, director
Rhodes Driving School
14526 Brookhollow
San Antonio, Texas
78232
(210) 490-9686 ask for Casey, director
Al & Janice Rhodes Driving • Oct 29, 2008 at 6:30 am
We would like to find a speaker to talk to the classes we have at our driving schools. The students are between 15 and 18 yrs. old.
Contact us at:
Rhodes Driving School
114 Ellison N.
San Antonio, Texas 78251
(210) 680-3980 ask for Gina, director
Rhodes Driving School
14526 Brookhollow
San Antonio, Texas
78232
(210) 490-9686 ask for Casey, director
Giovonni • Oct 28, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Sarah panzau came to my school on October 28, 2008. She was amazing. I had chills throughout her entire presentation. I was utterly amazed that she survived that car accident. Like her, i know what it feels like to weak up in a ” shrine”. My family and I were in a car accident too. We were hit by a man that was going 80 in a 25 mile zone, he was also drunk. It wasn’t as bad as hers but i was thrown from the car. Amazingly I only had a few cuts and bruises, and my right leg was broken in 3 places. I walk with a limp now but i am always glad to wake up in the morning and still be here on the earth. Anyway, i passed out because of the pain and the next thing i know i was awake. I ha been in a coma for 2 days.My family was all great those..my brother didnt even have a whip lash. Sarah is an amazing women an i am so glad that her is out there speaking against drunk driving. I hope that she will reach the people that will drive drunk oneday before they hurt themselves or someone else.
Giovonni • Oct 28, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Sarah panzau came to my school on October 28, 2008. She was amazing. I had chills throughout her entire presentation. I was utterly amazed that she survived that car accident. Like her, i know what it feels like to weak up in a ” shrine”. My family and I were in a car accident too. We were hit by a man that was going 80 in a 25 mile zone, he was also drunk. It wasn’t as bad as hers but i was thrown from the car. Amazingly I only had a few cuts and bruises, and my right leg was broken in 3 places. I walk with a limp now but i am always glad to wake up in the morning and still be here on the earth. Anyway, i passed out because of the pain and the next thing i know i was awake. I ha been in a coma for 2 days.My family was all great those..my brother didnt even have a whip lash. Sarah is an amazing women an i am so glad that her is out there speaking against drunk driving. I hope that she will reach the people that will drive drunk oneday before they hurt themselves or someone else.
kaylee • Oct 14, 2008 at 11:25 am
sarah came to my school yesterday and it was amazing, she gave me the goosebumps and nearly made me cry. i came home and told my parents about her and they were intrigued by it. something of this sort happened to my brother on the fourth of july one year when i was younger and they rolled their car about 4 times after a drunk driver drove out in front of them on a highway, my brother thought his brains were coming out…having sarah speak to my entire class yesterday really hit home and im glad she’s doing it.. keep it up 🙂 you were meant to do this.
kaylee • Oct 14, 2008 at 6:25 pm
sarah came to my school yesterday and it was amazing, she gave me the goosebumps and nearly made me cry. i came home and told my parents about her and they were intrigued by it. something of this sort happened to my brother on the fourth of july one year when i was younger and they rolled their car about 4 times after a drunk driver drove out in front of them on a highway, my brother thought his brains were coming out…having sarah speak to my entire class yesterday really hit home and im glad she’s doing it.. keep it up 🙂 you were meant to do this.
laura ives • Jun 10, 2008 at 9:45 am
Sarah, i was wondering when and where your next speaking event was. thank you.
laura ives • Jun 10, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Sarah, i was wondering when and where your next speaking event was. thank you.
Girolamo Ciolino • May 14, 2008 at 10:16 am
yesterday sarah came to my school and gave her presentation,i was very moved by what she had to say and about “family” is the only true friends,i went through the same thing with my brother,he was a drunk driver and hit a tree at 70 miles an hour,and when the police came to our door and told us the news,she said her mother had to answer the door to two state police officers that told her she had to indentify a body that was her daughter,im glad sarah is telling her story and changeing teens lifes
Girolamo Ciolino • May 14, 2008 at 5:16 pm
yesterday sarah came to my school and gave her presentation,i was very moved by what she had to say and about “family” is the only true friends,i went through the same thing with my brother,he was a drunk driver and hit a tree at 70 miles an hour,and when the police came to our door and told us the news,she said her mother had to answer the door to two state police officers that told her she had to indentify a body that was her daughter,im glad sarah is telling her story and changeing teens lifes
Janet Ludwig • May 4, 2008 at 8:34 am
I was one of the nurses who took care of Sarah at the hospital she was at for several months. I recently read an article in the Central News Magazine in St. Louis about Sarah. I am very proud of what she has accomplished. I would like to thank her for the important message she is delivering. Sarah keep up the work you are needed to deliver this message of drinking and driving.
Janet Ludwig • May 4, 2008 at 3:34 pm
I was one of the nurses who took care of Sarah at the hospital she was at for several months. I recently read an article in the Central News Magazine in St. Louis about Sarah. I am very proud of what she has accomplished. I would like to thank her for the important message she is delivering. Sarah keep up the work you are needed to deliver this message of drinking and driving.
renee bennett • May 1, 2008 at 10:41 am
she was really good she inspired me and alot of people in at.johnsville ny i hope to see her again in the future! xoxo
renee bennett • May 1, 2008 at 5:41 pm
she was really good she inspired me and alot of people in at.johnsville ny i hope to see her again in the future! xoxo
chelsey hendrickson • Apr 28, 2008 at 6:57 pm
i am thanking you for comeing to ludington high school. I learned alot from you talking to us about not drinking and driveing i would never do that but i am telling everyone not to . You are a really pretty girl and i am sorry for what happend to you .And i have been thinking of you every day of what happend to you .thank you for coming i really like it when you came.
chelsey hendrickson • Apr 29, 2008 at 1:57 am
i am thanking you for comeing to ludington high school. I learned alot from you talking to us about not drinking and driveing i would never do that but i am telling everyone not to . You are a really pretty girl and i am sorry for what happend to you .And i have been thinking of you every day of what happend to you .thank you for coming i really like it when you came.
Emily • Apr 23, 2008 at 12:58 pm
today you came to spring lake high school. i want to thank you and you wont believe what an impact youve had on my life, ive been thinking about what happened to you since you left, and i believe you were brought here for a reason, and if you helped at least one person out of that 900or so kids, i truly believe i was one of them. thank you
Emily • Apr 23, 2008 at 7:58 pm
today you came to spring lake high school. i want to thank you and you wont believe what an impact youve had on my life, ive been thinking about what happened to you since you left, and i believe you were brought here for a reason, and if you helped at least one person out of that 900or so kids, i truly believe i was one of them. thank you
kaylynn hanna • Apr 23, 2008 at 6:20 am
i inspire you and i thank you for coming to ludington high school
kaylynn hanna • Apr 23, 2008 at 1:20 pm
i inspire you and i thank you for coming to ludington high school
Pam Smith • Mar 14, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Sarah came to my school today on March 14, 2008 and gave a presenttion about how she lost her arm and how she could have prevented it. I’m only 15 but she inspired me not to give in to the peer pressure to drink and do drugs. I really appreciate the fact that she made me feel like i wasn’t an outcast. She said that evryone is different and thats what makes us individuals. people may have “cliques” of people who are “exactly the same” but realy they just have many things in common. no one person is exactly the same as another, even identical twins aren’t the same. They may look the same but they have different personalities. I appreciate what she does and how she is. She is pretty cool. I hope that before my senior year(2010) she will return. Because even though i’ve heard her story once hearing it again would be so awesome. Good luck Sarah, and keep doung what you do you’re really great at it. keep inspiring kids and teens and keep letting them know that whats different about them is what makes them unique.
Pam Smith
Pam Smith • Mar 14, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Sarah came to my school today on March 14, 2008 and gave a presenttion about how she lost her arm and how she could have prevented it. I’m only 15 but she inspired me not to give in to the peer pressure to drink and do drugs. I really appreciate the fact that she made me feel like i wasn’t an outcast. She said that evryone is different and thats what makes us individuals. people may have “cliques” of people who are “exactly the same” but realy they just have many things in common. no one person is exactly the same as another, even identical twins aren’t the same. They may look the same but they have different personalities. I appreciate what she does and how she is. She is pretty cool. I hope that before my senior year(2010) she will return. Because even though i’ve heard her story once hearing it again would be so awesome. Good luck Sarah, and keep doung what you do you’re really great at it. keep inspiring kids and teens and keep letting them know that whats different about them is what makes them unique.
Pam Smith