Jessica Buxton-Inscore

My name is Jessica Buxton-Inscore. I am married to Gabe Inscore and have two beautiful children, Ansley and Brody. I am the Head Spirit Coordinator and adjunct instructor at Tusculum University, where I graduated with honors in December 2018. I majored in Sports Management and minored in Coaching. I was a professional hairstylist for over 20 years. I am a fitness instructor. I volunteer for our kids’ soccer, volleyball, and tennis teams. I have always been active, and I was proud to still have my standing back tuck and back handspring in February 2017, at the age of 43.

In March 2017, my life took a drastic turn. My daughter and I were sitting at a red light, when we were rear-ended, by a texting driver. He didn’t even hit the brakes. I looked in my rear-view mirror, before impact, and saw his phone atop his steering wheel. In that instant, I turned to look at my daughter’s beautiful face, and we were hit. I am so thankful that my baby girl was uninjured!

I ended up having a double cervical spinal fusion to save my left arm. The nerve damage was so severe that if I didn’t have surgery soon, then I would lose my arm. After surgery, I needed help with everyday tasks such bathing, feeding, and dressing myself. It took weeks before I could hold a cup in my hand again. I had permanent nerve damage, permanent muscle loss, and nerve spasms in both arms.

I’m never going to be 100% healed. The damage was too severe. I can, however, tell my story. I can tell people the dangers of texting and driving. I can tell them the time I lost with family and friends. I can explain the medical bills that have wracked up to well over $250,000, because the driver didn’t have insurance, or own the vehicle, and was driving on a suspended license. I suffer every day with pain, depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. It’s not going to stop me from telling my story. It won’t stop me from trying my very best to change minds before people negatively change their lives or the lives of others.