Michele Speaks!

MICHELE SAPPER

The Victim of a Drunk Driver...

Shares Her Story

"...On May 1st 1984 I was killed by a drunk driver...brought back to life with CPR, and was then in a coma for two months..."

I share the story of the challenges my recovery entailed, and the successes of my endeavors.

If you would like information regarding my programs and fees, or would like to book a presentation, please feel free to e-mail: michele@michelespeaks.com

May 1, 1984 - Killed by a 4-time DUI Offender

The first picture is a police photograph of my car on the front lawn of the people's home where my car ended up.

The second picture is of the first week of coma, I was on total life support systems.

I apologize for the poor quality of the pictures... it is from 1984!

Weekend Visit from Rehab Hospital

A weekend visit to my parents' house from the rehabilitation hospital. The girl and boy with me are my siblings; brother Howard and sister Stephanie.

My Return To College

I went to a Junior College for a year. I then went back to CSUN for a year and a half. Semesters were too long for only one course per term, so I decided to give UCLA a try. But, before I went to UCLA, I did telemetry (24 hour ct scan of the brain) at UCLA Hospital to make sure that I wasn't going to have a seizure in class. After being there a day with people having seizures every minute and me just having two grand mal seizures the night of the crash and then two more grand mal seizures after having medication I was prescribed three years later - I said to my folks, "Get me out of here!"

I think I was there only five days.

LAPD Specialist Since 1991

The first four years I worked with Valley Traffic, the unit that handled my crash. Then while doing a program for the Drug Recognition Experts Unit (DRE), I realized this was where I needed to be. I've been with DRE since 1995. In 1995, I was the keynote speaker at the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) DRE Unit Convention in Aspen, Colorado. In 2021 I was the keynote speaker at the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) Regional Operations and Program Delivery Appreciation Day. Isn't the computer amazing! I was able to speak to people from all the regions in the United States from my condo during a pandemic!

Off duty officers are given different amounts of alcohol, and then undergo field sobriety tests. After the drinkers are impaired, they are then evaluated by the students. Then back in the classroom, they vote on whether the drinkers are over an .08 or under an .08. Once my numbers are revealed at .00, I give a half-hour speech.