Thomasville woman turns pain into purpose

THOMASVILLE, N.C. (WGHP) — Even after multiple surgeries and a pending knee replacement operation, a hit-and-run survivor has refused to let pain define her purpose.

A lot has changed since Tanya Lewis was hit by a car on Church Street in Thomasville in March 2011.

She’s since become a wife and mother. She’s been married to her husband Curtis for 13 years.

“Doctors said I would never have kids, and we have three beautiful miracles,” she said.

There was concern as to whether she could have children between having Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and having plates in her pelvis from the accident.

“It makes me feel amazing that I have this beautiful family with my husband,” she said.

The family includes a son and a daughter Lewis proudly calls her bonus children.

Becoming a mother isn’t the only significant update. Lewis also became an author this year.

“People kept saying, ‘Tan, you have a testimony, and the world needs to hear it,’” she said.

In her book “From Pain to Purpose,” Lewis writes about her life experiences in hopes of encouraging other people.

Topics include her childhood, tips toward building a healthy marriage and her time recovering from being hit by a car.

Lewis says the feedback has been positive. She sold out of the books she had on hand at her first vendor event.

“Connections were made. I’ve been asked to speak at a women’s prison. I have been asked to do a radio show,” she said.

Although Lewis says she was nervous to share her story and had naysayers, the reception has been encouraging.

“You never know what you could share with somebody that could bless them,” she said.

Lewis never learned who was behind the wheel of the car that hit her.

“I’m not really at peace with it, but I still have faith,” she said. “I still believe that there are some answers out there.”

Her faith is reinforced through growing in her Christian walk and the support from her church family at Circle City Church in High Point.

“God told me that it was not my time. He said you still have work to do. At that time, I didn’t know what that work was, but I’m glad I’m still here to tell my story,” she said.

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