78 Photo Essay: Janey Carter

Blogger, Writer

Words by McKenzie Wade | Image by Al Blanton

Life has a way of throwing things at us that we never expect. When Janey Carter was 17 years old, she experienced something that would forever change life as she knew it. We all can learn a thing or two from her, so lean in, read closely, and discover the extraordinary life of Janey Carter. 

In the summer of 2017, while on her way to her first practice as a senior volleyball player at Cordova High School, Janey was in a terrible car accident that dislocated her skull from her spine, leaving her paralyzed from the neck down. “The neurosurgeon told my family that he would do what he could,” Janey recalls, “but he didn’t know what to expect because people with that kind of injury don’t usually make it to the hospital.” 

Day by day, Janey began to heal. Through therapy, her mobility continued to improve. Recently, she was able to take 140 steps—a miraculous accomplishment for someone with her injury. 

“[It is] a miracle that I am alive, a miracle that I can breathe on my own, a miracle that I can move, and a miracle that I am getting stronger every day,” Janey says. 

Exactly two years after her accident, Janey decided to create a blog. She’d always had a talent for writing and decided to use her ability to share her story and bring motivation to others. With the help of her sister, she began blogging and still does today. 

Before her accident, Janey enjoyed painting as a hobby. With the help of her family and technology, she began to work towards painting again. After Covid-19 began, she decided to create cards for people who could not go out and buy Mother’s Day gifts. Her idea grew into something much bigger, a line of watercolor cards with Bible verses, holiday designs, and words of encouragement, as well as other stationary items that can be purchased in two stores in the Jasper area and on Etsy. 

Looking forward, Janey hopes to continue to grow her card business and her social media platform, to heal from her accident, and enroll in more college courses to work towards becoming a therapist. 

 “I want to motivate people to live their best life no matter what happens to them,” Janey says. “You can’t control what happens to you, but you can control how you react…I want to help people find strength, joy, and to notice the positives in their lives.” 78