It seems like a lifetime ago when a horrific car crash caused R&R Salon and Spa owner Ashley (Matthews) Ruiz to lose both of her legs. Actually, it was half a lifetime ago — when the 40-year-old was 20 years old.
The one bright spot in her long stay in the hospital was getting her nails manicured when one of her nurses arranged it. “My nails were about the only things that weren’t broken,” she says.
The manicure made Ashley feel alive, which she wasn’t taking for granted. “I had actually died three times after my accident but they kept reviving me,” she says.
Ashley’s mom had brought some paint-by-numbers pictures to the hospital and she used the paint to practice on her nails. Before long, she knew what she wanted to do with the rest of her life.
“I’ll never forget how good my painted nails made me feel and decided I wanted other people to feel the same way.”
Here’s nine things to know about Ashley:
1
Her crash — a one-car rollover — happened on March 6, 2006, near Marion, Ind. Ashley and a friend were driving back to Fort Wayne, where she was attending college at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne to become a registered nurse.
“A road trip gone bad,” says the 2004 Marian High School graduate. “I had been driving, but my friend and I had switched places, and so I said a little prayer before I took a nap. The next thing I recall was finding myself hanging out the window.”
Icy conditions caused the car to slide out of control and flip seven times. Her friend was killed and Ashley lost both of her legs among her many injuries. “I spent six months in the ICU and nine months at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.
2
Ashley has undergone more than 75 operations over the years but has learned to be self-sufficient with her artificial legs and her wheelchair. If she is around her house, she uses her crutches but if she needs to cover some distance, she is in her wheelchair.
She tries to do everything on her own — including shopping, cleaning and even playing wheelchair basketball and sled hockey. She has learned to drive with hand controls and can use her van’s ramp to exit and enter with her wheelchair without any assistance.
When she was finally able to come home to South Bend after her crash, she was able to work as a nail technician, remembering those pretty nails back in the hospital. “And that led to my vision of starting my own salon,” she says.
3
So after years of preparation and prayers, Ashley opened her business, R&R (Relaxation and Rejuvenation) at the southwest corner of South Twyckenham Drive and East Calvert Street. She has operated it for 10 years and has had other technicians working with her but is currently a one-person show.
“I do everything from head to toes,” she says. “Hair, facials, lashes, waxing, nails.…”
She was able to start R&R after taking an 11-week entrepreneurship class called Spark at Saint Mary’s College.
“I actually spent a lot of time in my Great Aunt Esther’s salon when I was a girl — almost every Saturday,” Ashley admits. “I think she knew before I did that I would end up with a salon of my own.”
She also teaches cosmetology at Expressions Beauty College and is working to become a licensed instructor.
4
Ashley has worked hard to get where she is. “The one thing about Ashley is that she always shows up ready to work,” says Justine Prikosovich, a physical therapist at Thrive Neuro Therapy in South Bend.
“When we started with her, she could only walk about eight feet with her (artificial) legs but now she can go about 110 feet,” Justine continues. “She has more confidence standing and she isn’t afraid to challenge herself to do different things.”
5
A volleyball player in high school, Ashley plays with the River City Rollers wheelchair basketball team and just last year began playing hockey at the Ice Box while using a sled. “I can’t wait until the season starts up again,” she says.
She also plays bingo once a week at the Rainbow Bingo Hall in Mishawaka.
One of the items on her bucket list is to catch a fish. “I’ve never done that before and I really want to,” she says.
6
Ashley is a member of Olivet AME Church, where she serves on the missionary committee and also sings in the choir.
She likes to live by the Bible verse, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.” “That’s from Philippians 4:13,” she says.
7
After her crash, she was married for almost 10 years but is now divorced. “But Carlos and I have a good relationship,” she says. “We even went to the 4-H Fair together last week.”
They had met at Merrifield Pool in Mishawaka when a sick child forced everyone to evacuate the pool. Carlos and his sister helped Ashley out of the water.
It can be a little lonely living by herself but she has nearby friends and family, including her mother and younger sister, and she does have a poodle named Princess who keeps her busy.
8
Her shop is connected to two other businesses in a small strip — Lina’s Tailor Shop in the middle and All Dolled Up Hair Studio and Salon on the other end.
“I don’t think Miss Lina will ever retire and Miss Pat (of All Dolled up) mainly concentrates on hair and so we don’t look at each other as competitors,” Ashley says. “I guess I could steal some of her clients since they often come to my place by mistake because I’m the one on the corner,” she laughs. “But I would never do that.”
9
Ashley knows some people stare at her because of her stumps or long artificial legs. “It used to bother me with my half-robot look but not anymore,” she says. “I know most people are just curious — especially kids.
If she can be an inspiration to them, all the better. “I was supposed to be living in a nursing home now. Life can send you tragedy and you could give up. But I chose to be a motivator.”
Bill Moor, who started at the Tribune in 1973, served as sports editor and as a human-interest columnist during his tenure. Contact him at bry14zzo@gmail.com
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Rollover crash couldn’t stop South Bend woman from motivating ∣ The 9
Reporting by Bill Moor, Special to The Tribune / South Bend Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Bill Moor, Special to The Tribune | USA TODAY Network
