NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A follow up to our SPECIAL REPORT on drowsy driving. A few days ago, we had STEER CLEAR TRAFFIC Reporter Erin Como stay awake hours past her early morning shift and Anchor Erika Kurre wore goggles to simulate being drunk. Both had trouble on a closed course, punctuating the real danger of each decision on the highway. Dozing off behind the wheel, even for a second, can have life-changing consequences. We visited a local family living with the results of drowsy driving.

"It's a very serious issue with lifetime consequences," says husband Peter Rosenberger.

Rosenberger and his wife Gracie have lived with the consequences of a decision she made almost 30 years ago as a college freshman, which was to get behind the wheel when she was exhausted, running on just 3 hours of sleep.

"I put my head down on the wheel they said," says double amputee Gracie. "They honked. I never lifted my head up and I hit an abutment at 70mph and flipped into a ravine on the other side. My life changed forever because of a horrible choice."

In a 2003 interview, Gracie talked about the crash as oldest son Parker was learning to drive. This week she's undergoing yet another round of surgery.

"She's had now her 76th operation, $9 million, 56 doctors, 12 hospitals, 7 insurance companies," says Peter. "This is a massive set of consequences for this wreck."

As a christian music artist, Gracie has sang at the White House. Through the "Standing with Hope" charity, the Rosenberger's have helped amputees around the world get quality prosthetic limbs. A new book chronicles the challenges of being a husband and full time caregiver.

"The book is called 'Wear Comfortable Shoes'," says Peter. "I wear comfortable shoes. It's a marathon, not a sprint, and that's the reality of falling asleep at the wheel."

It's a decision that can alter the course of your life and the lives of those you love forever. To learn more about Peter's book for caregivers or the Standing with Hope charity, log onto Fox17.com and click on FOX LINKS.
SPECIAL REPORT: Driving Sleepy - Erika Lathon