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Disability Pride Month — Karen Trolan on Overcoming the Impossible
July is Disability Pride Month, a worldwide celebration of people with disabilities, their identities, culture, resilience and contributions to society. Originated in the United States, this month-long event commemorates the passage of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in July 1990.
At SAMCAR, we take this opportunity to acknowledge a remarkable colleague from the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR), Karen Trolan.
In 2009, Trolan, a SILVAR past president, real estate manager and mother of three was piloting her family's Cessna out of the Truckee airport on Labor Day Weekend when the plane crashed. Her life changed in a moment. Trolan became paraplegic. From that day forward her activities revolved around months of rehab and learning a new way of living, but her pain and injuries didn't stop her. Trolan went on to write a book about her experience, "I CAN STILL DO IT!: The Unstoppable Spirit of a Plane Crash Survivor", and goes on speaking engagements telling her story.
We are honored to share Trolan's story in a republished profile written by former SILVAR Public Affairs Director Rose Meily in 2023.
Karen Trolan on Overcoming the Impossible
Rose Meily, Public Affairs Director (Ret.), Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) | 2023
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Karen Trolan |
This week at SILVAR, members attended a very inspiring presentation by Karen Trolan, author of "I Can Still Do It." Trolan, 2016 SILVAR president and longtime SILVAR board director, shared her story of how she survived a plane crash and overcame the impossible through her determination and perseverance.
A native of Los Gatos, Trolan got her real estate license in 1985 and within six months, she got her broker's license and moved up the ranks quickly. A top agent, she was promoted to vice president and manager of the Cornish & Carey Palo Alto office, was named vice president and managing broker of the Los Altos office and then Los Gatos. In 1998, she was named senior vice president and regional manager of Silicon Valley's Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.
Trolan's personal life was blossoming, too. A wife and mother of three children, Trolan was actively involved in the community, church, coaching soccer, enjoying a myriad of sports activities like running, swimming, biking, martial arts, skiing, advanced first aid and wilderness rescue, and a trainer for the National Ski Patrol and Disaster Aid Response Team in Los Gatos.
On Labor Day 2009, Trolan's life changed in an instant. She was at the controls of a single-engine Cessna flying home from a family vacation when she crashed shortly after taking off from Truckee Tahoe Airport. Trolan's injuries were severe and left her paralyzed from waist down.
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I CAN STILL DO IT!: The Unstoppable Spirit of a Plane Crash Survivor |
Trolan described her feelings when she realized something had gone wrong. "Everything was working perfectly… We were halfway to the pattern altitude, 500 feet above the ground. I was ready to make a crosswind turn, then the plane jolted, and the nose popped up," she recalled. "I knew to fly straight and drop the nose of the plane. Then everything went dark. When I came to, I was hanging upside down and covered in dirt. I tried moving by pulling my legs out, but I was trapped. I couldn't feel them either. All my pain was in my head, neck, and arms."
From that day forward her activities revolved around months of rehab, learning a new way of living, from transferring into a car, driving, learning to collapse her wheelchair and load it in and out of a car. Lots of medication and operations followed, but her pain and injuries didn't stop her. She wanted her life back and relearned how to ride horseback, got back on ski patrol and martial arts. She even teaches safety courses for REALTORS® and others.
Trolan joined Alain Pinel Realtors as assistant manager of the Los Gatos office, and is now with Sereno Christie's International Real Estate. She was a board director for PenWest, president of the Los Altos Board of Realtors, a Palo Alto Board of Realtors director, and at SILVAR became Los Gatos-Saratoga District chair, president, and Region 9 and California Association of Realtors director.
Trolan isn't pain free. She noted what keeps her going is, "I need goals, targets in my life." She wrote a book about her experience and goes on speaking engagements telling her story.
"My drive is helping others. It's a teaching opportunity, a chance for others to take stuff away. My whole goal is to encourage people," said Trolan.
I CAN STILL DO IT!: The Unstoppable Spirit of a Plane Crash Survivor »
About Disability Pride Month
Disability Pride Month is an annual observance in July that celebrates people with disabilities, commemorates the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and promotes disability culture and visibility. According to The Arc, national community-based organization advocating for and with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, Disability Pride Month challenges the way in which many people with disabilities still face barriers to being fully included and valued. "At its core," the organization adds, "Disability Pride is about being accepted on our own terms. It says disability is not something to hide or fix—it's part of who we are. Everyone deserves inclusion, rights, and respect, without having to earn them." Learn more about why and how to celebrate Disability Pride Month.
Do you have a story to share?
At SAMCAR, we love to celebrate the notable accomplishments and community involvement of our members. Please feel free to share your stories with SAMCAR Director of Brand & Communications, Dalen Gilbrech.
