On October 4, 2013, chief information officer for Wayne State College, John Dunning, and vice president of academic affairs, Michael Anderson, were caught in the eye of the tornado that ripped through the south and east sides of Wayne.

Dunning was then crushed by a steel dumpster, resulting in numerous injuries, including an open displaced compound tib-fib fracture, a partially severed radial nerve, a broken femur, a lacerated axillary artery, a concussive skull fracture, as well as many other severe and minor wounds.

However, through all of this difficulty, Dunning remained strong and after months of hospitalization and rehabilitation therapy, he was able to make a recovery and come back home to Wayne where he lives with his family and back to work at WSC.

Dunning spent most of his recovery at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln, Neb., where he said he and his wife “bonded very, very closely with therapists, nurses and other staff.”

Each year, Madonna presents the Chairman’s GOAL Award to four individuals whose cases were severe, but through immense determination and courage were able to make exceptional recoveries and return back to their lives.

Dunning is one of the individuals whose fight will not go unrecognized.

During his recuperation, Dunning underwent 39 surgeries–38 of those taking place within the first 12 days after the tornado. His will to live kept him strong through this battle and he came out on top.

On Oct. 23, Dunning will receive the honor of a GOAL Award, and he is also making time during this trip to reunite with some of the people that helped to save his life.

When speaking of his experience at Madonna, Dunning is nothing but smiles.

“I like to call it the miracle factory,” Dunning said.

Dunning is still extending his appreciation to his family, friends and the entire community of Wayne, both the town and campus alike, as everyone came together to help lighten the load of worries for him and his wife during that time.

This experience “put things into perspective” for Dunning and his wife, and the memories of that day and the months following are ones that will stick with him for the rest of his life. Luckily, what started out as anybody’s worst nightmare, Dunning turned into something positively life-changing.