Former Legislator Returns to Active Lifestyle Following Bike Accident

Loranne and Bill

Loranne Ausley remembers going to sleep on Oct. 31, 2024, in anticipation of competing in Ironman Florida — her sixth Ironman competition — in Panama City the next day. She doesn’t remember anything past that — until she woke up at Shepherd Center three weeks later. 

Loranne was injured in the bike segment of the race. Unsure of exactly what happened, she believes her tires hit something in the road, causing her to fly over the handlebars. She sustained a spinal cord injury, a traumatic brain injury, and a broken collarbone. After three weeks at Ascension Sacred Heart Emergency Care and Trauma Center in Panama City — where she was unconscious for several days and underwent neck surgery — she was transferred to Shepherd Center on Nov. 24. 

Loranne had a tracheotomy and a feeding tube. Her right arm was virtually unmovable. She used a wheelchair for the first few weeks. During therapy, she worked on regaining her strength, balance, memory, and executive functioning skills. 

As an athlete, attorney, former Florida state legislator, and community volunteer, Loranne was used to keeping a fast pace and working hard. She had to learn to take baby steps. 

“I had to set small goals,” she says. “My main goal was to get back to running races. That was my life.” 

After nearly two months at Shepherd Center, Loranne returned home on Jan. 9, 2025, to continue her rehabilitation. A victory came when she ran for the first time with her physical therapist next to her. In March, she completed a 10K race. 

The successes continued as she regained her independence. She returned to her board post at the Institute for Child Success and was able to travel alone to a board meeting in Washington, D.C., in April. She’ll take over as board chair for the nonprofit in January 2026. 

Loranne has promised her husband she will not get on a bike again. But she continues to run and swim, and believes there is still a marathon in her future. In August, she completed a 20-mile hike in Wyoming with friends. 

Loranne is still working on a few things, but is grateful for how far she’s come. 

“I give a lot of credit to Shepherd Center for getting me where I am right now,” she says. “I made incredible improvements there. It’s an amazing place that helps people in very difficult times.” 

Written by Sara Baxter