Katie's Mustang Family
by, Katie Haddad Darwiche

For as long as I can remember I’ve had a love affair with Mustangs. Growing up in Detroit and hanging out every year at the Woodward Dream Cruise probably had a lot to do with fueling my passion. I got my 1st Mustang when I was 17, a 2004 40th Anniversary Edition Yellow GT but I always wanted a Grabber Orange Mustang. In 2007 I was able to purchase that Grabber Orange Mustang it being my second Mustang. If I hadn’t gotten a Grabber Orange Pony, then my second favorite color was a Green Mustang. Before I could start making modifications to my Pony, in October 2007, on the 12th a lady ran a red light and smashed the driver’s side of my baby.

I had some pretty bad back pain and a concussion but no broken bones. After getting past the accident and back to living, I decided I was going to make my dream come true of owning a Grabber Orange Mustang or a Green Mustang. ‘Cause you know, Ya Gotta Have it, right? Well Green anyway…The more I focused on my vision of a
Mustang, I decided I’d combine the 2 colors.

The owner at the paint shop thought I was crazy but after he finished painting her he couldn't believe the way she turned out so the shop made my car the banner on their website. I like to be different, always have. I hope my daughter is the same way as she goes through life.

Before I was able to do anything else to my car on October 25th 2009 I was in a severe accident when a man ran a stop sign rolling about 60mph, crossing over 4 lanes of traffic and hitting the driver’s side of my Dream Come True Mustang. My neck was broken, I had a traumatic brain injury & lost feeling in my legs for weeks. The Dr’s said I should have been dead as 90% of people with my type of neck injury would have died or never walked again.

For some odd reason my door popped open instead of crushing me. I am very grateful to have been driving my Ford Mustang and I know now I will own her my whole life. She saved my life so I’ll never let her go. Thank You Ford Motor Company for building such a great vehicle!

My poor Pony received $18k in damages from the 2nd accident. I did much of the work on my car little by little after I got my neck and back brace off and am still not done with her.

To add to the accident saga on October 17th 2016 while in my Ford Edge I was sitting in the thru-way of a chase waiting to make a right turn while another lady was trying to make a left-hand turn in front of oncoming traffic. Another on-coming vehicle slammed into the lady attempting to make the turn and she was pushed into the drivers side of my Edge. WTH?!?! Do any of you see a pattern here??? Perhaps I should stop driving in October or maybe get a right-hand drive vehicle?

A lot of folks may not like my Mustang or my concept for a color scheme on my Mustang but this Pony means the world to me. I am forever grateful for her #KDSTANG. My husband has also held a long time love affair with the Mustang. He owns a 2015 S/550 chassis 5.0 Mustang.

Together with our Daughter we take part in shows, photo shoots & cruises. Both my Husband and I have always loved the Eleanor Mustang and so our Daughters name is Ella Nora. Since I’m originally from Detroit, I’m still a member of the MOCSEM Mustang Club in Detroit as well as the Mustang Club of Las Vegas, MCLV. We love getting out there with other Mustang Owners!

One final thing for those who dream of owning a Mustang but don’t own one yet. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do anything. You can do what you want! I was told with the injuries mentioned above, I’d never be able to step foot on a runway again (I have been a Fashion Model, another of my dreams).

I had to work my tail off to overcome a lot of injuries, fight through the pain, Lupus, neuropathy and Fibromyalgia, but, I have managed to do over 100 Fashion shows and be in over 50 movie & TV shows. I’ve also been fortunate enough to have been on the cover of a magazine and be in pictured in multiple magazines. If you go to Ford.com, I’ve been the Ford Focus Girl since 2014. Yes, it looks like I’ve got it all, please know it didn’t come without a lot of pain, suffering and hard work and I don’t have it all, but I do have a wonderful family, my Mustang and a lot of Mustang Friends who I hold close.

So to everyone on this Earth reading this, anything is possible if you refuse to quit! You just have to dream & go for it refusing to quit!!! Part of my fighting for what I’ve dreamed of, started at an early age, enamored with the Ford Mustang.

Today, I’ve been blessed with a Daughter who took possession of her 1st Ford Mustang on Christmas Days (her Birthday) 2017, a Great Husband and my very own Mustang. For many of us a Family is a wonderful blessing. I love my Family, my Mustang and my
Mustang Family!