Kimberly Dozier Visits Stony Brook University

During what students said was an inspirational speech, CBS News Correspondent and Iraqi car bomb survivor Kimberly Dozier said as tough as her recovery was, she wishes to help others learn how to overcome life's challenges.

"First, telling the story made me uncomfortable, but I realized I'm in a fantastic position to teach people," said Dozier.

Hundreds gathered, including myself, for the speech on Monday Oct. 6 at Stony Brook University which was given with the hope of educating students about trauma recovery while showing the benefits to rising above obstacles for the things you love.

The evening opened with an interview of Dozier given by CBS's Katie Couric shown to the students about the attack Dozier encountered on Memorial Day of 2006.
Dozier was a victim of a car bombing which took the life of her camera crew along with a US Army captain and an Iraqi translator. More than 500 pounds of explosives were used in the attack which Dozier says, "turned the car into a wall of burning shrapnel." Dozier was seriously wounded in the attack and deemed 'technically dead' by doctors five times, but following more than 2000 stitches, multiple surgeries and months of physiotherapy, she finally recovered.
At one point during the video the crowd gasped. Silence.

A large majority in attendance were left in shock as detailed images were shown depicting how doctors treated Dozier for her injuries.
Moments later Dozier opened up her speech. "That is hard to watch," she said.

Dozier discussed how dangerous it was doing interviews in Iraq and described the unique process reporters took. Only 15 minutes of reporting was done at a time. She said this was enough time for the insurgency to scope out reporters and gather all the weapons they needed and plan an attack.

"Within 24 hours of reporting at a specific location, car bombs would go off," said Dozier. She said this became an evident pattern and what should have come as a warning.

When asked about the day of the attack and if she felt it could have been prevented Dozier said, "It was the right place at the right time. Simple fact is that, that is war."