Greetings! 
 
"EVERY MOMENT IS A CELEBRATION!"  
That is what I do EVERYDAY,  I celebrate!  On May 3, 2002, I was in a horrible car
accident.  I was driving alone.  All of a sudden, I was hit by a hit-and-run driver.
 The impact was so hard, I was ejected out of the passenger's window, going airborne
over 50 ft!  I was told that I  put my right arm in front of my head to break the
fall, (instinctly).  My arm was so broken that the doctors told me that I would
NEVER have full use of my arm, again!   I tell you,  "God Is Good!"  Almost a year
ago, I got the pin taken out of my arm!  My arm is healed!  Soon, I will play
basketball again and shoot pool!  Both are my special vice's!   "Just because I have
a brain injury does not mean that I am  brain dead!" 
Please take a moment to visit my web site.............. 
www.thesoulofasurvivor.org 
  
I was on life support for about 2 1/2 weeks.  I was able to come off of it because I
had family and dear sweet friends to come and pray, talk and sing to me!  Two of my
VERY best friends would come and see me.  Annetter E. Cleveland, who had breast
cancer and Gregory E. McKinney, who has AIDS..........Annetter would come in and
pray and Gregory would get in the bed with me and sing!  The thing that kept me so
strong and focused after my accident was that I noticed that even though I know/knew
that they were/are in alot of pain........I have NEVER heard them complain about the
pain!  I have recently lost my best friend, Annetter, June11, 20059 ,(by the way
Annetter was a Falcon cheerleader).     That is still pretty painful to
me...............But, I know that Annetter is in heaven smiling and telling me to go
on and finish my job!   Keep fighting!  
  
  
I am a 36 year old woman living with  a brain injury is challenging to the extreme
power on some days!   I have over 5 years of college education.  I was in Who's Who
of America's high school and college students.  I was VERY active in African
American social/civic organizations.  WOW!  Things use to come so easily for
me........ I now stutter when I get excited.  My attention span is NOT as strong as
it use to be.  Today, my doctor's and partner, Janet ,  insists that I keep a
journal with me at all times!  Speaking of Janet, she keeps me pumped up EVERYDAY!  
She motivates me inspires me and pushes me to ALWAYS do better than the day before! 
Janet is my inspiration.  I have to and MUST keep positive people in my life at ALL
times!  I also MUST have people on my side who has my best interest in heart. 
People will use you, if  they know that you have a head injury.  Family and
friends-I know from first hand knowledge.  My long term memory is alright-but, my
short term memory needs alot of work!  I had to learn my A, B, C's all over again,
how to tie my shoes, how to cook, etc..............My brother, Eddie had to tell me
that our grandfather was deceased.  "How, I asked him?"  "I just saw him!"  I
did........While I was on life support, my grandfather came to me and grabbed my
hands.  He wanted me to come with him!  I gently let my hands go saying, "I had too
much work to be done on Earth!"  I really could have gone with him, everything was
so peaceful and surreal.  But, I had to come back and finish my work!  Speaking of
my brother, Eddie.......He chooses NOT to talk about my car accident.  We are only
18 months apart........So, we're pretty close.  I am NOT sure if it's a man thing or
if it's just that he almost lost me!  I do say that this is  NOT a tradegy no, no
no, this is a triumph!  I AM VICTORIOUS!  
  
It has been pretty hard trying to keep a job, because I don't want to just live off
of my SSI checks for the rest of my life.  I know that they are many of my brothers
and sisters who are in my dire need than me.  So, I will continue to fight, get
stronger and stay focused on why I have been given "A Second Chance!"     
  
I must say that I NEVER-EVER had a  "pity party."  After my accident I enrolled in
Bobby Dodd Institute, (a place for people with disabilities go to to become
employed), and Shepherd Pathways, (a center for brain injured people-an out patient,
day program).  I have meet so many people, my age and younger who have brain
injuries, had strokes, and who have been shot in the head.  Today, some are still
surviving with the MOST beautiful outlooks on life, the MOST beautiful smiles and
the fighter attitude to, "Just keep going!"  That's so exciting to me!  These are my
people now.   I didn't try and take the time to get to know a person with a
noticebly disability-until my accident.  I am NO longer on any medication.  The
medicine I was on had me sleeping from 2:30 in the afternoon to 7 or 8 o"clock the
next morning.  I am SO finished with sleeping my life away!  ............."I don't 
debate my situation-I hold on to my revelation!....... I have dedicated and made a
proclamation to help and to always serve as an advocate for people with
disabilities!  I came out of my accident with only a broken arm and a brain
injury......I can and will begin to talk, walk, shout, sing and dance for our
equality!  " I AM NOT WORRIED ABOUT TOMORROW; TODAY IS BEAUTIFUL!"  
  
THIS IS MY STORY; THIS IS MY SONG! 
STAY A BLESSING! 
  
CHANDRA "CHANNI" LEIGH BROWN  
Email Chandra