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On December 2, 1991, My husband, 3 year old son and I were visiting family in Michigan. It was supposed to be an early Christmas celebration. We had just moved from Michigan to Virginia and had gone back to visit my husband's family. We were involved in a car collision on icy roads. Nobody was drunk. I can't blame anyone. It was just one of those things. We were making a left hand turn and couldn't stop, because of the ice and the other car couldn't stop either. The other car hit us on the passenger side, which is where I was sitting. My son was only three years old and in a car seat. I believe the car seat saved his life. He had minor injuries and some broken glass in his face. My husband and sister-in-law also had minor injuries. I suffered a severe brain injury. I was in a coma for five days, and in the hospital/rehab. for two and a half months. I left the hospital in a wheel chair and used a walker to get around for several months.I remember learning to walk again and trying so hard to get rid of that walker. I had to hold on to walls at first. I didn't mind going grocery shopping, because I could use the grocery cart to help me and nobody ever knew that I needed it to walk. I could look like anyone else shopping.
When I first started doing laundry again, I put the dirty clothes in pillow cases so I could carry it downstairs with one hand while holding on to the railing with the other hand. Now I can actually walk downstairs without holding on!!
I started driving again ten months after the accident. My husband tried to teach me, but husbands do not make good teachers, so after a few days of him hollering at me, I called a driving instructor. He took me out driving three times, then told me, "Hey, I can keep taking your money if you want, but you are doing just fine."
After that, I took a college course in document processing and learned how to use a computer. I work part-time, temporary jobs, doing clerical work. I can be home with my son in the summer, when school is out. I never thought I would be working again! Maybe someday, I'll even work full-time.
Working has been really good for me, too. About 2 years ago, I had a job which involved answering the switchboard for one hour a day. When they first told me that I'd be doing that, I got scared and thought of not taking the job. I didn't think my speech was good enough to answer
phones. But, instead, I tried it. I figured if I couldn't handle it, I would tell them, but I made myself try it. It was real hard at first, but each day got a little bit easier. After a few months, I
really liked it. I loved being at the front desk, greeting people and talking to people on the phone. My speech improved dramatically since taking that job, and now people can't shut me up!!! I am so glad I tried it. If I hadn't, I would probably still be slurring my words and repeating myself. I think we need to push ourselves to try more things and not get too comfortable with things as they are.
In the beginning, when I was still going to therapies and learning to adjust, my husband and I went through some very rough times. It was hell. We almost didn't make it. We both had to learn to accept the "new" me and love the "new" me. I kinda like the "new" me better than the "old" me. I am more outgoing now. I talk to people in the grocery store and in restaurants. I am more compassionate and understanding than I was before.
I wouldn't want to go through it again, but this injury has made me stronger, more confident and more caring.
Email Dawn