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The TBI Chatroom |
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The nightmare started coming home from a softball tourney 62 miles away, late on the night of Aug. 4th, 1990. My car rolled 5 1/2 times off the hiway, they were working on a shoulder at that time for the hiway. My boyfriend, (later husband, much later, ex-husband), and two daughters and myself were in the car. My girls and I were ejected. My ex got a broken leg, my girls also sustained minor injuries. I was in a coma for eight weeks, hospital for 3 1/2 months. I broke my back in three places, neck in two, broken nose, lacerated liver and lung, and severe head injury. They ended up removing a lobe of my right lung. They, dr's, said I would never walk, although there wasn't any paralysis. They were WRONG! I not only walk but do aerobics! I try to stay active as much as possible. I have since given up my acctg (work prior to accident) and went back to school and got my degree in Medical Assisting. I now work for the Center for Independent Living in SWKS.My main problem has been cognitive, basically memory. I have eventually remembered a lot of my past, the long term, but still have a lot of problems with my short term memory. My family is not supportive of me, my husband left, my girls are almost raised and gone, so I got a therapy dog. His name is Charlie, 3.67 lb teacup poodle, and he is great! He goes with me to work (I only have been released to work part-time), to the grocery store, restraunts, even church! I have done some educating in my community allowing therapy dogs in public. I am the contact person for head injuries in my area of the state, pen pal on here, lobbyist for head injuries at the state level, and continue to work with other head injuries. I don't believe in sympathy but rather empathy, you don't have any idea what it is like until you've been there! I think I'm forgetting some things but maybe if I remember I will add them later.