The darkness came in the night. I was my beautician's last apt . Together, we walked to our cars, and said "Good Night". Moments later my life and my family's lives, became suddenly, traumatically, and permanently, changed.

My husband sat in his recliner, watching TV, knowing I soon would be returning home. He answered the phone. Speeding to the hospital, he refused to believe the total wrecked car that he passed was ours. Seconds before these moments, I had become the survivor of a traumatic brain injury, from a near fatal car wreck. My husband and my family would survive with me. I would no longer be the same person I was before this accident.

Parts of my brain seem to no longer function. I recall no memories of the accident, any memories during my days in the hospital, nor do I remember my arrival returning home. I suffered severe Central Nervous System injuries. I suffered injuries of my Cervical Spine C4-5 and C5-6. Surgery followed this accident. I suffered a broken nose which required surgery. I suffered broken ribs and a fractured knee. I had three surgeries from this injury.

During recovery my physician said I was a Miracle, and "ALIVE because of GOD!" My first day going out of doors was being in the presence of God's Creations ..... AWESOME! Listening to the birds as they sang, watching the squirrels jump from tree to tree,smelling the flowers with such beauty, and looking up toward the heavens.

Before my injury, I was an employee at Rockwell International, working in Quality Control (since then it has become a Boeing Plant). My husband and I have 3 daughters and sons-in-law. We are blessed with 9 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren. Our grandson, Brent, made his transition to heaven at the age of 15, 3 years ago.

Though my recovery is a miraculous recovery, the journey has not been easy for me, my family, nor our friends. We are so grateful for the deaf, the blind, and those crippled before us, who helped open a door for our journey....for those of us surviving a brain injury. They have enriched our lives!

I struggle hard to stay involved in activities that are stimulating for my brain. My mistakes, often, are with laughter. I rest, then try again....and again....and again. (Keep-on-keepin'-on!) I am on medications for my seizure activities, caused from injuries to my brain. My memory is very short term. It functions greatest with repetition. I must struggle during communications, due to cognitive deficits. I have short attention span. There is a severe loss in following directions. I get lost easily. Language difficulties are a common occurrence in my life. There are pauses in my motor messages being received and sent. A weakness exists in my balance control.

I did have another brain injury, in a second automobile accident. This caused a set-back in recovery from my first injury. Those in our Medical Professions who have helped guide me and share their support with me and my family, are of great value, especially my physicians and Speech/Language Pathologist.

With Faith, Hope, and Love, and believing in myself, my life soars on wings like those of an Eagle! These rewarding accomplishments, could not be~~~without GOD!! The clock is "ticking-again", recovery continues. We have not Given-up.....We are BUILT-UP!! We have won A VICTORY!!~~~~Our lives have been Enriched!

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