I am a 57 year old male that joined the ranks as a survivor of a traumatic brain injury, the first week of November 1994. I was on my way home from the office and I and my motorcycle collided with a Deer who had decided to go jaywalking or perhaps more truthfully jay"hoping" across the highway not far from our home,(I had a helmet on and have ridden for 40 years). I did have deer tags to go hunting the following week so I guess I just got mine a week early. I remember nothing of the accident nor any of the next two months in the hospital. My life took a major turn. Having a fantastic family. A wife of 33 years, the most wonderful girl in the world, and two sons. We have been blessed as well with 2 grandchildren and we were all off on a new adventure.

I was airlifted to Barrows Neurological Center in Phoenix. I woke up from a Coma after a week and the Doctors went to work. They put my skull back together using 4 metal plates. My grandson calls me the "Bionic Man". They repaired and patched and sent me home after 2 months. Then I began the long and painful rigors of Therapy. The early prognosis they presented to my wife Ellen was that I would live out my days in a nursing home with full care. Well we fooled them! Having been a Pastor all my life I guess the Lord had something else He needed me to do along with a big lesson He needed me to learn. I was a workaholic most of my and life my doctors told me my task now was to learn how to rest. So I went to the Bible and look up the word rest and to my surprise the word "rest" shows up almost 600 times in scripture as opposed to just over 200 times for the word "work" or "serve". As a result I keep my self busy doing things that bring me pleasure which in God's scheme of things is why he has placed us here. So I found some things that I enjoy and things by which I can bless others. I do Photography for the Arizona State Museum in Prescott, I counsel Pastors and others, create the newsletter for my church and the TBI support group here locally. I as well enjoy collecting stamps and I have a collection of cameras dating clear back to the late 1800's. I write poetry and since my accident have preached in my church twice.

God has been good to me, pouring out His grace far beyond what I could ask or think. I have an understanding family that loves me even when I forget and leave the waffle iron on and the contents fill the house with smoke. I belong to a support group we call the designGroup and that has been great in my recovery. People tell me I have the best of both worlds in that I "retired" early, have the wherewithal to enjoy many things (not the money), and a very supportive immediate and extended family. Thank you God.

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