I tapped my brakes but lost control. There was about 3 1/2 inches of slush on the road. I can remember the sound of trees snapping and two loud bangs and with them, two good whacks on my head- one on the very top and one at my right temple. When I came to, I was confused. It was very quiet and I couldn't see. I felt wet. Eventually, I felt my face and realized that my scalp had peeled off half of my head and was hanging in my face. I pushed it back and felt something wet running down my arm. I tried to figure out why I couldn't move.

It took a while, but I realized that something was holding my chest. Somehow, I struggled loose and pulled myself around a whole lot of obstacles, until I could lay down. My left arm felt like it was electrified, my fingers on my left hand tingled, painfully. I couldn't see... I dozed.

Periodically, I would wake up and once, I tried to feel for an exit or handle or something. I wasn't sure where I was. I went in and out of a sleep state a number of times. At some point, I recognized that I was in a car. I managed to tap the car horn with my foot. The only sounds were those of a dog, in the distance. I felt very serene, at peace. I was ready to die, except that I was worried about how my mother, daughter, dear friends would react to all the blood and glass and bent metal.

I thought about writing a note, to tell them I was very relaxed.

Help arrived, about 3/4 of an hour after my accident. A woman called out to me. Her dog had alerted her to me. I was lucid enough to tell her that I needed an ambulance and to give her my home phone number. The ambulance driver was someone I knew well, that was reassuring. I remember fragments of being taken from the car, the hospital in our town, then being moved to a larger "city" hospital.

I had a huge haematoma on my head, that made it swell up on the right side, several times it's normal size. I needed 200 staples to close the laceration, which started below my eyebrow and went up my forehead, around my head, to behind my ear. I had fractured the transverse process' of several vertebrae in my neck.

I spent that first night and the next night in the hospital. Then I was released, told to have the staples removed in a week. I called the insurance company about my car. They sent an adjuster, who re-imbursed me for the car, but didn't follow-up with the medical stuff. I was scrambled and confused for a few months. In the beginning, I needed someone to feed, dress and bathe me. As the visible wounds healed, I realized that I had more serious problems and began to look for help with what was obviously a brain injury. Since then, the insurance company has gotten a "case manager" to help me. I am still undergoing tests and follow-up.

Each day presents a new challenge, but I have come a long way from needing help with getting dressed. (although, sometimes I still put my shoes on the wrong feet!) I am grateful for the support of my friends at tbi-chat and that I have an opportunity to give support there, too.

Prince the dog, is my hero- he saved my life that day, but my faith, family and friends (including the tbi-chat folk) keep me going.

Email Jody