My name is Linda, I used to run two businesses (a college campus restaurant & a complete catering service) I fit perfectly into the "workaholic" category. Most workdays were at least 12-14 hours. I wore so many hats for different job descriptions that I physically started wearing hats and some called me the "hat lady" I am single (divorced for at least 10 years) and over 45 yrs old. I had few commitments or distractions outside of being a busy business owner. I have 3 wonderful dogs who are very spoiled and more so now that I stay home so much.

On Sunday, November 16, 1997 my life changed forever. I was in the right lane of a total of 3 lanes on I 95 North. A van in the left lane suddenly went into the middle lane and hit the car in front of it. Then the van started spinning around and came over into the right lane and hit me from the front on the driver's door, a second car who had previously been in the middle lane a little behind me saw the van crossing lanes and hitting other cars, so that driver hit his brakes and slammed into me (also on driver's side door) then bounced off my car and ended up in the median strip of the Interstate, It must have been a pretty hard hit to bounce from the right lane into the middle of the interstate! I was taken by ambulance to a small community hospital, they did not have a Trauma Dept. or know much about trauma. Basically took some x rays and sent me home with instructions to get in touch with my family doctor. No Instructions regarding trauma or head injury!!!! At first I blamed my confusion, lack of attention, memory lapses etc. on just being "shook up" After seeing the family doctor 3 days after the accident and him telling me I would be "shook up" and aching all over for about 6 weeks, I tried to take life a little easier and curtail my long hours. Two months later I was still confused, having memory problems, constantly tired, and very weak. One week I would be having muscle spasms real bad, the next week it would be severe headaches, I kept trying to work thinking each day would be better. Finally after 4 months and not much progress, I closed both businesses. I tried to put my health first and gain back my strength and remove stress. I guess my story from this point on is pretty similar to most other's that I have read. Some days I think I am crazy because my head & neck injuries don't show up on x rays or MRI's and doctors seem to be confused as to what to do with me. I have headaches (beyond Migraine medicine help) for days and weeks. I have problems tolerating noise and bright lights, I have stopped reading books due to forgetting what I have read 3 -4 pages before, I don't enjoy movies anymore since I get lost somewhere in the middle and can't remember the beginning so the end has little meaning. I am still going through evaluations to determine exactly what problems I have, then hopefully I can begin to work towards a "new" life. I know that I will never be the same, but right now I still miss the "old" me and my former life very much.

There have been many people who have listened to me when I needed to talk, comforted me when I needed to cry, and a few very special people that allowed me to vent when I couldn't take the frustration any longer. Thank you so much for being there for me. The TBI support group and discussions have kept me hanging in there all these months and I thank God everyday that I found support from people who have been "there".