Hello fellow TBIer and EVERY Caregiver!

My name is Mike Roberts, and I am 34 now. I would like to tell my story to help get the word out about how much we take automotive safety for granted. On December 12, 2000, I was travelling in my 1989 Audi Quattro on a frontage road doing 45 MPH. A gentleman pulled directly into my path with little or no chance to avoid an accident. We struck, and his much older smaller car was destroyed. My car was driveable, but a fender was rubbing a tire. I opted to get a loaner car for a few days until the damaged was estimated on my car. I went to see the doctor that evening so that he could make sure a spinal fusion in my lower back was OK, which it was. However, he told me to take it easy for a few weeks, since I had a pretty good concusion. I didn't really think anything of it, but did take it easy for the next few days. Thats when it happened.

On December 14, 2000 while driving my rental car home from work, about a 50 mile trip that I have been doing for about 6 years, I sustained a blackout. This blackout was caused by my concusion from 2 days earlier. Unfortunately the rental car I had was one of my least favorite cars. It was a 2001 Pontiac Grand AM. This car has performed the POOREST in its midsize class for 5 years in a row IN CRASH SAFETY! WHile driving 64 MPH on I-90 just north of Rockford, IL, I rear-ended a semi-truck that was slowed to 10-15 MPH for the upcoming toll-booth. The seatbelt did not hold me in the seat correctly, and the airbags did deploy, but in an investigation later would show, the car was under a RECALL for improperly functioning AIR BAGS! SInce my seatblet did not hold me correctly, I MISSED both airbags, and impacted the windshield! If you sense that I am a little upset with Pontiac, you are correct. Now with almost no safety equipment working properly, I was lucky to survive. Through some incredible lifesaving efforts from some spectacular EMTs, Fire Fighters, Police Officers, and passers by, I was medflighted to the hospital and was given an intercranian pressure monitor (ICP) and was medically sedated until Christmas Day (11 days). I received a TBI to both frontal lobes, and my opcipital lobe was severly damaged as well. I had my right knee cap turned into corn flakes (thats a quote from the doctor), and tore my rotator cuff in my right shoulder.

I was transferred to a brain oriented rehabilitation hospital on or about the 4 of Janruary 2001. I was lucky to have spent the next 20 days being treated by the best therapists for speech, language physical and of course significant therapy on my emotional portions of both frontal lobes of my brain. I was released to the care of my every loving and caring wife the day before my 33rd birthday on Janruary 24, 2001.

I thought I was doing pretty good, all things considered, but boy what a year of recovery it has turned out to be. I am thankful for EVERYONE who came to my rescue from the instant it happend until now, and I truely have no 'horror' stories that I often hear about. My wife and I are working very hard at getting me back to a level close to my preinjury state, although some days are better than others, as I still have a long way to go. My 'horror' is the fact that the largest automobile manufacturer in the world (GM) can accept its responsibility for making some of the most UNSAFE cars every built, regardless of price, and keeps right on doing it. Consumers be damned. My rental car was (and still is) THE MOST UNSAFE CAR EVER tested in its class. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!!! Pretty sad, Americans are killing or maming Americans. I now drive the safest car in its class a 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle. My wife disposed (with my help) of her 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee due to its UNSAFE record, and now drives a 2000 Mercedes ML-320 SUV (I still need to be able to pull out boat) which is in a 3 way tie for the safest car in its class. I am sorry for venting, but I cannot see my family (Wife and 2 wonderful kids ages 3 & 6) whom have seen me through some pretty dark times have something even close to what happen to me happen to them. I still have a long road of recovery ahead of me, but other than my seizure I had on April 9, 2002, I am moving ahead, albeit slowly, now that I have to wait 3 months for my driving priveldge to return. I am able to work at my same job, surrounded by some good people. I do have a lot to be thankful for, but I don't know if I will ever forgive GM, or EVER ride in one again!

This is where I tell you to not take what seem like insignificant pains (the concussion) for granted. A concussion is a mild brain injury, but it is still a brain injury. If I had paid more attention to that, I wouldn't be writing this letter now. If you have gotten this far and are still reading, thank you. If my my story will help even 1 person, my pain will not have been for naught. Please feel free to e-mail me, and ask/talk about my/your story. I feel TBI.org is doing a service VERY worth while. Take care, and safe motoring. GOD BLESS.

Email Mike