A Place to Share
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A Place to Share |
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Update 6/5/2006
Email Ricky I have been accepted to St. Gregory's University and plan to start there in the fall of 2001. I have learned to swim again. I still walk with a limp and have limited use of my right arm. My memory is better than it was, but its still not great. I try not to ever look back....I continue to trudge forward. Never Give up! I was involved in an automobile accident on June 16, 1997. I was returning home from my girlfriends house, I don't remember the accident but some how I ended up in a creek bed about 300 yards from home, evidently my accident happened about 2:00 AM and I was found around 6:30 AM that morning. I was airlifted to University Hospital in My first memory is of my Dad and brothers looking at me. I didn't know who or where I was. I'm sure I must have felt frightened or bewildered or something but I honestly don't remember how or what I felt. The months of rehab are a blur, and not a particularly pleasant one. I was discharged from Health South on October 3, 1997. I went home but I was unhappy with my family, I felt that they had abandoned me. See I wanted to come home for a long time…Health One year after my accident I enrolled in a rehab-driving course at a local University, I passed the course and got my driver's license restored. At present it has been 17 months since my accident. I am enrolled and attending college at Seminole State, I am driving, and working on putting my life back together. This experience has not been fun or easy, but I've learned to lower my head and trudge forward. I give thanks to God each day for the gift of life. Never give up. EmailRicky
I just rediscovered this website! It has been nearly 10 years since my accident and
I am doing pretty well. I have graduated from St Gregorys University with my
Bachelors degree in Natural Science/Biology. I am self employed and work primarily
outdoors as a landscaper. I am a member of the Oklahoma Brain Injury Association. I
have some lingering deficits, I have right sided weakness with a limp and decreased
sensation in my right hand. I still have a poor memory! My message to everyone with
a head injury remains "Never Give Up!"
It has been a long time since my original story. I continue to move forward. I am no longer in therapy however, I do strength and conditioning training twice a week. This has really helped with my gait, balance and most of all my self confidence. I am still driving! I graduated from Seminole State College with a Associate in Science Degree. To date that is my largest accomplishment.
My name is Ricky Johnson Jr. I am 21 years old and I live in Tecumseh Oklahoma, a small town about 30 miles east of Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City, I suffered a TBI, fractured left humerus, hip, sacrum and back, collapsed left lung, and a ruptured bladder. I spent the first 7 days in ICU and left the hospital on June 27, 1997, I was transferred to Health South Rehabilitation Hospital into their coma stimulation program. I was in a coma for the next 30 days.
South wouldn't let me. I'm sure now that they had my best interests at heart, but then it felt wrong. I began outpatient therapy 5 days a week. That was eventually decreased to 3 days and then at last I was free!!!
Ricky Jo