11/7/03 i was in a car accident. dude on drug was driving too fast. i turned right into a driveway to try to prevent the accident. he tore off my bumper. the force of the first crash propelled my car into a house. my car left a hole in the foundation. dude on drug went downstreet and hit another car headon. dude on drug and driver of other car had broken bones. i got mild tbi, headaches, tbi-related visual disturbances, neck and back pain. dude on drug got two misdemeanors. i was not notified of his court date. i am currently not able to work. i do not know what the future will hold for me. i have completed 4 months of physical therapy. i go to a chiropractor and a special eye doctor who works only w ppl w brain injuries. i am going to go to a neurologist who works w ppl w brain injury. i am scheduled for neuropsych testing w someone who works w ppl w brain injury. i also go to the gym to do what i can and i will also be exercising in a pool. i joined a local mild tbi support group in my town. i hope to be active in the state brain injury association. i think i will need some occupational therapy, and a job coach for when i go back to work. i accept that this has happened to me and i deal with it just for today. acceptance is not the same as approval. i do not believe in fate, a grand master plan, or things happening to us "for a reason" or "to learn lessons." i believe in dealing w things the way they are at this moment. i also believe that we create meaning because we are finite human beings. i am much happier when i forget about meaning of events. i have been involved in the mental health consumer movement and as a disability activist. i also like dogs, cats, frogs, wildlife, and the woods. i am more than my labels and stronger than my problems. yours in the struggle, sappho q

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