WeAreTBI.org - The Social Support Network for People Living with Traumatic Brain Injury

In 2002. I had a brain bleed; a TBI and an ABI. There must have been a 2 for 1 special on brain injuries that day because I got a double whammy. So, I'm not supposed to be here. I wasn't supposed to come out of a coma. Did that. They said I'd be a "vegetable." What kind of vegetable am I? I was institutionalized- I went from hospital to hospital and a few care homes. Thank goodness I'm finally in my own home. (2002-2006) I rent it, but it's in the family and I've known it my whole life. That wasn't supposed to happen. Once you are in, you are in. It's hard to get out of the "system," but it is possible. Yes, I lost where I used to live. I also lost all my possessions. That includes pictures and clothes. I had to have one of my sisters sue for custody of my kids just to keep them in the family. (That took a year.) In a way I lost them too. Now I talk, and each day sound better. I stand up. I think my aunt almost fainted when she saw me do that. I think it would be funny to do that for a crowd. What's next? Nobody knows. My favorite was a few years ago I was told at Stanford, "you're getting better." I guess that's the medical explanation.

Here it is many years later and yet I still continue to progress to where I was before this all started.  As I've been told, though, slow progress is better than no progress.

I live independently in a house I rent (amazing by itself). My 2 girls are with me part time (ages 15 and 16). My injury has become primary since nobody knows what's going on. Even doctors are confused.

MA - Special Education with an emphasis in Early Intervention

BA - Psychology

AA - Business Administration

writer

2006 - present - Writer, self-employed

2002 - Behavior Specialist (therapist), Sierra Co. Mental Health

1997-2002 - Program Manager (Early Intervention), UCP

1994-1997 - Client Program Coordinator, Valley Mountain Regional Center (social worker for dev. disabled)

The Never Ending Story

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

The Raiders of the Lost Arc

Blues

Folk

Classic Rock

Indie/Alternative

Dessert! Mostly cream pies. Ice cream.

And I love candy!

I now like audio books, as I can put them on while I do something else.













I like Fanfiction the most.













Lord of the Rings series, as well as The Hobbit. Ivanhoe. The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy series.

I had an AVM (arteriovenus malformation) which bled in 2002 while driving. It was removed in 2004 after several procedures.  Because I was driving, there was also a car accident.  I ended up with 2 brain injuries.  I wasn't expected to live.  My heart had already stopped once.

Unable to walk. Right side weakness.  Feeding tube.

Feeding tube and liquid feedings.

Yes, but it's Medicare.

is a joke