How did you acquire your brain injury?
I was only 22 years old, and just finished 6 years in University and received my Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
I was just getting off nights as a new RN for 5.5 months, and I wanted to see my boyfriend because I didn’t see him all weekend. He owns his own business as a carpenter, which I pushed him into doing. He was shingling a roof a half an hour away. So I drove there when I woke up to bring a Gatorade. And when I got there, I am told I went to visit him on the roof. And he said he turned his back one second and I fell off the roof that was only 10 feet tall. And the bad thing was I fell on concrete. I was rushed to the local hospital that is half an hour away. Where I was stabilized. I then flew to a big city hospital by air ambulance. After the ER I was taken to the ICU. Then taken to a Neuro ward and finally a Rehab ward. Where I spent my last 3 months, recovering and adapting to my new changed life. I was in the hospital for a total of 6 months
It has been over 10 years after my TBI, but still dealing with life long changes that changed my life forever!
What are some things that have helped you throughout the recovery journey?
Having a positive support system that always pushes me! And of course, my husband, who has been through it all with me. My boyfriend at the time, was only with me for a year when this all happened. This really showed his true colours, and how much he loved me. He could have left at any time, but he didn’t!
If you could go back to when you first acquired your brain injury and tell yourself one thing, what would that be?
The man with you is AMAZING! He accepts you after all that happens to you, you are so lucky to have him!
What would you like people who don’t have a brain injury to know?
I am so lucky to have an amazing support system! That is what drove [me] to accomplish things I should have been able to do!
