Email:c.dunn@nl.rogers.com
You did not walk away. You didn't wake up for weeks. You were sitting up in the back seat behind the drivers. Roof was cut off to get you out. If you notice the 3rd picture the back of the car is crunched. That's because it was the first to hit. We went into the ditch backwards and then over a small embankment. The car smashed into the ground , trunk first, and the started the aerial maneuvers! We rolled many times. As far as I know I'm the only one that didn't black out. I remember the whole thing. We came to rest on all four wheels. Like in the picture. Julie was wedged between the rear passenger seat and the floor (suffered a broken shoulder) Paul was in my lap (no belt!) with a gashed up skull (27 stitches come to mind) and I was still sitting. But yes, Paul and I got out to look for Julie because we didn't see her in the car (very scary). I actually threw Paul out of the car because he was in shock and tried to start the car to get going again.she finally came to screaming and we pulled her out.it was dark , about 1:30 am. We were in a field off a paved rural road. . When the firefighters and police came they did use the JOL to cut off the roof as they did not want to move you I guess.it was a very scary time. Nothing I'd ever like to relive. Kev
Accident Apr 92
1 WEEK OUT OF COMA
This photo was used in my 1995 story by the Evening Telegram and it stated
“Injured badminton player shows courage in comeback"
1991
Picture for Gander paper – Male Athlete of the Year
MY STORY
“It is very lonely here in my world! I’d let anyone in but they are not knocking!” This was taken from my 1995 journal. After reading stories about brain injuries, I felt compelled to write my story, as loneliness seems to be a major problem with other Traumatic Brain Injury survivors (TBI). In April 1992, after completing another year at Acadia University (7 courses away from my second degree in Business; I had already graduated with my Bachelor of Recreation Management) I went to Florida to relax and then to Ottawa to visit my friend. I was to meet my badminton doubles partner in Montreal on Sunday so we could travel onto the Canadian Nationals in British Columbia. On Saturday night, my friend Kev, his girlfriend, and I were in a car driven by Kevin’s friend (Paul) when suddenly we were in an accident. The driver was going much too fast to negotiate the turn and the car left the road, rolling (seven) several times. The three others managed to get out but the “Jaws of Life” was used to extract me. My plans and existing life came to a “smashing” halt! The guys were released from hospital that night and Kevin’s girlfriend left several days later. Except for a small cut on my mouth, there were no visible injuries but I was diagnosed with a closed head injury, which was a 3 on the Glasgow Coma Scale. The Doctors told my parents, “I was in critical but stable condition!” I spent the next two weeks in Intensive Care in the Ottawa Civic Hospital (10-14 days in a coma) and another six weeks on the Neuro floor. On June 23rd, I went to the Nova Scotia Rehabilitation Centre in Halifax. I finally went home to Gander, 4 ½ months after the accident on Sept. 4th, where I slowly began to rebuild my life. Before the accident, I was a National athlete in Badminton/Ball Hockey, competed in the Atlantic Juvenile Golf Championships as well as three other Provincial sports, winning both team and individual awards. I was ranked #1 in Newfoundland Senior Badminton for 2 years (91/92) and competed in this sport at the Canada Games in 1991. I also competed in the NF Summer Games for Baseball and came second in the 4A Fast Pitch High School Softball Championships. Sports were an integral ingredient that shaped me before the accident and they became my best friend afterwards, especially in my lonely convalescence! When we returned home, we realized there were no TBI services in Gander, so my family found a tutor to help me. Andrew was a retired Special Education teacher, who dedicated his life to me for 5 years, 5 days a week, 2-3 hours a day. He was unfamiliar with TBI but after having met us, he agreed to assist. He created a plan of attack and although unconventional, his premise was, “If it worked, I used it, if not, I tried other material!” He was my saviour who gave me back my zest for life. Andrew started my cognitive retraining and I did whatever I could to augment my rehabilitation. I created my own therapy, which included many different forms of physical and mental activities. My thought was, “if I wasn’t injured, I’d be working 40 hours a week”, so therapy became a way of life rather than just a form of recovery Before meeting Andrew, my High School Math teacher (badminton/floor hockey coach), suggested to my family that I could sit-in in his High School Math class. I was 23 years of age, but it was a premature decision on their part. TBI was new to everyone! An Elementary teacher mentioned to my parents about Andrew, whom was a retired Special Education teacher. He tutored me for a couple of years, he felt I was rehabilitated enough to take a post secondary course. The first course was Psychology but this endeavour was too arduous, due to my double vision and mental impairments. I realized at this time, “I had to crawl before I walked” in everything I did, both physically and mentally. We decided after this to take a Math course, which eventually led to Marketing and Accounting courses. I was strong in this area before the accident and with the strong support from my teacher, his assistant, and family members, I was successful in completing them. I eventually completed five Post Secondary courses at the local College & University campuses over a two-year period. My highlight was when I was successful in completing two courses taken during the same term! During this period, I also took a Driver’s Education course and my license was returned to me. This gave me the much-needed independence, which was a key ingredient to my rehabilitation. Sports continued to play a role in my life during this time. In 1993, I won the Over-All Low Net at the Gander Invitational Golf Tournament and have won awards in Provincial Senior Badminton in levels A, B, and C. After five years of Andrew’s tutoring, he said, “now buddy, it is time for you to try it on your own!” Andrew taught me to understand how life worked and I realized then that I now had to incorporate his teachings in order to adjust back into society. I did not realize that this was going to be such a monumental trek. I have had to cope with several repercussions due to my injuries such as problems with my short-term memory and other physically difficulties. I can remember back as far as age 2 but my memories of University and athletic accomplishments are largely eradicated. I am also left with numbness in my legs and right arm (thankfully I am left handed) and I also suffer from double vision, anxiety attacks, and poor dexterity. My neck and legs shook off and on for 8 or 9 years but this has recently stopped. I must be careful not to strain my muscles, particularly my neck. I forgot how to speak with inflection and my voice became very monotone and hard to understand. I have learned how to inflect after 10 years but it must be a conscious effort. I fatigue easily and there are things I cannot do, such as play contact sports, which is difficult to accept as it curtails some of the physical activities that I once enjoyed. As I was developing physically and mentally, I still had difficulties socially. I found myself isolated with only a few friends, who bothered to visit. I felt ostracized by my peers, which was very difficult on my family and myself. Through very diplomatic means, my parents implied that I had to mature and I soon realized, that therapy could not be the only thing in my life. It finally clicked in that I had to be grateful for my second opportunity at life. To help alleviate my loneliness, I began to understand that I had to fit back into society and not society fit back into my brain injured world! I soon understood that people’s lives went on and it didn’t mean that they had abandoned me. The damage to my brain made “Spur of the moment” thinking difficult, which led to other social problems such as tantrums and childish behaviours. As the years pass, these tantrums have become less frequent but I, and those around me, must recognize that this can happen at a moments notice. These tantrums created difficulties with my interpersonal relationships, which shattered my self-esteem and impacted on my ability to function in social situations. I acted like a ten year old in a grown man’s body! I did not comprehend how to develop relationships, especially with the opposite sex. For two solitary years, I hardly had any interpersonal relations, outside of my family. I realized that it was an isolated time for me but I kept enduring the frustrations because I knew one day, I would prevail and I did. I slowly learned that people’s lives went on and I had to accept that not everything revolved around Craig’s world and it was up to me to return to society. It was a at this point that Mom stated, “If you want to make friends or get a girlfriend, get off the couch and go meet them!” I gradually began to visit various popular spots, and through trial and error, I re-established myself on the social scene, but I realized that I had to mature. After a couple of years, during a Christmas party in 2000, I met Marlie and it is through this relationship that my life improved substantially. From this chance meeting, I surmised I had to leave my childish ways behind me, if I wanted to be accepted in an adult world. Over the past three years and through much time, patience, and perseverance, Marlie’s understanding enabled me to mature and develop lasting relations with her and others. I’ve entered into a new stage of life and that’s causing some confusion but as Bob Dylan once said in the song, Positively 4th Street, “I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes and just for that one moment I could be you!” This Bob Dylan song means a great deal to myself and it’s as though it was written for me: This song almost depicts my struggle in recovery and in some verses, it does. Bob Dylan – Positively 4th Street You got a lotta nerve To say you are my friend When I was down1 You just stood there grinning You got a lotta nerve To say you got a helping hand to lend You just want to be on The side that's winning You say I let you down You know it's not like that If you're so hurt Why then don't you show it You say you lost your faith But that's not where it's at You had no faith to lose And you know it I know the reason That you talk behind my back I used to be among the crowd You're in with Do you take me for such a fool To think I'd make contact With the one who tries to hide What he don't know to begin with You see me on the street You always act surprised You say, "How are you?" "Good luck" But you don't mean it When you know as well as me You'd rather see me paralyzed Why don't you just come out once And scream it No, I do not feel that good When I see the heartbreaks you embrace If I was a master thief Perhaps I'd rob them And now I know you're dissatisfied With your position and your place Don't you understand It's not my problem I wish that for just one time You could stand inside my shoes And just for that one moment I could be you Yes, I wish that for just one time You could stand inside my shoes You'd know what a drag it is To see you
EDITED BY ANDRE RICHARDBy: Rosie Mullaley
Hundred of residents of the Town of Gander will join together in a benefit next week in support of local athlete Craig Dunn. Dunn, one of the Provinces top badminton players was a passenger in a car involved in an accident in Ottawa, April 26. The 23 year old had made stop in the city to visit a friend on route to Vancouver, B.C. to compete in the national badminton championship. Dunn received serious head injuries a result of the accident. He is currently undergoing treatment in a therapy and rehab in Ottawa to aid in his recovery. Since people in his hometown have received word of the accident, Dunn’s family has received numerous phone calls wishing Dunn well and hoping for a speedy recovery. In an effort to financially help the family in their trips back and forth to Ottawa, a group of people from the town got together to help organize a benefit at Side-Trax club in Gander, which will be held next Friday from 8 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. “This is our little way of helping Craig out and letting him know we hope he recovers soon. And we feel having his family by his side will certainly help him a great deal” said organizer, Don Ficzere. “Craig has a lot of friends here and we’re all rooting for him. A door prize of a trip for two anywhere Air Nova flies will be awarded at the event. Those attending will all sign a giant card, which will be mailed to Dunn, along with a video of the benefit. “It’s just something to cheer him up”, said Ficzere, whose brother Kevin was also a passenger in the car with Dunn. Kevin escaped the accident with no major injuries. Several people and groups have joined in to sell tickets for the event, including the Gander Raiders ball team who will serve at the door. The response, Ficzere said, has been tremendous, as there have already been over 600 tickets sold. “We’ve received a lot of support organizing this benefit”, he said. “Craig is one of the best athletes in this province. Everyone is very concerned about him and want to do everything they can to help.” Dunn, who has captured several provincial titles and is currently Captured Senior Player of the Year for badminton Newfoundland and Labrador and was selected and selected 1991 Labatt’s athlete of the year. Provincial badminton president John Hall sends his thoughts regarding Dunn. “We were all very shocked to hear about Craig’s accident,” he said. As well as being a tremendous player, Dunn has served as an assistant with our association for the past two years. He had helped the younger players a great deal. Of course, we all hope he is doing well and recovers quickly.
Telegram Staff Writer - 1992By ROSIE MULLALY
Craig Dunn has a picture of himself in his photo album at that makes him smile. It’s not an action shot of him competing in a national badminton championship or accepting one of his many sports awards, nor is a shot of his graduation from Acadia University. Rather, it’s a shot of him lying helpless in a hospital bed wrap ped up in bandages from head to toe. “I look like a mummy,” he says. It’s a haunting reminder of the devastating experience he’s been through and one which he won’t soon forget. Instead, Dunn sees it as an inspiration and a reason to push himself harder. “Whenever I get down on myself, my mother points out the picture to me and it cheers me up,” said the 27-year-old Gander resident. “It makes me realize how far I’ve come.” He doesn’t remember the exact date when the photo was taken. But then again, he can’t remember most of what happened at that time. Dunn was a victim of a car accident that almost took his life. “You’re better off asking my mother about that,” Dunn responded when asked about how the accident occurred. “My memory of it is pretty well gone.” After a vacation in Florida, Dunn’s mother, Maxine, explained, Craig was in Ottawa visiting friends before heading to British Columbia for the national badminton championship. He was out one night in the nation’s capital. On the way home, the driver of the Camero in which he was a passenger lost control of the vehicle, his an embankment, flipped over and crashed, sending all four passengers to the hospital. The Jaws of Life had to be used to get Dunn out of the wreckage. “I was in the back seat and my head was touching the roof,” Dunn said. “I certainly got the worst of it.” His friends’ injuries were minor. A female passenger spent two days in hospital, while the two other males stayed overnight. As for Dunn, he was listed in critical condition and he later slipped into a coma. In all, four months in hospital – two in Ottawa and two in Halifax at the Nova Scotia Rehab – with broken bones and a major head injury. He suffered slight brain damage and in the past three years he had to learn how to walk, talk, eat and read again. His memory has been greatly affected. His thoughts are sometimes jumbled and his ability to respond quickly is impaired. When I woke in hospital I didn’t even recognize my girlfriend, said Dunn, who was in a coma for almost two weeks. They had to tell me who she was. That was tough. In fact, I remember very little about being in Ottawa. His recollection of his entire experience may be hazy, but the date of the accident is etched forever in his memory. “April 26th, 1992”, he responded quickly. “I forget but that date.” It was on that day that Dunn’s life changed forever. An all round athlete from Gander, Dunn played ball hockey, hockey, baseball, tennis, soccer and golf but he was probably most known for his talents in badminton. A member of the Newfoundland’s Canada Games team in 1991, Dunn captured Atlantic Senior crowns and before his accident, was ranked no. 1 in the Province. Today, Dunn struggles to keep his balance. “My coordination isn’t very good. My athletic ability was affected a lot,” said Dunn, Gander’s 1991 Athlete of the Year, who also has a slight problem with speech and sometimes has double vision. “I can’t play contact sports again and in the sports that I can play, I’m not as good as I once was.” “But I can walk so I can’t complain.’ Complain is something Dunn doesn’t do. In fact, he considers himself quite fortunate. “Sure, it was tough on me. It was tough on my whole family, but I felt sorry for myself once, for about 10 seconds,” said Dunn, who sees a speech therapist today. “What’s the point of getting down? Contemplating negatively gets you nowhere.” Dunn is a fighter and fighting back is what he’s doing. A Recreation graduate from Acadia, who also studied business, Dunn is back in university studying psychology at Memorial University’s Gander campus. He admits he finds it tough keeping up in class and maintaining good grades, but he swears he’ll never give up. “My mind can’t store a lot of information at once, but it’s good to keep my brain practicing,” said Dunn, who credits his tutor Andrew Cole for pointing him in the right direction. As for sports, he’s not as quick as he once was but his goal is too keep improving. In 1993, he captured the award for the overall low net score at a golf tournament in Gander. Last year, he finished second in the men’s A doubles championship (NL) and this past summer, he captured the B in the Gander Invitational golf tournament. I blew everybody away by winning my low net in 1993. He keeps doing that with every improvement he makes and has all the confidence in the world that one day he will be able to return to top form. “I think I’m going to return to normal,” he said, “I’ll go to my grave proving it. I put myself on a five-year program and I’m determined to accomplish my goal. I think it’s my drive that keeps me going. “I don’t think you will see anybody else who has recovered as quickly as I have after being hurt the way I was.” But Dunn has a lot to keep him going. He has his family. He has his will. And he has the picture. “I look at it to see how much I’ve improved,” he said. “And I know if I can come this far, I can go even father and I’m not stopping until I get there. Work I started working at a local sports store (Source for Sports) on a volunteer basis, where I had very limited hours and responsibilities. My tutor would meet me every day for a coffee and shifts, in the beginning were only 2-3 hours! My main task was to do the stock sheet so I d learn where everything is and the more I saw goods, the better my memory became but I did forget easily and often! I also think that because of my insecurity, it caused me to ask more questions than need be. Everything I attempted needed to be done with baby steps and very basic. I didn t understand this in the beginning years and it led to much frustration in every area of my life. I didn t/couldn t compare to Craig before the accident but I never processed that. I did at times but the short-term memory was eradicated! I was so excited when I could complete the stock sheet by myself but I don t think that came on my initial months there but on my 2nd stint. I left there after 4 months and went to Florida for a couple more but upon returning, I began another volunteer position at the local Gander golf course, where I had been a member for a dozen years before my accident. Many people knew me and the staff were willing to assist me in whatever capacity needed. I entered in scores into the computer, vacuumed the floor, raked sand traps and change the litter baskets out on the course. Basic again! All these were steps in my recovery and I couldn t do more than that at that time but we built to increase my responsibilities, which was evident in every area of my life! My tutor made sure I was only given minor tasks so that I wouldn t fail and feel inferior. I didn t rationalize that I was doing these basic jobs and considered every task an important one. My tutor carefully scrutinized everything I did and documented my progress. We spoke about every session and I made note in my notebook so I could transfer it to my computer when I arrived home. The note-book became an integral part of my therapy but in the beginning of my therapy, I was too paranoid to carry it around with me. For example, I golfed also during this time and my game was terrible but I documented most every round. A friend informed me that golf pros carry a memory book as do people in business and that gave me the confidence I needed. The use of a computer was essential to my recovery so I could train myself to remember by repetition and rereading my mistakes and a few improvements. I stress that twice! I went back to a volunteer position at Source for Sports (Oct 95) and I attended a College in the same mall during this time. I was nervous to see people that knew me working at a minimum wage job, if I was getting paid because I did have 6-years University. I never once thought of the fact that I could work and people that knew me were proud that I had made it back so far. The self-esteem was eradicated but it still bothers me 14 years post but not to the same severity I worked here for 5 months and then back to the golf course in the summer of 96. Here, as with Source for Sports, I was given more duties and more responsibility. The big break was being given the right to use the cash register at establishments. Seems simple but monumental for me and it showed I was maturing. As I healed, I began to feel self-conscious about these positions and when I asked my tutor that I wanted more of a challenge, he said, I was waiting for you to say that . Around this time, my tutor ceased his dealings with me, around 97 and I found other jobs (Gov t assisted) but kept in close contact with Andrew. I then applied for a job at Canadian Tire (around 2000) in the Sports & Garden section and I obtained it, by myself and on my own accord (Sounds like the right word but I m trying to say that I started taking responsibility for my own life)! My parents were away in Florida, Andrew and I had separated but he was always there if I needed assistance. I made the interviewee aware of my injury but she took a chance. She said she was impressed by the way I came to the interview with a suit on. I had the confidence going and I wanted to portray it to the outside world. Everything in my life was improving and the self-esteem was improving but again, that was fleeting. I worked there on a part-time basis for 2 years. At the same time I was laid off, my back became injured, 10 years post (unknown to staff at CT) a new owner was coming to take over the store but I didn t mind but I never did quite understand why he let me go, as I was only working very minimal hours and was good with customers and the staff All these jobs were a building block to my present day position as head tennis instructor at the newly formed Gander Tennis Club. Here I m given the responsibility of preparing a program, giving lessons to 6-16 year olds, as well as adults. Who would have thought that this same man from the morning of April 26th, 1992, would have ever been given this kind of responsibility! Years into my therapy, we and I never thought it possible but I ve made my parents, family, girlfriend, myself and my tutor very proud. Fortitude wins out once again in the Dunn family!
The Evening TelegramPICTURE OF SNEAKERS TO PREVENT FOOTDROP
OTTAWA HOSPITAL
Picture of hands wrapped because I’d yank
feeding tubes or other vital tubes (Ottawa)
John Crosbie, Minister of Transport /Federal Government: basket of fruit
COMMITTEE IN CHARGE OF FUNDRAISER - GANDER
Newfoundland Telegram announcing the Benefit
GANDER BEACON
Community response has been phenomenal, says Val Dunn. Mr. Dunn is the father of Craig Dunn, who is recovering from a head injury as a result of a car accident in April Craig who was on a stopover on his way to the National Badminton tournament in British Columbia. He was recently transferred to the Nova Scotia Rehabilitation Centre in Halifax where he will receive further medical treatment. The Craig Dunn benefit committee held two events to raise funds for the Dunn family. Over $2,300 was raised at Sidetrax on June 19 and over $900 at Mingles on June 20. Mr. Dunn said these events “show that people are responsive and sympathetic. On Craig’s behalf, I wish to thank them very much.” He said Craig is allowed out of the Rehabilitation Centre from 3-0 p.m. “It does him good to see his friends from school and sports and for them to phone him.” Nobody can put a time frame on when Craig will be out, Mr. Dunn said, but the situation is “more encouraging than it was two or three weeks ago.” “I think his situation is compatible with a complete recovery.” Craig was recently named Provincial Senior Male Player of the year for badminton Newfoundland and Labrador. He’s Gander’s Male Athlete of the Year.
DUNN ON WAY TO COMPLETE RECOVERYGANDER PAPER DISPLAYS ADVERTISEMENT FOR BENEFIT
Press Release:
A benefit in honour of Craig Dunn will be held Friday, June 19th at Sidetrax. A door prize of a Trip for Two (2) has been graciously provided compliments of Air Nova. On April 26th, 1992, Craig was on route to Vancouver, BC for the National Badminton Championships and made a stop in Ottawa. There, he was a passenger in an automobile accident resulting in a serious head injury. He is currently undergoing treatment in a therapy and re-hab program to aid his recovery. Hopefully, he will be transferred from the Ottawa Civic to a therapy unit in Halifax within a few weeks. Craig Dunn has achieved Local, Provincial, and National recognition for his outstanding athletic achievements, eh is the Senior Player of the Year for Badminton Newfoundland and Labrador, and he is the current Town of Gander Labatt’s Male Athlete of the Year. Tickets for this event can be purchased at S&P Sports, from Dave Dillon at 256-2262, or Roxanne Wiseman at 256-8932, or Bob Slade at 256-3786. Your support is greatly appreciated. Join us in wishing Craig a speedy recovery.Ticket for benefit
Won airline ticket at benefit for Craig Dunn
JOEY LUDEE
WON OVER-ALL LOW NET, GANDER INVITATIONAL 1993
PLACED 2ND IN CENTRAL OPEN (NL) DOUBLES 2000
1st Town tournament (TEAM SCRAMMBLE) 1994
BA (before accident) AA (after accident) Athletic Accomplishments NL – Newfoundland & Labrador Atlantics (4 Provinces) MARITIMES (3 PROVINCES) _ BA 1. Ranked #1 NF in Senior badminton - 1991 and 1992 2. Ranked #1 Junior NF badminton - 1986 3. Placed 3rd in Cape Breton Open Juniors singles - 1986 4. Won doubles Cape Breton Open - 1986 5. MVP Eastern Canadian B Ball Hockey and Champion- 1989 Provincial B Champions NF in Ball Hockey - 1989 7. MVP Provincial (NF) B Ball Hockey 1989 and champions 8. Member NF A Ball Hockey Championship team -1990 9. 4th Nationals in A Ball Hockey. Most dedicated & inspirational (Team award) - 1990 10. High School Champion–Ping-pong. Winter Carnival-1984. Top 100 NF 11. Club champion, Gander Junior golf - 1986 12. Member of NF Juvenile golf team - 1985 13. Singles tennis champion Gander (Senior) - 1989 14. MVP Pee Wee B All-Stars - 1980 15. NF B Champions – Ice hockey - 1980, 82, 84, 86 16. Floor hockey and soccer MVP/gold meal member at different times 17. 2nd in 5 KM race, 18 minutes & 35 seconds (18:35)-1990 18. Champion at Acadia University in ping-pong/badminton/soft-ball (Co-ed and male)/ice hockey/soccer (Co-ed-male)/flag football- 1988-1992 19. 2nd in High School Provincial A softball - 1984 20. 2nd Gander Senior softball - 1985 21. Senior and Junior Baseball All-Star. - Ages 18-21 22. 2nd in Bantam Baseball Summer Games NF - 1984 23. Member NF Canada Games (badminton) - 1991 24. 2Nd in Senior doubles badminton, Maritimes - 1989 25. Won singles Halifax City & District, senior badminton- 1991 26. Member of All-star baseball from mosquito to Senior Ball- Pitcher, first, center 27. Batted .409 in rookie season of Junior/Senior baseball as a 15 year old 28. 2nd Mixed doubles A, October 1992 AA 1. Over all low net in 1993 in Gander Invitational (NL)– golf 2. Won Match play for course at Gander golf club in 1998 3. Different low net prizes and won B in Gander Invitation golf - NL 4. Place 2nd in doubles in Eastern Senior NL Open 1996 - Badminton 5. Won B in Gander Invitational – Golf 2000 6. Won B doubles, C singles, 2nd doubles in A NL - badminton 7. Won Club championship in Gander – badminton 8. Passed drivers examination again 9. Ran 3 miles in 20:45 10. Juggled 3 tennis balls over 500 times 11. I’ve learned to curl, swim and be a better, more humbling person 12. Passed 4 Post secondary courses – University and College (Initially, I could not do Grade 12 Math at age 23! 13. Obtained a part time job at Canadian Tire for 3 years. 14. Gander Invitational (provincial tournament) 2005, 1st place in B with a 78 and 79 15. Newfoundland & Labrador Brain Injury Association (NBIA) 2nd, Best Ball format. 16. 2004 - 2nd in first brain injuyr golf tournament for Newfoundland and Labrador.
I was the only brain injured paticipant. 17. 2005 - 1st in the 2nd annual golf tournament for Newfoundland and labrador.
I was the only brain injured participant again and gave a 7 minute speech about my
life now, after the accident, which moved several people to tears.
AUTOGRAPHED PICTURES OF WAYNE GRETZKY
TUTOR – MR. ANDREW COLE
CRAIG - 2005
Speech I gave at 2nd annual NL BI golf tournament. I was on winning team and only brain injured player to compete in both years. Last year, our team was second. 1 Good afternoon Ladies and gentlemen and fellow golfers. My name is Craig Dunn and I am a survivor of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). It was April 26th, 1992. I had just finished my 6th year in University and was 7 courses away from my second degree at Acadia. I was traveling to British Columbia for the National Badminton Championships and was involved in a single vehicle, high speed car crash in Ottawa. My buddy and the driver were not hurt and the female passenger spent a 4 days in hospital. It took the Jaws of Life were used for an hour and a half to extract me from the vehicle. I spent 2 months in the Ottawa Civic Hospital 14 days in ICU ten in a coma and 6 weeks on the Neuro floor. I then spent another 2 ½ months at the Nova Scotia Rehab. I had to learn everything again, as if a new born. 2 When I moved back to Gander, everyone s life went on without me but I had to learn that life does go on. Holding resentment would only hurt me and this was more tactful advice from my father. I had to reintegrate back into society and it was an arduous journey, with many bumps along the road but I ve made it to here. My mother had to retire so she could be with me 24/7. They acquired the services of a retired special education teacher in Gander and although brain injury was new to him, he told my parents that he would give it a try. This pleased my parents because I was very immature, suffered from memory loss and had many things to re-learn. They knew I drastically needed help and were at a loss to improve on my situation. A couple of years into his work with me, my tutor told my parents that he thought I was making great progress and that he, Andrew, would eventually work himself out of a job. I was still very infantile but my parents could see improvements in those two years and it gave them hope! 3 For 5 days a week, 2-3 or more hours a day, this man, Andrew Cole, worked with me and luckily, he had the patience of Jobe. He knew I had to mature and learn everything again. He was unsure of what to do, plus he didn t know me before the accident. His therapies were hit and miss and if they missed, he simply adapted and tried something else. Under my tutor s suggestion, I kept a journal of my daily events and my tutor would read them and we d discuss. He d inform me of my mistakes and what I needed to work I had him as a confidant and I needed one because I didn t understand the workings or thinking s of a man! There were no secrets between him and I. He was more than just a tutor, he was my companion and my best friend. 4 I suffered many repercussions and one was my social skills. They were poor and I felt ostracized but, as I said, Life goes on . I had to fit back into society and not expect society to fit into my brain damaged world. Fortunately, at the time, I didn t realize my loneliness, as I was so heavily entrenched in my 5-year plan to normality. Girls were a mystery to me and my lack of self-esteem caused many, lonely evenings. I slowly learned but it cost me friends/relationships because, as they obtained careers, equals and families, while I was still, growing up. I didn t share anything in common with them anymore! I m sure, they didn t intentionally try it but it hurt and I was lonely. My tutor s first attempt at social reintegration was to enroll me in a Grade 12 math class but I couldn t keep up. He continued tutoring and worked with me, to a level where, 3-4 years later, I passed 2 University course taken the same term. 5 For work, I began with 2 volunteer jobs, with limited hours and watched closely by my tutor. I then moved to a couple of 5-month Gov't assisted positions, until I obtained a job at Canadian Tire, part time, for 2 years. This was a great position and even a more valuable learning experience. Each job was a stepping stone to the next. Finding the position at Canadian Tire was a huge step for me, in returning to a man from the boy that I was. I began to take responsibility for myself and found this position, on my own! Unfortunately, a new owner took over Canadian Tire and I was laid off. Presently, I coach tennis at the newly formed Gander Tennis Club. Club President, Dr. Patrick Redmond has helped make me confident by his belief in me. This job makes me feel proud considering the events of April 26, 1992. 6 Physically, I tried to make up for my disabilities. Early in my rehab, I was very uncoordinated and my results reflected that. Over years since my injury, I ve won awards in golf and badminton at different levels of C, B, A, both provincially and locally but it didn t give me the needed confidence, as my self-esteem was gone. When I stopped feeling sorry for myself and took more responsibility for my actions, I began to mature. I realized about 7 or 8 years into my rehab that physical skills were not what made a man. A victory was great but a man needs to work, have responsibilities, get a partner, or, as my new buddy my buddy, Shawn Roberts said to me, with a grin, You re not a man until you have a mortgage and together, we laughed. These areas gave me much more confidence than a sporting victory. As my tutor said to me on his last day of rehab with me, Okay buddy, now it s time for you to try it on your own! I m only a phone call away if you need me but I believe you can do it. 7 And with that, he shook my hand, looked me square in the eye and said, You ve done well and you should be proud of yourself. You ve come a long ways , as he held a picture of me, slouched over in my wheel chair, just awakening from a coma. He smiled, walked away but never turning his back to me! TBI is a life-time injury and these 14 years of recovery have passed but I m always prepared for other repercussions to surface. I still suffer from anxiety attacks, some physical injuries and mental impairments but like a traumatic brain injury, I m learning to live with them and move on. Thank-you.
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