The following is a combination of what I remember about my accident and recovery and what I have been told.
I was 15, it was a lovely summer day. I'd gone to help my father do some work in a neighboring town, I worked hard that day. My father and I had gotten home and about 4pm. I remember getting ready to go out for the evening. My best friend Darren, he'd turned 16 that day and gotten his drivers license, we were anxious to go out and celebrate his birthday and the fact that now Darren could drive.
That night we were having lots of fun, it was summer, life was good. We were teenagers we thought we were invincible. I was a good kid, I never thought anything bad would happen to me, why should it, bad things happened to bad people. I thought I was safeI was so naïve.
It was late, Darren was going to drop me off and then head for home, we never made it. Rounding a sharp curve on the way to my house, Darren lost control of the car. We hit a large tree head-on, we were going much too fast. We hit the tree with such force that the Ford LTD we were in was split in half. They found me wedged under the dash on the driver's side in the front half of the car. Darren had been killed instantly.
I was choppered to the Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore; it was questionable as to whether I would survive. I have vague memories of being in Shock Trauma. Actually, and this sounds silly, I remember thinking I must have been abducted by aliens. I'd awaken and see strange people all dressed in green wearing green masks, it was the only thing I could think of at the time that made any sense as to what could have happened to me, alien abduction.
It took a very long time for me to even understand that I'd been in a car accident. I had great difficulty understanding that my friend was dead. I've been told that I'd ask over and over again where Darren was; they'd explain that he was dead and then right away I'd ask them again where he was.
I was flown to Shock Trauma in Baltimore, MD on June 26th, 1981. My first really clear memory of any of this is waking up in a rehab facility in Redding, PA on August 15th, 1981. I'd been in a coma for quite awhile.
I learned I had a closed brain injury, with severe brain stem damage. I was lucky to be alive and finally awake. I couldn't speak, couldn't walk, couldn't even stand upbeing in a coma so long had taken it's toll. My left arm had been severely damaged in the accident. Basically I was a mess.
I began a regime of therapies. I endured physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy. I had to relearn how to do everything.
I was finally able to return home on December 24th, 1981. I was in a wheelchair; there was still much work to be done. I returned to the rehabilitation facility in Redding, PA in February 1982 after it became evident I was in need of further rehabilitation.
I was able to return to high school in the fall of 1982, in a wheelchair. I graduated in 1983 having progressed by then to using a walker.
After graduation from high school I went to live at the Maryland Rehab Center so that I could participate in the LEAP program, they transported me to that program daily. Upon completion of that program I went to live in a group home in Columbia, MD for awhile.
Needless to say it has been a rough road, I'm 38 now and live independently. I'm not currently employed but I have been employed in the past. I can't drive so that makes the commute to and from work and having a job an issue.
I have slurred speech and speak in a monotone, I have difficulties with balance, I have difficulties walking, I have short term memory problems, limited use of my left arm and an intentional tremor in my right arm that causes difficulties.
I do the best that I can. I try to be as independent as possible; I still have to rely on others for some things, like transportation. I'm fairly upbeat. I take life one day at a time. I've found a sense of humor helps a lot.
I recently got a computer and internet access. I'm learning to use the computer and how to navigate the internet. I'm enjoying that. I don't have lofty goals, I do hope that eventually I'll meet that special someone that can look past my limitations and accept and love me for who I am.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
If you'd like to contact me you can e-mail me I'd enjoy hearing from you.
Email Eric
