Today it is one year since the car accident that caused my tbi.
I had neuropsych tests last January and he was amazed at how well I was doing. His words were "I have never seen anyone doing as well as you 7 months after receiving the type of damage that you did." It was a wonderful encouragement.
The man that hit me got a 20 year sentence with 10 suspended and will be in prison until Dec 2004 when he will be up for parole. I pray for him daily. Sometimes we have to be at the bottom before we look up to the Lord. I went to his sentencing. My friend and my husband made statements and he would not even look at then. When it was my turn I spoke directly to him and he did look at me the whole time, only occasionally, looking down with tears in his eyes. As I left the stand to go back to my seat I walked past him and our eyes never lost contact. There was sincere sorrow in his eyes (not just "I am sorry I got caught") and his words to me were prepared but sincere as my words were to him.
Physically, I have permanent double vision, some muscle problems and weakness on my right side, imbalance, fatigue (though it is finally getting better), almost no sense of smell. Cognitively, I am not the person I was before last July. My memory (short and long term) has been affected and I have to use coping skills - lots of notes - to function. I cannot multi task and it definitely takes me longer to do things and to keep things straight in my head. Most people don't understand this, but all of you will.
I have graduated to seeing the eye doctor every six months instead of monthly and my rehab doctor every three months, soon to be six months.
My neurologist says the length of time I was in a coma (4 days, I think) and the lenght of time I have no memory (3 weeks) means I am in for the long haul and have not even platueaued yet - he said I have to give it at least two years. That is an encouragement to me because I am still improving in their eyes.
I have chosen not to worry or think much about the things that can happen in the future, seizures, water on the brain, etc. If they happen, they happen, and there is a good chance they won't.
God has blessed me with wonderful support, at home, work, and friends. I know so many of you feel alone and my heart goes out to you.
Kim
I was in a car accident on July 3, 2002. It was the evening before my stepdaughter's wedding and we were at the hall decorating. My husband went with another daughter, Lindsay, to the friends house we were staying at and I stayed to finish decorating and left a little later alone in our Honda. There was a man who had been drinking & fishing all day close by where the hall was. He hit my car between the wheels on the passenger side. He was going between 60 & 70 miles an hour. My car spun around and hit a utility pole, breaking it off and falling on my car. I didn't see him coming and subsequently have no memory of the next 3 weeks. I had a skull fracture and a traumatic brain injury and was lost twice on the trip to the hospital. I had no movement on my right side, but after a few days that came back.
I know I was moments from eternity and the Lord has a reason I not only lived but am doing so well today.
They expected me to be in the hospital for months - I was out of ICU in 10 days and to a rehab center shortly after that and on my way home one month after the accident.
I am now back at work,almost full time. I work in a Christian school in the office and so sit at a desk in front of a computer most of the time. They have been incredible in their support of me and my needs.
I do have double vision, short term and some long term memory problems, equilibrium issues, sleeping difficulties, am cold most of the time and fatigued after a short time of doing much physically.
On the plus side, I am the same even-keeled person I was before the accident, am able to be a wife and mother again and found out how very loved I am by my husband.
The man that hit me received his third DUI and is in jail today. His trial will come up after the first of the year. I know he has to be punished, but I do forgive him. I would rather be me than him, knowing you were the one that caused someone to be hurt like that.
It is very humbling to be the product of answered prayer. It is also hard to be dependent on people (for instance, I can't drive right now). I have always been a very self-sufficient and independent person. The Lord is teaching me so much through this and they are good things I needed to learn.
I have been very moved by the stories I have read at this site and also very encouraged.
