I finally feel as if I belong somewhere and can be useful doing only the things that I am capable of. Because it's a volunteer activity, I'm able to work at my own pace only if I'm able to each day, either at home or at the church, and the Minister and Congregation completely understand my limitations and the fact that if I overdue, then I have to sleep for 2 or 3 days in order for my brain to be able to think and funtion again.

God has blessed me with my life, inspiration and many wonderfully supportive friends and family and is still helping me be "the best that I can be"

On my Son's 25th Birthday, Dec. 16, 1994, I was in a major car accident on my way home from work in Barrie, Ontario, Canada to Wasaga Beach where I live, which broke C2 in my neck, multi-fractured my pelvis, my clavicle and ribs, and made me a Traumatic Brain Injury Survivor. I was driving a really small car (Geo Tracker), hit black ice and went sideways down a huge hill. The man driving a pickup truck coming up the hill had nowhere else to go but right into my driver's door. I had to be cut out of the car. Being found at the scene by 4 Ski Patrol Agents who just happened to be heading home for the night, I feel, saved my life. If anyone had moved my neck, I would be dead right now. Those 4 people, along with God, saved my life, and He is now helping me be the best that I can be. I was airlifted to Sunnybrook Medical Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where a wonderful Neurosurgeon, Dr. Schwartz, put a "Halo" on my neck. I remained in Sunnybrook for 6 weeks - of which I have no memory, and then I went to Riverdale Rehabilitation Hospital for another 2 months, wearing the Halo and lying flat on my back.

When I returned home, I had to learn how to walk again; have had much Physiotherapy, Massage Therapy, Speech Therapy, along with an extremely supportive Case Worker. I was unable to read, understand, remember, spell, find words to talk, multi-task, and was changed into a completely different person by my traumatic brain injury. That is the new person I am working on developing along with the help of many, many wonderful people. My husband, Randy has been my absolute rock through all of this extremely trying time, along with my wonderfully, supportive family. Without their love, I don't know where I'd be right now! And along with God's help, I will be "the best I can be"!

I may now be confined to working from my home on-line with my computer, after spending 21 years in the real estate profession, because I cannot multi-task, cannot work with any distractions, must work at my own pace, and because of my physical/mental difficulties must be able to adjust my work schedule to compensate for my fluctuating abilities every day. My Speech Therapist suggested my getting this computer for therapy and I had no idea that it would be as helpful to me as it has been. I have even designed my own Web Page: "HUNT" for Success - http://members.rogers.com/hunt0827 and have met so many helpful, supportive people on the TBI-Living and TBI-Working lists, as well as in the TBI Chat Room. My heartfelt thanks goes out to Clara & John Lyon and Sagasha for making these resources available for TBI Survivors! I have thought of attempting to start a home business using my name of "HUNT" for Success, but have yet to accomplish this goal. I have just started to do volunteer work at the Wasaga Beach Public Library in order to further assess the abilities of my brain, and I found out very quickly that I just cannot work with any distractions at all, and must write everything down in order to remember how to complete a task. I have no idea what the future holds for me, but I just am thankful to God for saving my life and sending so many wonderful people to help me with my rehabilitation!

Kindest Regards, Linda 8>)

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