My TBI story started in 1985. When I fell asleep at the wheel of a full sized van. The Van traveled across the road. When it hit the grass curb the van went on two wheels. I fell out of the drivers seat before hitting the tree head on. From hitting the tree on the drivers side, I was thrown through the windshield on the passengers side.

In 1985, Head injuries must not have been studied enough. For they were more concerned with the rest of my badly broken body.

After that, my real troubles started on a certain date.

On May 27th, 1988. My then Girlfriend threw me a Frisbee. I jumped up, did a 180 in mid-air, and caught it behind my back. I fell backwards, and straight down on my right wrist. I immediately went to the nearest emergency Room where they X-Rayed it and told me that it was a severe Bruise. So I wrapped it with an Ace Bandage and went back to work running a Jack-Hammer. Six months later I found out that: Yes it was broken. I have since had two surgeries on it with the second having a surgical screw placed inside the Scafoid bone.

On May 27th, 1989. With my wrist in a cast from the first surgery. I made the mistake of having too much fun on a Suzuki Dirtbike in the woods of the Allegheny National Forest. I hit a rock, went through the handlebars, and struck my head on the right handlebar before hitting my head again on a rock. My friends called 911 and placed me in the bed of a pickup truck, and drove approximately ten miles to meet the Ambulance. Before meeting the Ambulance, I had the luck of having two Nurses and a Doctor on scene. I was transported to a Hospital about Thirty five miles away VIA: Ambulance, before being transferred VIA: Life-Flight Helicopter to the Trauma Unit of Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh Pa.

I was comatose for 11 days, and in the Trauma Unit for a total of 30 days before being transferred to Harmarville Rehabilitation Center near Pittsburgh.Where I was for an additional 60 days.

I was told that pure "Willpower" is what pulled me through this ordeal.

May 27th,1990. I had the extreme pleasure of coming face to face with a 400 pound Black Bear (in the woods again). I was within four feet of this huge and angry Bear.

The attidge is that a Bear is more afraid of you, then you are of it. He was, but you could have fooled me.

So, for six years I did absolutely nothing on May 27th.

Until the seventh May 27th. May 27th 1996. Some Biker friends and I hopped a train in Poughkeepsie New York, Transferred once before arriving at Grand Central Station in New York City. We walked through Times Square, before going to the top of the Empire State Building. We then hopped the Subway and went to Battery Park where we Looked at but didn't go out too the Statue of Liberty.

After walking the streets all day. And I remind you, that it is May 27th 1996, we hopped the Subway again, went to Grand Central and hopped the Train back to Poughkeepsie. My friends and I sat up and counted down to midnight May 27th, 1996.

My experiences with TBI have made me a more conscience person. I have started my own Head Injury Support Group named: H.T.S., for Head Trauma Support

The "new" me has become very adapt at dealing with lifes problems that never go away, Which are a considerable amount more "mind bending" and Painful.

But Deal I will, And Survive I must.
Mike Klingensmith