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Submitted 7/2001
Every TBI victim and family member has their own individual success story to
tell. I wish to write this down to share mine. I hope it helps someone understand that the key to success is not in comparison, in lies in the
optimization of YOUR individual circumstance. We owe this effort to the survivors who have not been left with
choices.
In 1981, I was in an automobile accident with two other of my friends. We were in high school, breaking
parental rules and not going where we were supposed to go. My friends were thrown out as the car flipped, so
they were ok, but I was pinned in by the steering wheel for two more rotations, and then I was thrown to the
highway. Landing flat on my back, I sustained a severe closed brain injury to the occipital lobe. I arrested on
the way to the hospital, was revived and remained comatose for the next 24 hours.
Isn't it hilarious to watch the dramatic "awakenings" from coma that are on TV? In real life, there is yelling,
reflex testing, and gradual responsiveness.
After my coma, I remained in the hospital for three months, just in time to begin my senior year in high
school--in a wheelchair. I was a surfer chick, I had long blonde hair, year-round tan, I took great pride in the
attention I took for granted from the opposite sex. I was defined my it. Now, I had to get used to gaining
attention from being an eighty pound, bald girl in a wheelchair. I was continuing to receive
speech therapy, so I couldn't speak well either. Now THAT is an attractive memory!
My parents raised me as an opinionated, head strong woman. Sometimes this caused problems, but in the
years that followed, I thanked them often for giving me the strength to persevere, because as we all know, we
need to persevere even when we just want to be left alone to cry.
The football coach at my high school used to be a physical therapist in the air force, so I had weight training
with the football team. There was no elevator at my high school - there wasn't even a wheelchair ramp. All of
this was done for me, and it made me feel incredibly "different."
Walker, Crutches, then came graduation. Wow! this little girl was graduating from high school. My parents
never let on to me if they had any doubts I could do it. College? Why not? This was
a joke.
I had a blast. I went to a local college that had a large population of "wheelies", and I was not different, I
had friends like crazy...OH! I forgot classes. Daddy jerked me out right quick like!
Anyway, I ended up marrying a jerk, had a wonderful baby, got divorced, moved back home with mom & dad. I
realized I couldn't ever make ends meet unless I returned to college. I did, graduated with a BS in
psychology, and now I am getting ready to graduate from grad school. In counseling, so I can help other TBI
victims maximize their potenttials as well.
I learned quickly that what defines a person is never on the surface. I had fantastic friends who would have
not been there for me if I had truly been as narcissistic as it seems I was. I was, and still am, very sure of
myself. I have the confidence to handle anything that is thrown in my direction to the best of my ability. This
was instilled in me by two wonderful parents, and I am trying to pass it in to my son.
Karen Dyer
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