The Begining
On New Year’s Eve I went to Vegas and I wasn’t feeling too good I had went to bed early that night because I guess the bacterial infection was starting to take a toll on my body!
I had woken up right at 12 am right when the fireworks went off because of my anxiety which the anxiety was caused from my bacterial infection! But I didn’t think anything of it!
On Jan 12th of 2008 due to a two and a half hour delay on getting me to the hospital I lost oxygen to my brain which means that I got Hypoxia. Hypoxia led to brain damage and went into a coma for 10 days.
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I have a grandson w/TBI and am looking for clubs and friends in our area for him! Tyler was in a motorcycle accident with his father that left him with a TBI He is bored, out of school now with nothing to keep him busy!
Nancy there is a great TBI Support Group at Loma Linda Outpatient Rehabilitation Center
11406 Loma Linda Dr Conference Room #129A. They have so many resourse to help guide you on all TBI needs. I don’t know where you live. We all hope Tyler is doing well. Casa Colina in Pomona has a Outdoor Adventure Program.
Stacey, I really appreciate the info, but we live in Michigan! If you know the name of the place maybe I could find their website and ask them if they know of any places around us! Thank you for your help! Nancy
Hi Donny, I’m glad to hear that you are getting better, I have a son with TBI, his heart stopped while playing soccer on January 18, 2009, his brain was without oxygen for about 15 mins. and he is in a persistent vegetative stage. I wanted to know what’s helped you get better.
Hi Maria,
Our hearts go out to you and your family. Sorry to hear about your Son.
The Doctors told us if Donny did survive he would be in a vegetative state and we should take him off life support. His MRI came back with so much brain damage. As you know they tell you that with Hypoxia. Loss of oxygen to the brain it affects many parts of the brain.
Our family spent 18 hours a day with him from day one. We made sure we spoke to any and all Doctors who saw Donny, made sure they would follow through with all test. He had some good doctors and they would tell us don’t go by test results or what other doctors are saying. Just stay with him and go by his improvements.
We got a caseworker which is the middle person for patient and hospital and a middle person for Insurance and patient. Which was a big help knowing our rights and getting what Donny needed.
We requested physical and Occupational Therapy when he was still in a coma. We shaved him every day and brush his teeth. Pretty much what he did everyday in his life before his coma? We gave everything we had because we knew in our heart we would get him back. We never gave up.
We tried to wake up different sense with him. We used an electric hand massager on his whole body twice a day. Massage his face and scalp twice a day, range of motion on his legs and arms twice a day.
Is your son in a Convalescent home? Donny was and they told us that he was in his permanent home. They told us his first 23 years of his life was gone. He would only know me as Mom because I put my face in his and would tell him I’m your Mom. They were wrong. My Husband and I request a meeting to make them accountable for all his care he needs. They were only able to do 10 minutes of therapy at a time then would leave him. They would bill the Insurance for 45 minutes. We pretty much told them if you have to sit and stare at him for 45 minutes to see what you can do to bring him around and help him so he do’s have the movement when he comes completely out of his coma. Or we will turn them in for Insurance fraud.
They can’t right someone off. They are not God. Bill Insurance for 45 minutes and only spend 10 minutes. He lost weight 35 pounds. They didn’t care if the feeding tube was clogged or not turned on. In our meeting we demand how many calories he was getting a day. Request he get weighed twice a week to make sure he put his weight on. We figured nobody can recover or function if they didn’t have enough calories. We never stopped. Our determination! You never knew what we have until it comes to you children. We took charge.
We are on seventeen months. It’s been too many doctors and different facility. We go to a great TBI Support group and learn a lot. I have personal meet survivors that had Hypoxia and were in a coma for 9 months and one for one year. Don’t give up! I know it’s hard and such an emotional roller coaster.
We wish your son the best outcome in life. Keep Faith.
P.S. Our son told us that when he was in his coma he knew we were there but didn’t know what we were saying. He was scared and felt sad for us. He is still making progress every day.
Maria if you aren’t going to a TBI support group please fined one. You get so much information and it’s so inspiring to hear how other survivors have come. Of course no one knows what you and are family are going through, but at the Support group they total relate.
Sincerely,
Stacey and Winn family.
Nancy~
I sustained a TBI in Michigan and attended a rehab facility in E.Lansing. It’s name is Hope Network, and they serve peds. through elderly age; it’s a good program #(517) 332-1616 They may be able to suggest ideas if you’e out of the E.Lansing area.
There’s also a place in Okemos, MI called Origami. The psychol. there is great = Ann Hakila.
Mabye you can just Google “Michigan TBI resources” or “Michigan TBI Rehab….”
If your insurance will not pay for rehab., I suggest summer camp at the YMCA. In the E. Lansing/Lansing YMCA’s==they offer a variety of wonderful summer programs with different themes and activities. There are ‘scholarships’ available if there is a present monetary need for assistance.
What’s your Gr. son’s age? I just got my Master’s in Cognitive Impairment from UofM and would love to work and play with him, if it’d be alright to do so with my son.
Best of Luck, but most of all, God Bless you all! Please write back to Ebeth if you’re needing my assistance in any way that I may offer.
Stacey:
Thank you for sharing your story. My son is an acute rehabilitation hospital for anoxia brain injury sustained on May 12. He appears to be aware of his surroundings at times. He is able to chew and swallow just fine. He holds his head up and turns while looking around the room. He follows simple commands at times, “look at me”. He nodded “yes” to the speech therapist last week.
We were told 5 days after the accident, while in ICU, that if he survived he would be in a vegetative state. I believe we have surpassed that stage.
I would like to hear more about your son’s recovery and how long it took him before he started communicating and recognizing his family.
Thanks
Aida
Aida,
Sorry to hear about your son. How old is he? Donny spoke two words 33 days after his coma with his speech therapist. Of course his first word was Mom then Dad. It was a slight whisper. It was the beginning. I realized in the evening when it was just him and I. I start explaining to him what happened and that his dog (Cody) was at our house and would let him know how he was doing every night. Let him know we had to move him out of his apartment and put everything in storage. He would move his mouth as he was trying to talking but nothing would come out. He had shallow breathing. The Speech Therapist would have us have him practice blowing a party favor. Then eventually sound start coming out. Evenings were the best time for me to work with is voice. One reason because it was quite and I would put my ear up to his mouth to hear him. I was so happy and he would smile.
If you see his first video http://www.donnywinn.com/?p=7 you can see he looked confused and scared.
We would tell him how our day was what happens at work at home and talk about family. We got a white board and every night I would tell him and write on the board what time his dad, his sister and grandma and all the other family would be there. Then I would go over it a couple times before I left. We would always assume he knew everything we said. It was always a one way conversation.
We realize how important that routine helped him because. He would wakeup look at the board then the clock.
His Dad would be there at 6:00am every morning. He looked forward to it and that was a celebration for us. Because that meant he knew what was going on. He just couldn’t express himself.
When I look at the pictures I see so much fear in his eyes. He has told us that he was scared because he had no clue what happen and why he couldn’t talk or move.
Stacey,
My son Jacob is 22. There are so many similarities with Donny’s story and Jacob’s. Jacob took a codeine tablet for pain earlier in the day and talked with his girlfriend on the phone about midnight. At that time he told her he took a xanax. We found him about 6:30 a.m. where he had vomited and aspirated.
It’s good to know that there is hope. I will try the party favor therapy although he doesn’t have shallow breathing. He still has the tracheotomy. His girlfriend, Julia, is by his side every night and days she is not working. In fact she spends the night at the hospital with him. She massages him and does the range of motion on legs and arms.
I will also begin sharing our day with him and writing it on the white board that is on the wall next to his bed.
I pray every night that we get our son back even if it means therapies for a while.
Aida
Dear Donny and Stacy
Just cam across this website last night. My daughter, Ada, 23, was in a car accident last year. She was hit by the drunk driver. She has severe damage on both isde of the brain including brainstem. Of course, doctors told us she will be in vegetative stage and confind to the breathing machine for the rest of her life and we shold consider letting her go. Now, 16 months later, she is able to walk with the walker, learning how to chew and swallow and learning to communicate again. Since she cannot talk yet, we can’t tell how much she can remember. She can express her feeling through her eyes. No doctor want to tell me how far she will recover, may be they don’t know.
I have a blog to share her story http://www.dearada.blogspot.com
It help me, as a care giver to be able to express how I feel and her friends can keep up with her progress.
I understand the fustrations and everything that all of us had to go through. Awful, isn’t it?
The best way I can go through the day is to keep thinking positive and find a humer in everything. Goodthings Ada like to smile and laugh a lot.
Best of luck to everyone
Hugs
My sister ‘s accident was 9/27/08. Admitted with GCS of 3. Fractures from C1 – T2. Anoxic for apprx 45 mins. CTs and MRIs showed DAI.
Today , if you didn’t know of her injuries, you may not notice the left eye being out of line or the right hand and leg being smaller and weaker than the left side.Her memory sucks, and her reasoning skills are in the toilet. But, she is ,according to her doctors and therapists “amazing”. Results attributed to her family’s involvement
As most of you have said- you have to stay on top of EVERTHING involved with treatment. We slept on the floor of the waiting room,and later in her room. Taking shifts and rearranging our own schedules to be with her.
The nurses were amazed that her family was willing to suction breathing tubes, massage her limbs ,and change her bedding when soiled.We bathed and dressed her daily. We spoke as if she could respond. Eventually, she did.
Today , she attends outpatient therapy twice a week.
Our most recent arguments have been that she wants to purchase a car and return to her home – 200 miles away. She feels she can do this alone. It’s difficult to tell a 43 year old that she is not ready to take on this task.
Anyone in the South Carolina area ? Or do we need to get a group together for family members?
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I was in a car accident October 2004.I was on life support for one month so I was told .Cant remember my life much before the accident and have problems with things everyday.The doctors told my husband and family that they didnt give me two weeks to live.But my family and friends didnt give up on me and God surely didnt give up on me.I am doing better know sure I get upset sometimes fighting the feelings of not being able to do the things I use to but I thank God that he gave me the will to fight it.Dont give up on your son getting better he will come around and fight just have faith in the good Lord above.My heart goes out to you and I hope and pray your son gets well soon.
My 15 year old son was in an ATV accident June 2008. he was in a coma for 3 months. He lost his vision due to the TBI but we are now looking into stem cell treatment to help him in his recovery. His memory from before the accident is excellent, he has forgotten nothing. he walks with assistance but can walk on his own as long as he knows someone is there in case he falls. Dillon has a wonderful outlook on life but if anyone knows anything about stem cell treatment please advise. we also did hyperbarics with dillon and were very pleased with the outcome of that.
Hello to all-
I love reading everyone’s stories of recovery and hope…including the family members, and how they can stay so strong and positive. All the stories on here have truly inspired me. I thank you all for sharing your stories.
I work for an in-home TBI program in New Jersey. I also recently experienced a family member, my grandfather, who sustained a TBI – anoxic encephalopathy. It was not easy, to say the least. I just hope you all keep fighting, continue to stay strong, keep hope alive, and continue doing great things like these websites to help others. And of course, I hope your loved ones get better asap.
*If there are any questions or any information I may be able to help give to one of you, help you find, please feel free to email me at my aol account: Prfctlilangel30@aol.com
The company I work for also has programs throughout the U.S… I know Tami wanted to know if there was anyone in SC… there is a Mentor there and there is also a Brain Injury Assoc. of SC… If your family members feel your sister could live alone with help, my company can help her live as independently as possible. We help develop strategies that work for the client to manage ADL’s such as bills, dr. appts, STM, re-gaining a license, obtaining and applying for assistance (like utilities), obtaining a job, etc… I’m not a rep. for the company, I am just a coordinator… so, you can check the main website out… there’s more information that may be useful to you, your sister, and family : thementornetwork.com
Here’s the info. for SC : South Carolina MENTOR
State Office
3200 Devine Street
Columbia, SC 29205
Tel: 803-799-9025
Fax:803-931-8959
http://www.sc-mentor.com
South Carolina MENTOR
4130 Faber Place Drive
Suite 200
North Charleston, SC 29405
Tel: 843-554-2570
South Carolina MENTOR
——————————————-
Columbia, SC 29025
Tel: (803) 799-9025
Hello my brother was in a bad car wreck Friday 8-14-09 and had a brain injury, had to do surgery to drain the blood off his brain and spinal fluid as well, he may have to have a shunt put in but we dont have any info on brain injury or the shunt or anything, hes doin good talkin and bein himself but i would like to see if anyone can give me any info on brain injury like this , I would really appreciate it thank you Lisa
Aida
Sorry to hear about your son. I too sustained TBI from an auto accident in 1967. I’m now in my late 50s and have so much to share. The doc(s) also said that if I survived I would be in a vegitative state for life. They were so wrong. After 3 years of rehab I went back to H.S. and graduated when I was 21. I followed up with college and ultimately got my CPA and have been gainfully employed for 32 years. I have a life full of info to share. If you would like to talk please call me at the office 703-324-4208.
I have a brain injury from a stroke that occurred 4 years ago– I am so humbled by donny’s experience. you all are in my thoughts & prayers . There is hope!! please share in my escapades at
http://luckystrike-badstroke.blogspot.com/search?q=
thank you,
mike
My young son in law Shane was hit as a pedtesrian on May 31. He has a very severeTBI. His eyes are open, but he does not speak. Now they say he has hydrocepalus. We are very worried about this. He had a spinal tap yesterday and we are wondering if this is a common accurance. Is there any hope.?? He hasa 2year old son and twins on the way. He has lost a lot of weight and looks emaciated.
Hey Linda!
I’m sensually sorry to hear about your son! Alright well this Is some information that I found for you I hope that its use full!! If you have any question feel free to email me at donnywinn@yahoo.com
Hydrocephalus is most often treated by surgically inserting a shunt system. This system diverts the flow of CSF from the CNS to another area of the body where it can be absorbed as part of the normal circulatory process. A shunt is a flexible but sturdy plastic tube. A shunt system consists of the shunt, a catheter, and a valve. One end of the catheter is placed within a ventricle inside the brain or in the CSF outside the spinal cord. The other end of the catheter is commonly placed within the abdominal cavity, but may also be placed at other sites in the body such as a chamber of the heart or areas around the lung where the CSF can drain and be absorbed. A valve located along the catheter maintains one-way flow and regulates the rate of CSF flow. A limited number of individuals can be treated with an alternative procedure called third ventriculostomy. In this procedure, a neuroendoscope – a small camera that uses fiber optic technology to visualize small and difficult to reach surgical areas – allows a doctor to view the ventricular surface. Once the scope is guided into position, a small tool makes a tiny hole in the floor of the third ventricle, which allows the CSF to bypass the obstruction and flow toward the site of resorption around the surface of the brain.
Hang on and be strong…
Hello, my name is Laura. I am interested in hearing other people’s stories or current experiences with a brain injury/ comatose victim One thing I can say is hang on and be strong….give things time.
I suffered a major skull fracture in my teens in a wreckless teenage car accident…I was comatose of 2 weeks. Waking up from a coma can be very difficult depending on the severity of the injury. Things do take time to heal, and believe me this can be very slow. Rehabiitation did help me through the process with my speech, walking, memory and so much help. Time in the sense of more than 5 years, but I did hang on and did NOT give up!! Family is very important to keep the determination strong; I have a lot to be thankful for, but the inner scar is deep inside; however I do feel stronger with a better outlook of how important simple things are. I take joy in doing many different hobbies and find many things interesting.
To those who see a young child or loved one suffering with the confusion and struggles, I suggest just listening being there and loving them.
I wish you all the best.
I hope to meet in someking of group soon, if we could.
Laura @ Long Beach
hello, my hearts go out to all of us who have loved ones that have had traumatic accidents in our lives. i also have hypoxia and cant keep oxygen in my brain, i had a very bad car crash on 1/11/09 that left me with extensive injuries,my head was fractured in 2 places requireing 30 staples, both lungs were punctured, all my ribs were broken and i have 5 fractures in my spine. i was going 46 mph on 1-90 outside of ritsville washington and hit a patch of black ice, the jeep i was driving you couldnt get ejected out of and i did i was ejected and still 30 ft from it, its 9 months later now i have loss of memory loss of oqygen and i still have many sick days and lots of depression from long term chronic pain.if you were to look at me now you would say nothings wrong but that i stand weird, people would say you just have bad posture, but really thats not the case.i hurt every minute and it doesnt seem like it will ever get better, but 9 months ago i couldnt walk or breath on my own or get out of bed. time is what is left to get better and believe me it is a slow process,God does bless all his children and watches over us and gives us lots of challeges even when we think its to much, but he really does make us stronger in every aspect. May GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US.
Hello Donny I wonder if you ever hear of hyperbaric oxygen therapy to help the healing of an injured brain and that is being given free of charge to our soldiers who return with TBI or PTSD from the war zones around Afghanistan. You are at Casa Colina that has this therapy but only gives it to people with unhealing wounds and a brain injury is exactly a wound that nobody in medicine knows how to heal or that it even can heal.
I hope to hear from you soon.
Best regards
Carlo Lingiardi
To all my fellow TBI’ers,
Hang in there. Rememer one day you will be able to look back and smile…you got better.
As frustrated as I get I even turned it into a joke which is
I get so frustrated I could choke myself, but I don’t want to have to explain my bruises!!!
Frustration gets high at times. Part of my recovery is that I get out side and walk. I may walk
funny to the point that kids call me freak, but I do it anyway.
I also make sure I say high to everyone I pass. It makes my happier inside and that is what
counts.
Even when you are being told by a doctor, therapist or other things that are incorrect, just
remember you are there to get better. So, keep suckingit up and go on with your recovery.
Reminder yourself you are worthy even when you don’t feel that way. It’s just a moment you are
having it will pass. So, don’t hate yourself and get frustrated at your self there are too many people
out there willing to do that for you.
You know what I mean.
By the way anyone in Pa. that wants a room mate? I’ll be homeless at the end of this month of September.
so, if I can keep trying to be positive so can you.
Greg
Hi Donny i was very happy to read about your wonderful recovery!! I pray that Chris does the same!
I am currently dealing with my fiance chris who had a severe tbi on may 29th 2009. I was told he would not make it through the night, if he did he would be on a ventilator and a vegetable for the rest of his life. I was very optimistic in this whole ordeal. He is doing better, and does make gains but I was just wondering if anyone can give me advise? If anyone has any please email me at lmr3283@aol.com, i can explain the whole situation then. I am currently raising Chris, our 2 children(1 just turned 2 and the other is 8 months), 2 dogs, 2 cats, take care of the house(he does help) as well as going to school. I also think i need to hear some success stories, i get down sometimes and cant show it to him or the kids!
Thank you
I am a single mother of a 22-yr-old who suffered a broken neck (C-7) and subdural hematoma resulting from an ATV accident last July 31, 2009. At the local hospital, I spoke with the ER doc and looked at the CT scans of his brain bleed. I knew from my work in EMS that things looked bad, as the doc was telling me that “it didn’t look good.” My son was air-lifted to University of Iowa Hospital to the Trauma Center and Neurosurgery Team. I fully expected for him to be in surgery when we finally arrived, having the pressure released from his swelling brain. However, before he was transferred, my mother arrived at the local ER and I told her it was very serious and she needed to pray for my son immediately that he would heal and survive.
Lo and behold, when we arrived, my son was still in the ER and they had done a repeat CT scan and it showed that the brain had stopped bleeding at that time and he would not need surgery immediately, but would be admitted to the neuro floor. As you know, TBI patients get combative and are just plain “crazy out of their head” and don’t remember any of it. He made it through the next 2 days and was released to go home with his c-collar and very little instructions or information regarding the TBI. We believe he was released too soon due to the fact that he did not have health insurance. I took home a very sick and injured boy. He has no memory of this time. He was unable to eat (still no appetite) and even fluids came back up.
Three days later, I called U of IA and was told to take him to the local ER again for a CT scan. I highly suspected dehydration and he was still sleeping all day and confused and aggitated. Sure enought, blood tests revealed his sodium level was critical (hyponatremia) which can send you into seizures and make your heart stop. Doc said we were lucky that I was paying attention to his symptoms. He was kept for three days to get his electrolytes back in balance.
FLASH FORWARD…….we are still struggling was some cognitive deficits and emotional lability; this includes anxiety, rages, aggression, depression, short term memory loss, insomnia, loss of appetite, all over aches and pain, especially neck and back of head. He was put on citalopram and lorazepam, but didn’t like the way he felt and quit. Now we are headed to see a doctor to get help for these symptoms; hopefully an anti-seizure medication like depakote will help “level him out.” It’s frustrating for him; he knows he is “not all back” yet and may never be. I have endless patience with him and even though he lives on his own with his dog, he is very emotionally dependent on me. To the rest of the world, he may appear entirely “normal”, but he is far from being the same person he was.
Does anyone have a similar situation and care to share advice or stories of success??? Woudl be greatly appreciated as you all know how mentally and emotionally draining this recovery process can be. We have no local support group and our family physician was of no help at all. We find that the general public, as well as many medical professionals are not aware of or well educated about TBI long-term recovery. And my son feels completely alone in this struggle.
Thanks for taking the time to read my story…….~~ jill ~~ in IOWA.
I had a severe motorbike accident in my final year at secondary school (1986) that left me in a coma for 7-months. I’ve since achieved 6 tertiary-qualifications in the psychological field. I’ve learned that my recovery was due to many factors – three of these factors were: Professional Medical Help, Environment and Personal Will. It’s the last one that I’m going to talk about.
If I didn’t have that ‘x’ factor in me, I wouldn’t be where I am today. That ‘x’-factor again, is made up of many things – like my belief in God … and a willingness to work hard for a loooong time.
Recommendation: read the book: “Mans search for meaning”
(I say this modestly: for more information – just Google my name).
At seventeen I had a motorcycle accident leaving me with a TBI. I am still in a wheelchair but can use a hemi-walker for shorter distances and times. I’ve written to you numerous times. I guess what I have to say isn’t worth any feedback from you! This is a web site designed to give and take advice right?
Hi…My daughter was in a car accident 4 years ago..Coma for weeks was told she wouldnt live when she lived they said she would be a veg. when she was able to walk talk they said she wouldnt make it in life..But She is a beautiful 13 yr old…In school making straight A’s…She has no right frontal lobe..SO her frustration is bad, she is blind in one eye and deaf in one ear..It has been a tough struggle but with out Jesus in our life we wouldnt have made it..Amber says that God has a plan for her….She touches everyone she meets…Never meets a stranger..Before the wreck Amber would have never talked to anyone..We will never have our little girl back but now we have an even beautiful little girl…
The best therapy that Amber has done is hyperbaric oxygen..Dr Paul Harch in New Orleans La…www.harchhyperbarics.com It is awesome …..When you have dead brain cells the blood flow is cut off to those areas…So when you do hyperbarics the oxygen causes the blood to flow to all of those “dead brain cells”..Which dr’s say the cells are completely dead..But if blood gets to them some of the cells will become active again because they are not dead yet. Does that make sense?
Amber could barely walk, could not see, had no balance at all..She was 9 years old but acted like a 2 year old..After 40 treatments she could walk straight, her eyesight was 100% better she could walk a straight line…She acted her age..We still go back once or twice a year..You can tell when she gets frustrated or she has more headaches…so we know its time to do more oxygen..Dr Harch is a great Dr…
I also read the other day that accupunture is great for the angry spells and frustration…We are moving to Hot Springs and I would love for her to try it….
If you know of any support groups in that area we would love to become part of one. We have done this all on our own (family has been awesome) but we research on our own find help and therapies on our own..We laugh and joke about this but we call ourselves Google Dr’s…lol
Its a long and hard struggle for families but I cant imagine what it is like for the TBI survivors…I see my daughter struggle with anger spells and short frustration levels…No friends..Wanting to fit in…But I see her stay strong and never gives up…She knows that she is special and that JEsus has a special plan for her…
Karri
Hi Donny and family,
My name is Michael Coss. I am 41 years old, live in Vancouver BC, am married, and am the father of 2 children, who are twins, a son and daughter who are now 5 years old. I also sustained a TBI in a car accident and I was in a COMA for almost 7 months. I was given a second chance at life because of Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy, I had to re-learn how to eat and now I am re-learning how to walk.
For those of you who have sustained a TBI or ABI, give HBOT a shot to improve your quality of life.
OMGosh…just found Donny’s site researching TBI’s. Been reading many of these responses & his blogs. To those of you new to your TBI involvement, Stacy’s comment of June 2009 is true. Fighting to get the appropriate care in a reasonable time frame is appalling…everything is an uphill battle. I am so encouraged by Donny’s progress and others here. We are all ‘family’ in a way. We have ‘lost’ part of a loved one that can never been replaced…but God does work wonders…and YES, we all deserve a second chance. But I sure am tired of people saying ‘there is a lesson to be learned from all this’. My husband was a involved in a hit-n-run motorcycle accident on his way to work. According to a witness that we ‘miraculously’ met after the fact, my husband was hit twice by same person. First was cut off & front tire clipped. But driver was leaving scene, so my husband tried to catch up to him to let him know what happened. Driver apparently did not like that because he purposely & intentionally swerved into my husband, hitting him with the side mirror, breaking his clavicle and knocking him off the bike causing a severe left-sided brain injury. CHP dismissed witnesses because no one got a license number. Told me that he never lost consciousness or had loss of oxygen. Was lie, 2 witnesses had to perform CPR. Of course, blunt force trauma also causes stroke. My husband has no movement on right side, cannot speak (but does mumble), has movement of left arm & leg, he see & hear. He is aware that something is wrong, does show emotion, most times recognizes people. However, he will require long term care. Doctors want to write him off and send him to SNF to rot. Insurance doesn’t want to pay. It is horrific what they put you through to get state assistance. I always tell people, don’t judge me til you walk in my shoes…because unless you have been through the nightmare you have no idea how much is involved. Donny’s blog on ‘where did friends go’ is absolutely true. Friends that my husband considered his ‘best friends’…bike & BBQ buddies…have turned their backs on him. We have just a few close friends who have stuck by me since August 5, 2009…I am truly grateful for those blessed friends. Bikes groups that we were involved in did nothing to help. But another group did…total strangers coming to the aid of a fallen biker. Our camping group did a little fund-raiser but $2000 didn’t go far. I have been approached by another group recently that wants to do something. I am amazed at the out-pouring of love from total strangers…sometimes more than family…sad to say. I am not in a support group yet, spend hours at hospital, have to keep on staff to avoid negligence. I sometimes have a hard time praying, kinda go in spurts depending on what’s happening with him that day. It is hard to stay positive when the powers to be want to ‘write him off’. His only son has stated: ” I don’t want to see him until he can talk to me”. His son has only visited twice in 12 months. My daughters have done more than his only son has. Is sad to me, but I can’t let it affect me when I visit him, I just don’t mention the son in our conversations. But he is still here, he is a fighter, so I too must be. I have to stay strong for him. God obviously has a plan for him…just wish I knew now what it was. I noticed too that Stacey mentioned Loma Linda Hospital. We must be in same area…I tried for months to get my husband there…it is excellent facility for head injuries. But due to some negligence at RCH, namely a doc with a Trump ego who would not sign discharge orders, I was unable to get him there. Believe me I tried. Right now, since we lost our house, I am living in Sun City, so Loma Linda is a little far. My husband has been in 8 facilities in a year. Enough about me
…I will keep all of you in my prayers….we are family, we are experiencing the same things, so I wish you all the best. And…DON’T EVER, EVER GIVE UP!!
Hi I”m Dave and I suffered a gunshot to my brainstem. Was in a coma for 3 mths. My mom was
told that I would be a veg.She didn’t belive them though and kept earphones on me with my
music on.At any rate I came around and learned how to walk talk everything all over again.
Although I walk with a limp, talk slow,and have a hard time communication what i mean,I still
graduated with my class and got my Drivers li. I also am semi paraylised on right side, but
I get by. my family was awesome in my recovery.Wonder if anyone has heard of hope thearpy down
here in galveston texas? I need something to do with my life now, ya’all know how it goes,
no friends and lonely alot. What do you do to get motivated again? Mom is talking about that
oyxogen thing but i wonder if it is false hope for her? need advise