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I am a nurse by profession and worked the 3-11 shift. Was hit headon by a speeding drunk driver on my way home from work. If I had been wearing my seatbelt, I would have been crushed and killed instantly. Instead, I was thrown up into the window post of the door with my head receiving a severe TBI. Also had my right foot taken off, L knee cut to the bone from one side to the other and my L elbow, broke my right arm and had multiple other cutson R leg. The coons, I was told, recycled what was left of me on the dash. They sewed my right foot back on twice, the second time putting an 8" stainless steel pin up thru my heel into my leg to keep it on. I am legally blind, my throat and tongue stays numb. No appetite, and no smell or much taste. I had stopped breathing and bleeding by the time the rescue squad got there. They could get no vital signs on me. Took 2 jaws of life to get me out and they did CPR, naturally, to the local hospital where they did 2 cutdowns on me to start 2 iv's as my veins had collapsed due to the shock. They air lifted me to the Med in Memphis, TN. and bagged me the whole way there. Was placed on life support in the trauma unit. My brain straightlined for 3 days. Husband was told by Dr.s initially I would not survive the night. I did. When I came out of the coma, he was told that I would be a in a vegetative state. I am alive by the grace of God. In rehab they treated me for physical injuries but had not concentrated on the brain injury. I am where I am today by sheer determination and hard work. And that's the rest of the story, G'Day....
Two yrs after my TBI, my husband of 29 yrs divorced me. I was taken to Florida by my oldest daughter. There I reunited with my first husband and childhood sweetheart. We were remarried on April 4, 1997. Altho' my husband knew nothing about TBI, he was far more understanding and tolerant of my harsh behavior than my ex-. I was bad about stressing and going into overload. My ability to trust and been severly undermined from TBI and living in an abusive relationship for so long. I learned much about abusive behavior from the Domestic Violence Crisis Ctr. after my ex- followed me to Fla. and beat me up. Abused children tend to become abusive parents and go into abusive relationships and stay in them where a "normal" person would leave. When my ex- divorced me, he set it up with the lawyer and took everything I had. He threatened me and kept me from coming home to Tn. After 3 yrs. I've finally started to trust my husband and what he says. I 've started to improve tremendously of my stressing and overloading. My ex- finally died and I have moved back to Tn. from Florida. It's like a breath of fresh air to come home. My one regret is that I had finally found a dr. in Orlando, Dr. Krishna, who was very familiar with Brain Injury. He had interned in a 100 bed trauma unit. He put me on Super B Complex and Amino Acid Complex. They helped me far more than any drugs given to me by other dr.s. So many Dr.s don't know about brain injury and simply give meds to prevent anxiety. Losing this Dr. was my biggest regret of leaving Florida. Heat takes me down so leaving the heat was good for me. I used to think if I could go back and repeat the past that I'd avoid the wreck and TBI. However, after considerable thinking and comtemplating, I'd not be the wonderful relationship I'm in now and would probably not have improved to the point I am now. I would not have the kind, loving, helpful environment that I've attained. So, therefore, I would not have it any other way. I also try to be an advocate of TBI. Not only to ordinary people but to Dr.s, etc.
By Darlene Harwell 11/30/96 Brain trauma hurts forever, from life as we knew, it does sever. What is normal for you, isn't for me, pain is excruciating, can't you see? Your long and short term memory it does steal, the headaches are unreal! The ability to walk and talk are sometimes a dream, it's enough to make you scream! Many times that's what I want to do, but confusion sets in and leaves me in a stew. Concentrating on what comes naturally to others keeps you busy, to make matters worse, you're always dizzy. Often people take a brain injured person for granted, if you don't meet their expectations, ugly words at you are slanted. In reality, time has no essence, at times, you don't notice others presence. Seizures are some peoples "gift", having none gives me a lift. There's so much more to be said, I'm just thankful, but for the grace of God, I'm not dead!
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