A little backstory before I go into depth after my surgery. I grew up in McKenny,TX. Just a hell raising kid doing things a kid would do. Flash forward I’m nine years old sitting down at my parents kitchen table and roughly around half way through I complain to my mother about my headache. My mom that can contest to having a boy that got into everything and never complained about bumps or cuts, coming and complaining about an excruciating headache. She had every right to be worried. I go through surgery and ICU, while in ICU with a few pulled IV’s because they had me sedated. Two years later I’m walking into my elementary school with a cast. Life moves along some major events happen. And I move back to Texas in Lubbock four years go by and an stubborn 15 year old tells my division for rehabilitation services handle. That I wanted to push myself and try for a regular diploma and so she dose and I achieve my goal of walking across the graduation stage with my diploma in hand. Here I stand five years after that I’ve spent five years mentoring underprivileged kids to not give up on their dreams.
Hi again, Tex, and yay for you being a stubborn 15 year old! Thanks for sharing more of your story.
No problem Susan, I love mentoring, and seeing what difference I can make in others lives. Yours Truly. Tex
It’s been 15 years since I sat down at that dinningroom table. And believe it or not I’m greatful for every bump, every heartache, every friendship, every trail, every time I got down on myself or let outside noise dictate, what I knew was best for me. I’m here to give a voice to the voiceless, I’m here to give strength to the willing and able to step out of the norm. I’ve been there herd the diagnosis of a cat III aneurysm and defying odds. I’m here to say you have a voice to those that think I can’t such in such. Just like I told Ms.Haley about her soon to be husband “The guy she once loved is still there he just had his life turned on its head” I’m here to give anyone insight and encouragement, to fight. I’m a testament to what could be looking out of the tunnel for those that are where I’ve been. I have been down on myself, closed off from the world, but I clawed and scratched my way back. I’ve been in dark places. It took me saying to myself d@mn-it why not me. I still look down that whole from time to time, but I have a million accomplishments that I’m d@mn sure proud of. The bonds I’m made because of what this blessing has given me. So if you need someone I’m here for you guys, I don’t have credentials to certify me but, I have heart to tell a significant other of a guy that had a AVM. That the guy she knew is in there he’s just having to swallow a house pill is what he feels like. I’m not doubting that he thanks her for every living moment he has her by his side just that this guy was living high and had the rug yanked out from under him. And she had high hopes for him achieving his dreams. I just couldn’t bring myself to tell her, he may never, not that there’s not a chance, of him making it back where he was but knowing what I know about tbi’s, I couldn’t bring myself to tell her that he might not make it back to where he was.
YT,
Tex
That was ‘hourse pill’
Thanks for the reply, Tex, and I think you mean horse pill. I appreciate your message and last summer I responded to a young member in Great Britain who posted the question wondering if anyone ever asked why me and how did they deal with the question. Well, one thing I mentioned to him was I changed the question to why not me. Actually, Tex, I recently reread my answer because as you stated, I still have my dark times when I can't believe what happened to me. However, we have a 31 year old daughter of friends who is dying of brain cancer and she is a mother of a 3 year old. Everyone is saying good bye to her and she has become another reality check to me.
I am grateful for all you wrote and please keep writing as I find it therapeutic to write and read the words of other survivors.
I had a best friend’s grandmother that had a stroke the same year I had mine. She’s since past. But there’s not a day go by that I know I’m lucky to be here. I’ve had a best friend’s grandmother and a different best friend that hid his conditions and past away three years ago. I’ve kept in touch with my dear best friends’ fence’ since his passing and she’s appreciative for my support. And I’m just glade to know that she’s not letting his passing get the best of her. YT
Tex
Yes Susan
Glad