Name: Maria H.B.

City: Phoenix, AZ

Brain Injury: HEMORRHAGIC STROKE ON THE OCCIPITAL RIGHT LOBE

Explanation of mask:  The mask is a representation of the transition and the feelings I have had until now. The left side is a representation of a very free woman hiking like I used to do. I cut the mask and stapled it to represent the 3 craniotomies I had. The knotted wiring shows how I feel about the damage to my brain connections especially to my eyes which are greatly affected. My face looks like I have been beat up as I believe this injury has done a great job to try and make me want to give up! The red shatter glass on the right is the bleed on the right side. The shiny silver pieces on the right are the gifts that I was able to still contain in my brain and in my spirit. Those shiny specs around my eyes are my ability to see things I could not see before.

The stroke took my ability to see what everyone else can see in the world, but it also gave me the ability to see the blessings and gifts that many people are never able to see. For me the stroke has been an event that has allowed me the time and mental clarity to draw closer to God and begin to see the things I would have missed. The blessings in my life. The remarkable kindness and caring of the world and the invaluable lessons my children are learning about strength through adversity. I feel more blessed now than I ever did and I believe I will be back where I started but wiser, stronger, and more compassionate. I believe that God wanted me to have the time to stop, watch, and listen to the wonderful life I have had.