Name: Shelly M., 52 years old

City: Surprise, AZ

Brain Injury: TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI). A bottle of homemade ginger ale fermented and became a bomb that exploded in my face, knocking me out. I had to relearn how to walk and talk.

Explanation of mask:  “Inside vs. Outside of My Head”

I have a lot of thoughts, but forget words before I can say them. I have forgotten memories of my past. I was once great at math and am now unable to multiply in my head. Few friends come around anymore, so I am frustrated and alone. The brick symbolizes the BARRIERS I feel between what is inside my brain and what I can actually do. I try to push through the barriers, but the wall is strong and won’t budge. I feel DISCONNECTED from my emotions and dumb because I can’t do the things I once could. The world around me makes me feel stupid at times and is like a dark cloud hanging over my head. The cross symbolizes how I have continued to stand strong in my faith. At times I feel EMPTY AND SAD on the inside because PEOPLE DON’T UNDERSTAND. They say, “YOU LOOK FINE, YOU’RE 100% BETTER.” I want to scream “I am not!” I put on a smile and look O.K but I am not I am broken! It’s not that I am strong. I made a choice to be POSITIVE and move on.