Name: Ernie L.

City: Peoria, AZ

Brain Injury: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). In 2010, 10 of my friends and I were riding our motorcycles headed to Bartlett Lake and were stopped at a red-light when we were hit by a driver of a dump truck who was on drugs. All I remember is my friend yelling “watch out” and I woke up 6 weeks later and learned that FOUR of my friends who were with me that day were dead.

Explanation of mask:  Since my TBI I have met many new friends that I am so grateful for. I have become so much closer to my family and my second family, the Phoenix Fire Department where I worked for 31 years. I would not be here without any of them. All the people in my life are fantastic and make me SMILE which I have made the main focus of my mask. LIFE IS GOOD!