City: Bozeman

Brain Injury: Occured 10/20/1991; 6 week natural coma (not induced)

Explanation of Mask:  I hope my choosing to base my mask with such a cheerful, encouraging and optimistic color as bright yellow doesn’t convey the wrong message.  My having played Rip Van Wrinkle naturally for 6 weeks continues to affect and effect my life these past 26 years.  Wow!  Twenty-six years have passed?!  Sometimes seems like it just happened; other times I feel I’ve gained advanced maturity in compassion and empathy as I continue to survive and thrive despite it.  The bright yellow also represents the encouragement many people (including nurses) gave/give throughout my recovery.  The green dots represent confusion and exasperation flooding my mind as it is difficult to express my thinking.  I feel exasperated that others don’t see the obvious!  This causes the dark purple frustration under my eyes.