City: Gallup, NM

Brain Injury: Traumatic Brain Injury, 2010 auto accident. Skull fracture, my right ear was ripped off. I spent 3 months at the Brain and Spine Center and underwent extensive physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy.

Explanation of Mask: The ants on the head of the mask represent the crawling and itching where my skull was cracked during my injury. When my head works, I feel like a lion, strong and capable. Often my mind is fussy or just empty and I can’t think right or focus. I hear loud sounds like a siren in my head that makes me want to hide like a scared mouse. When in a crowd of people I feel like I am in a bubble, I feel like I can’t breathe or find my confidence, it gets hot and all I want to do is cry or crawl under a table and hide from the world. Sometimes I get angry because I drop things. It feels like I can’t control my hands or my legs. A loud noise or a fast movement can trigger anger and fear which makes me cry. If under a fluorescent light for too long it will bring me to my knees. I feel very different and feel frustrated because I am not always in control and that is an understatement. Some challenges are a blessing to me, that’s how I am able to cope. I will keep facing my challenges head on, it is a reason to be me.