City: Gallup, NM

Brain Injury: Military veteran- in preparation for deployment I had a parachute malfunction. I had a second TBI from a blast explosion. A 500 lb bomb dropped close to our position while tunnels around us were collapsing.

Explanation of Mask: There is severe pain throughout my brain with sharp pain running all over my head. I cannot see, I cannot hear. Sunlight hurts. The only time I feel good is for a short time after I get shots in the back of my head where the spinal cord connects to the brain to relieve severe pain. I want to say good things, good words, good songs, but the pain won’t let me. All I ask is to think and speak from turquoise mountains. The pain stops me day and night. The anger, hate, depression, and isolation that you feel makes you want to die just to find peace.