City: Suwanee

Brain Injury: Head injury in 1978. I was 18 years old, coming home from Savannah with a friend.  It was raining. I was “scared to death” as I lost control of the car. I had a bad accident and hit my head on the metal post on the car, which split my head open.  My friend called 911. I was in a coma for 4 months.  I had surgery on my head and went to rehab after I came out of the coma.  I also had a lot of speech therapy and physical therapy.

Explanation of Mask: My mask represents my mom and dad’s love.  I felt guilty because my mother and father had to take care of me.  I have a sister and a brother that they have to take care of, too.  I feel like I killed my mom & dad. 

I am still not over the accident.  I get sad and feel blue.  My mom did not want me to go on the trip.  I feel apprehensive that I can’t move on and get over the accident.

The cut on my forehead was open for a while when it was healing.  Now I have a scar on my forehead. The scar is a “symbol” of how I let my mom down. 

I wanted to go to college and be a nurse.  I never realized my potential because I was so young.  I played basketball when I was young, but now I’m uncoordinated, have shakes, and cannot play.  It is hard for me to display my emotions since the accident.  I just live and keep trying to do my best.