Name: Sigourney W.

City: Anchorage

Brain Injury: Bicycle Accident

Explanation of Mask: Guess I went flower power there with the peace and love bit. My memory is not serving me well to explain the symbolism. This is not a direct result of my injury per se. I created this circa 2017 during much turbulence in my life. 

If you look at my helmet (yes I still have it after 14 years — a teenager now) the impact does not seem impressive. A circle approx 1 inch in diameter has the plastic sloughed off. No cracks. No battle wounds. Yet it sent me into a seizure, then into the hospital, then into my Learjet-looking medevac and finally into a pediatric ICU. I only know this timeline of events from the EMT who literally saw my bicycle accident happen and then my mom who flew from Fairbanks to Anchorage with me. I was at the ripe old age of 17. And so, yes, this point of impact is marked on my mask by the sun…except it was my right side and not my left.

Oh and my jaw has clicked ever since which may explain the mess of yarn on the cheek. And I cry often due to frustration with symptoms — although strange enough I spent my 1st year of recovery unable to cry. Perhaps the pearls are me being happy my teeth and smile are still intact? Well I also developed a bad clenching issue and fractured a molar. One of the very minor outcomes of my journey.

The feathers and flower could be a touch of flare. (I’m Alaska Native but definitely not the feather-wearing type!) To know that my spunk still peeks out from behind it all.