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Brain Injury:  Brain Tumor/Car Accident

Explanation of Mask: ​My name is Alicia. My brain injury story began 17 years ago at age 25 as I was on a career path in the field of marine science. I was diagnosed with a brain tumor hence the red paint. Shortly thereafter I was in a car accident and experience a whiplash. I incurred a concussion that day also marked in red. The color red reminds me of blood and danger as far as being at a higher risk for future injuries. Unmasking the invisible in my life would take quite a bit of paint! This is the surface of my life in the face of challenges, frustrations, etc. I still approach life as before, upbeat and positive. I enjoy travelling hence the compass symbol and spiral shape. I am fascinated by anything science. The other red area represents the constant, relentless tinnitus ringing in my ear and the blue zig zag symbols are the high-pitched sounds, a result of treatments for the brain tumor over the years. This only added to the already debilitating cognitive fatigue from the concussion. Coping strategies to manage the fatigue have helped. Maybe there’ll be a cure one day.