City: Kailua-Kona, HI

Brain Injury:
2016 Fever chills productive cough left sided weakness required emergency craniotomy for multiple brain abscesses, followed by a year of IV antibiotics.

Explanation of Mask:
I am still dealing with the resultant sequelae of being so ill and putting the pieces together physically, emotionally, and cognitively. I worked very hard in therapy and learned how to walk, move about efficiently, to drive, to speak clearly and take care of myself using adaptive aids.
My rehab was severely complicated by a game changing medical mistake where the nerve in my non-dominant hand was severely injured, as result of an IV poke by a nurse. I am dealing with the nerve pain and weakness in my head which has been a struggle in itself, and treatment continues. I thought I was dealing effectively with my TBI; however, the additional nerve injury is very annoying, challenging, exhausting, frightening, irritating, and nearly overwhelming to manage the variable pain while living with sequelae of a TBI.