City: Blue Springs

Brain Injury: I was window shopping on the plaza in Kansas City, MO, after work. Suddenly, I saw an intense, blinding light. I woke up two weeks later in the ICU. I could not speak, walk, take care of myself, read, or write. Witnesses told police I went stiff and fell on the sidewalk. I had a closed brain injury. I was a writer and editor at the church office. I had written children stories for Christian education for my church. I lost my job after the stroke and TBI. I lost my independence. I had to relearn how to do everything. I failed spelling tests all the time! I couldn’t write sentences and I felt hopeless and frustrated. Sara, my speech therapist at the Rehabilitation of KC suggests I take a finger spelling class so I could see the words on my hand. I did and it worked. After that I started passing spelling test and reading sentences. Then I was learning how to walk all the time. I had to find a new job and entered the voc rehab training program at Johnson County. The counselor said I would fail, but I entered the program at the sign language community college and passed. I taught for many years and still sing songs at church. I want to teach other sign language classes. Brain injury was not as hopeless as I thought. Funny things happen, for instance, I asked an attendant for a “mitten”, when what I meant was a “napkin”, loved ones giggled with me.

Explanation of Mask: The message I want to share is that I am still an intelligent and capable woman. My brain injury completely changed my career and my self esteem for a long, long time. I feel overwhelmed by noise and too much stress, yet I AM A SURVIVOR! I feel grateful.