City: West Fargo

Brain Injury: First brain injury: A large AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation) that ruptured. Second brain injury: An automobile accident reinjuring the first brain injury.

Explanation of Mask:
I survived the AVM rupture that should have killed me instantly when I was just 13 years old, and it is a miracle that I am here today living, breathing, walking, speaking – and with a 4 year college degree. It is only because of the grace of God that I survived what I went through and recovered in record time. I still remember the feeling I had,…the strong personal drive to move forward, and past all the obstacles that were in my way even though it was thought to be impossible.

Fast forward to 15 years later. I am happily married and with a successful career, and my husband and I are talking about starting a family. While I am waiting at a red light a collision happens. I made the difficult decision to stop working and focus on my recovery which ended up being a great decision. Even though I am wired to go, go, go and push myself harder, I have learned that the more I rest and the less I do, the better I feel which results in less symptoms over all.

Blue and Purple are my favorite colors. The white line down the middle of my mask symbolizes my concussion and how it separates me from a lot of the things that I love. I decided to blend the blue and purple into the white line to represent hope and healing. I will be whole again. You just wait and see. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.