City: Kaua’i

Brain Injury: The 1st brain injury was from a head-on vehicle collision, the 2nd brain injury was from a rear-end collision, and the 3rd brain injury was a from a syncope episode when I fell while riding my horse.

Explanation of Mask:The color Pink represents the reciprocity of love in you and me; the sweetness and joy, the innocence and playfulness of my inner child, the divine feminine as captured in a rose, the sacredness and authenticity of all life, the desire to live by example, new beginnings like a newborn baby. The color Purple represents my spiritual essence, the foundation of who I am, my connection to Divine Source as my Divine Self, my spiritual awakening to a greater love, strength and gentleness, benevolent leadership, empowerment, everything we need lies within. 

The Pink & White Feathers- I love birds as they speak to my heart with their songs of love and joy with a purity of heart, nature, animals (especially horses) and children were my safe refuge when the outside world was too fast and chaotic and was afraid of my brain injuries. By experiencing my vulnerabilities, I feel safe to be able to walk through public speaking with my TBI experiences to the other side where confidence and empowerment reside.

The Words –

“grateful” represents the gifts found in my recovery, my new life and purpose for living;

“aware” gave me the moment to say “I know now what I didn’t know for all those years” by opening doors I did not know existed;

“free to be me” is the return of my voice that was silenced by all the internalized struggles of my disability for so long. To rewire you must re-experience the challenges in order to practice the new skills/behaviors you desire in order to transform your world, destruction precedes new growth/renewal. TBIs were my experiences that brought me back to my heart, they no longer define me “connection” a sense of well-being through a heart connection is vital for healing to occur. In my experiences there were many well-meaning support systems that wanted to help by offering information about symptoms, medication, statistics, etc. without compassion which was meaningless to my state of isolation, despair and loneliness. I did not feel safe, loved or accepted. This also ties into the words, “you matter to me” which is what I wanted to hear and feel deep within. I can now give those words back to another in their time of need…what we all crave as humans. Nothing is separate; all is connected.

“Empowered voice” represents the voice of truth from within that comes with love, power and wisdom. And the Yellow Heart represents love and joy, the gifts of our Earth Mother that has everything we need to heal.