City: Kailua-Kona

Brain Injury: I was a veterinary ophthalmologist, and got hit in the head by a big dog. The brain injury/concussion was compounded by the fact that it went undiagnosed for 3 years, I had 4 general anesthesias within 22 months, and several other health complications that altered blood flow to my brain and increased the symptoms from the TBI.

Explanation of Mask: The mask is mostly white to illustrate the blandness that has become my life.  I feel like I have Broken Intellect, Broken Memory, Broken Cognition & Broken Concentration.  The colored tears show that this led to problems with Family, Function, Self-Esteem, My Role in Society, Friends and Finances. It has resulted in Ridicule, Loss of Fun and Loss of Hope.  My mouth is outlined in Red, showing me trying to put on a brave, happy face, but the smile is not filled in, and the lines at the sides show that smile is a attempt at bravado, but that I don’t really feel joy and happiness inside me. 

I feel like a shadow of “Me”, like I no longer really fit into this world… 

There is the door, showing me the way Out, as I’m no longer a part of the world that I knew….