City: Durham

Brain Injury: I was on my motorcycle and was rear-ended

Explanation of Mask: After one of the worst days of my life, several surgeries, and paralysis on my left side, we were transported to UNC.  My mask is “split” to represent two different people that are one in the same- my identical twin sister and myself.  The eyes are left bold and open because I had not control to open my eyes and no function but was able to see and hear after my accident when they didn’t think I could.  “Pretty Smart” covers the mouth because it’s a blunt statement out of my words I now have.  “I am what I make up” represents everything we do and how we illustrate ourselves and there is no changing it.  My sister and family are everything to me, my comfort, companions, support through this traumatic event.  Two nail polish bottles are “girly girl” to me as my twin sister came to the hospital to give me a pedicure.  The pink  on the mask/background are because pink will always be my favorite colors (before and after the accident) because it just makes me happy.  I won’t change and will continue to feel like myself as this mask represents the accident and after as a reminder of who I want to continue to be.