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Quite a Lick on the Head From my car wreck, I received a closed head injury. I was able to recognize that I was not the same person as before the accident. Not only did I have physical problems, but I had some set-backs in my thinking abilities; that is, my recall and memory were greatly affected. As far as the physical problems, I was very fortunate that mine were not severe. I experienced bad headaches on the left side of my head. And like many other people with closed head injuries, I had to have rehab (rehabilitation) help me to regain my walking strength. I walked with a slight limp. I had double vision. Then there was, and still is today, a tingling sensation on the whole left side of my body that is slowly resolving. My perception of the speed of moving objects made me a little fearful. Even while riding in the car at a normal speed with my wife, I'd ask her to slow down. It seemed to me that everything was going at a frightening speed. Although I had graduated from college, it was a struggle for me to keep up with the class at Athens Tech, where I tried to learn a new vocation. My vision, balance, and coordination were "off" from where I felt they should be which caused me to feel self-conscious. I felt like people were watching my physical set-backs. But, more important than the physical problems were the thinking difficulties. My recall and memory abilities did not work right. I found out that this is very common with closed head injuries. (Tell me something now and in 30 seconds I'd forgotten what you had said. Sometimes, I even forgot that you had said anything at all.) Fortunately, I recognized this was a big problem with me. I wasn't able to get upset with others who would try to correct me but felt very frustrated that information wouldn't "stick" in my memory but just slipped into oblivion. But, over a long period of time, years, my recall and memory gradually improved. One of the best ways for me to remember new information was to write it down, then review it over and over again. I'd always have notes taped up. And now, 18 years later, although I'm much better, I still put up notes. Overcoming my recall and memory difficulties proved to be a real challenge as I tried to learn new tasks. I remember seeing a picture of a flower in the office of my neurosurgeon. The caption under it read, "Bloom where you are planted." And for me, that meant that I shouldn't worry about not being the exact person that I was, rather, concentrate on being and doing the best where I am now, and not frustrate myself trying to be or trying to do, as I once did. Reading that caption was one of the milestones that helped in my long recovery. My father-in-law also had the words of wisdom and comfort in saying to me countlessly, "slow down, it's ok, slow down." That caption and my father-in-law's kind words helped relieve a lot of pressure that I put on myself. And, as I reviewed that little caption, I came to the point of laughing at my short comings, and say to others, "I had a head injury, what's your excuse?" Being able to accept my "new life" along with all its modifications was a challenge. It was also a challenge trying to figure how I was going to provide for my new bride (of 11 months). It hurt me to realize that I could not be a faithful provider like I always wanted to become. Before the accident, I was working for a local plumbing company. My employer allowed me to work, and yet take the time off that I needed for job interviews in the teaching field. It was on the way home from such an interview that my accident occurred. It ruined my whole day! Although I don't remember the accident or even being in the hospital, I'm told that an oncoming car veered off the road to avoid a pot hole in the lane. The driver overcorrected when re-entering the road and, at that precise moment, the front of our cars collided. The wreck badly shook up the other driver but left me unconscious for three (3) days in ICU; and another three (3) weeks on the floor. Then I went home, but not alone; that is; I had to have someone with me most of the time. I was taking seizure medicine as a precaution, although I never had one. My neurosurgeon told me that it was quite "lick on the head" that I got and that I really shouldn't be alive. Although I couldn't do much at the beginning of my recovery, I determined that I was not going to sit around and vegetate. I wanted to be active. I began taking short walks that gradually got longer and longer. I walked to the U.G.A track. And in time, I did calisthenics, then jogging, and finally sprinting. Eventually, I was able to try to work again. My employer at the plumbing company rehired me to do miscellaneous odd jobs. But, after being there three months and realizing that I would never get ahead, I knew that I needed to leave and find a higher paying job. I found one in the want ads. This was a frightening experience because I was afraid no one would want me because of my head injury, and then, I questioned my ability to do something new. I wondered about my future. Everything was uncertain, yet I had no other choice but to go forward and meet the future as a challenge. My neurosurgeon had cautioned me that I'd have to work twice as hard as someone else to get the same job done. So keeping that in mind, I was mentally prepared for what to expect in the work-world. The job that I found in the want ads was to be a technician on Dialysis machines for patients needing artificial dialysis. I was very open and up-front with my perspective employer about my limitations. And, to my surprise, he hired me! I worked hard, took lots of notes and studied technical manuals. I was fortunate in that the two head nurses who knew that I had limitations didn't put me into situations that they felt were over my head. And, in time, I fit in well and made contributions with plumbing improvements and small construction projects for new equipment. I interacted with patients, as well as took vital signs, and did trouble-shooting on faulty dialysis machines. I also assisted in emergency situations. I assisted the E.M.T.'s as well as admired their work whenever they were summoned to come. After working there for two years, I recognized that I couldn't earn the income needed to support my wife and I, so I decided to become an E.M.T. One of the nurses suggested that I should check into being a Respiratory Therapist. As it turned out, I collected as much information as I could find about E.M.T. work and Respiratory Therapy. I looked at my list of pro's and con's of each. Respiratory Therapy had the edge. I attended Athens Technical School for one year. During this year I worked and went to school together. Monday through Friday I worked at the facility from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and attended Athens Tech from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. On Saturdays, I worked at the facility from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. On Sundays, I'd to go church and do homework. Although that year was hard for me, it was tolerable because I could see "light at the end of the tunnel." (I figured I could do anything for one year). I struggled memorizing new material that was strange to me. Although I didn't know all that I'd be getting in for at the beginning, Respiratory Therapy seemed to have a future, so I stuck with it and determined to make it. Well, I did make it! It felt so good to reach the end of school successfully, and then land a job at Athens Regional Medical Center. In the hospital, I was up-front with my employer. He, too, recognized that I had limitations but worked with me and never put me into situations over my ability to handle. As time went on there were advancement tests to study for. I was motivated to get ahead for the sake of my family; therefore, studied hard. It was sad to repeatedly fail advancement tests, but I was determined to make it! In time I became a Certified Respiratory Therapist and then, years later, a Registered Respiratory Therapist. I've been at ARMC for twelve years now. And there's nothing else I'd rather be doing. Working with people is a challenge in itself. The one personality type, though, that stands out above all the rest is the one who survives a horrible trauma of some sort. As he recovers, becomes bitter at God, and shakes his fist saying, "Why me? Of all people in the world, why me?" Although my life was changed in a big way, I never asked the question "Why me?" And here's why. When I was in the military in previous years, I found out what it was like to have a personal relationship with the God who loves me and has a personal plan for my life. So, when my accident happened, I realized that something was happening to me outside of my control. I figure that God was redirecting my life for the better. |
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