I was born December 29, 1964 in Scarborough, Ontario CANADA. My hobbies and interests are Muscle Cars, Drag Racing, Siberian Huskies, Wolves and generally enjoying life to the fullest!
In 1992 I met the man who would change my life in ways I couldn't fathom. We were returning from his families cottage on Sept 27, 1992 when he pulled out to pass another vehicle, in his 79 Corvette. The steering was faulty in the car and he knew that; but must have forgotten.
The car oversteered to the left. We hit the gravel, spun around 180 degrees, shot across the road and cut off 6 or 7 wood posts to keep you from going over into a valley and the wire holding them together tore off the roof and hung me. Rescue people had to stabilize the car before they could get us out since we were hanging by the wire that was around my neck. They took us to Uxbridge hospital and transferred me to Sunnybrook Trauma Centre.
They could not sedate me
because I had closed head injuries, a vein in the left frontal lobe burst, so they had to
drill into my head in four spots to attach a halo vest without any sedative. I took out
two nurses with my nails and then they cut them off. After that I went into a coma for
about a day and then I was diagnosed with a burst vein in the left frontal lobe, hangman's
fracture of the second vertebrae. At best I could expect to be paralysed from the chin
down. I also had lacerations of the left mandible and burns to my neck and wrist.
In contrast my Siberian Husky was in the back of the car and escaped with a sore leg. What a gift from God that was.
Most of my stay in the
hospital is a blur as my memory was not functioning at that point very well. The
staff was very good with me and seemed to find me highly amusing as I became a child again
in my actions and thoughts.
I regressed back to about the age of 7 or 8 and when I was released from hospital 2 and a half weeks later I was placed into my parents care. My Mom would have to bathe me, dress me and feed me for almost 3 months and leave me in the care of my Father while she went to work.
Needless to say I lost
most of my friends and my relationship crumbled. It also took a toll on my parents
and they separated 6 months after my accident. The stress on my family was heavy and
I loss both my Grandmothers in the same week a year after my accident and then a month and
a half after my Dad died in December 1993.
My depression was not solved until 1996 when it was discovered my brain stem had been damaged in the accident and was not producing enough Seratonin. This battle will be an ongoing one for life to find the right medication and hope my body doesn't adjusted to it. font>
My Mother has always stood by me but if your not injured then you really can't possibly understand the daily trials and the waves of emotions that are constantly coming and you get very tired of hearing that you LOOK FINE.
I
battled to get work to take me back several times. I worked about 3 years all
together (part-time, unpaid) since the accident but although I worked for a big company
there was no spot for me. Problem was, because I tried CPP (Canada Pension Plan) says I'm able to work (was mostly a
social thing for me to get out, interact with people and I needed someone with me all the times for questions) Now I'm
not sure what happens. The good and maybe bad news is you cannot tell from looking at me
what my body went through, small scars and a burn on my wrist. WHAT LUCK .
I've made the best of friends on www.tbichat.org and in 1998 we all gathered as many as could make it in Monroe, Michigan. What an uplifting experience, worked better than any anti-depressant I've found and felt like a long lost family reunion. I missed the 1999 one but made it to the Edmonton reunion in 2000 what a blast, they are the most uplifting, get togethers, always great for my self esteem.
Things are starting to look brighter and I am enjoying life to the fullest. I think the whole messy experience has changed me for the better. I am closer with my Mother then ever before and I find my capacity for loving and giving greater then ever.
I have been contacted by many with problems along the same that I have dealt with and I hope I am helping them. My future was very fuzzy after the accident but is starting to come into focus. My Gemini lost her fight on June 20,2000, I will miss her dearly! she was my best friend in the world :) My brood is ever expanding though and I have 6 dogs now. I have lost several other rescues Lady March 11/01 & Jayke February 12/02, Big Red in December/03, Tasha in May 2006 and Max in July/07 but cherish their memory and will continue to rescue the elderly no one wants.
