Beyond Injury Post

                                                             

My Story: In Words Lexie Wyman I survived a traumatic brain injury in 1991.  My Volvo wagon was broadsided by a ¾ ton pickup running around 50 mph, when I ran a stop sign.  I broke my jaw and hit the left side of my brain really hard, and injured my brain stem.  I don’t remember ever saying to myself after the accident, Get it together, Self!  But I did, somehow.  MY ADVICE:  Stop at stop signs.  Airlifted to Palmdale hospital, I remained in a coma for 3 days.   A shunt relieved pressure on my brain caused by the buildup of fluid.  But, I was only awake for 5 minutes the 1st day, maybe 10 the next.  After about 30 days, a bout of pneumonia, and a little coaching, I moved on.  My husband and I had both been college athletes and, after educating himself re head injuries, he knew he could train me to do what I needed to do, to get sent to another hospital, rather than a nursing home, after my initial recovery.  I grabbed a tennis ball held flat in the palm of his hand, at his request, and because I was able to respond to his commend, I went to the rehab unit at Northridge Hospital.  Well done Gary! ADVICE:  Surround yourself with smart people I arrived at Northridge Hospital’s rehab unit with my jaw wired shut, for the breaks to heal, and no motor skills in my right hemisphere.  I wasn’t just weak, on that side, all skills were gone.  I spent the following 4 months in rehabilitation; physical, occupational and cognitive therapies. A nurse pushed my wheel chair across the street to a dentist, who tried to save my teeth with root canals, but my pearly whites died anyway. Several were then removed, and top and bottom bridges of new teeth were built.  I remember actually dozing in the dentist’s chair.  And after my jaw and teeth were taken care of, speech therapy was added. My physical therapist began by teaching me how to sit up, and not tip over.  I eventually walked. My first time was with a couple of therapists, and a shopping cart. In order for me to eventually use my right limb, they casted my arm at increasing angles, away from where it had drawn up; balled fist to shoulder.  During cognitive therapy I played the computer game, Where in the World is Carmen San Diego.  I must have found her because I moved onto other things.  And in between puzzles, occupational therapists actually put a knife (to cut an apple) in my compromised hand. All in all, I am fortunate to have received the rehab services I got, but after 4 months my insurance ended and I left the hospital.  ADVICE:  Do everything the staff asks you to do; they almost always know what they are doing I returned home with a wheel chair, a loft strand cane, a springed brace for my lower leg/ankle, a device to keep my hand open when I slept, high tops, and an orthotic and for my bad foot. My husband hired a nanny, of sorts, to care for me, and my 2 small children, but I spent entire week days in out-patient rehab. I also underwent 2 eye surgeries to correct double vision. I still deal with double vision, but to a much lesser extent, and one eye continues to wander. I walk with a unmistakable limp, and my balance is horrendous.  I ride a 3 wheel recumbent bike, and flail about in a small pool for exercise.  After sustaining my TBI, I worked in education; as a teacher, and then as a Special Education Para (aka aide,) for about 12 years.  I have a new husband, and am now on Disability, but I continue to hold paid coaching positions (cross country and track) at the middle school I attended when it was a Junior High School.   ADVICE:  Keep your passions alive, and do whatever you can do to break a sweat. But I think it was the things ingrained in me, before the accident, that helped save me. My athletic back ground save me.  There are things I am sorry for, but I now know there was a reason for them.  ADVICE:  Don’t walk around with a black cloud over your head, stay as positive as you can, but allow yourself quiet, alone time.