Surviving Traumatic Brain Injury

SPEAK OUT! Faces of Brain Injury Faith Neaves

Brain Injury is Not Discriminating

It can happen to anyone, anytime, . . . and anywhere.

The Brain Trauma Foundation states that there are 5.3 million people in the United States living with some form of brain injury.

On “Faces of Brain Injury,” you will meet survivors living with brain injury. I hope that their stories will help you to understand the serious implications and complications of brain injury.

The stories on SPEAK OUT! Faces of Brain Injury are published with the permission of the survivor or designated caregiver.

If you would like your story to be published, please send a short account and two photos to me at neelyf@aol.com. I’d love to publish your story and raise awareness for Brain Injury – one view at a time.

Faith Neaves (survivor)

About seven years ago, I suffered a traumatic brain injury from a domestic-violence incident. My ex-husband knocked me completely unconscious when I walked around a corner. I was eight months pregnant at the time. I remember opening my eyes and not being able to see. I was lying in a puddle of blood. I never got help. I was too afraid because he was in the military. As I went in and out of consciousness, I wrote my little girls goodbye letters and hoped for the best. After that night, things were never the same. I struggled with severe depression, anxiety, crying spells, memory loss, raging, etc. – you name it. My moods would switch quickly. On a daily basis, I would forget names of people I knew or directions to places I used to go to. For the past eight years, I have been wrongly diagnosed as bipolar. I struggle with suicide, and I almost succeeded, which ended up with my being hospitalized and having more meds. Finally, I was diagnosed with a very severe frontal lobe brain injury with no hope of recovering. The doctor told me that I have a “light switch,” where most people have “thermometers.” It affects my personality, emotions, speech, and sleep. My brain has trouble with cognitive abilities, problem-solving, and conversations. I interrupt people a lot due to my brain trying to get out a word. I struggle with fatigue. The worry, anxiety, and depression are a lot to deal with, but at least I know that it’s not my fault – that it’s not from my being bipolar. I have been exhausted, and I have felt crazy and indecisive. I have to write everything down on sticky notes – I forget dates, my phone number, and my address. My in-laws and family have judged me as crazy, having red flags, etc. – you name it. I feel they have no empathy. I’m not a victim, but a SURVIVOR. I miss me. I am devastated at who I used to be and what I have lost. I thought this was temporary and due to stress. I’m only 35, and I’m scared for my future. I’m devastated to carry the ugly scar now on both the outside and the inside. I pray that I will find love and support somewhere.

Disclaimer:
Any views and opinions of the Contributor are purely his/her own.

(Clip art compliments of Bing.)

(Photos compliments of contributor.)

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