TBI – Survivors, Caregivers, Family, and Friends

Posts tagged ‘Jonathan Curtis’

SPEAK OUT! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Itty-Bitty GIANT Steps

SPEAK OUT! Itty-Bitty GIANT Steps

 

Itty-Bitty GIant Steps for BlogSPEAK OUT! Itty-Bitty Giant Steps will provide a venue for brain-injury survivors and caregivers to shout out their accomplishments of the week.

If you have an Itty-Bitty Giant Step and you would like to share it, just send an email to me at neelyf@aol.com.

If you are on Facebook, you can simply send a Private Message to me. It need only be a sentence or two. I’ll gather the accomplishments and post them with your name on my blog approximately once a week. (If you do not want your last name to be posted, please tell me in your email or Private Message.)

I hope we have millions of Itty-Bitty Giant Steps.

 

Here are this week’s Itty-Bitty Giant Steps

Cat Brubaker with Congresswoman Krysten Sinema

Cat Brubaker with Congresswoman Krysten Sinema

 

Catherine (Cat) Brubaker (survivor)…I’m very excited to have gone all the way to Washington, DC, all by myself.

I planned it, and I got to my appointments on time. I still used a wheelchair at the airport because of overstimulation, shaky balance, and the possibility of getting lost. I met with my congresswoman about brain injury and about helping me with my new foundation, Hope for Trauma. I can’t believe how far I’ve come in a year. I feel very excited.

Jonathan Curtis (survivor)…Today I had an amazing day at Website-Volunteersmy volunteer job at a nursing home. I went with a difficult resident to an eye clinic appointment, and I organized a movie in the nursing home coffee shop. I felt so able and competent!

Keri Giacomini (caregiver)…My husband, John, had a very severe TBI almost twelve years ago. While he was at college, he fell out of a third floor window. The only residual problems are from aphasia. But, he does really well. Also, he is so sweet and thoughtful. A few days ago, we were thtalking about my care bear, which I’ve had since I was four (that is, for 27 years). He is a secret bear. He is now brown, has no eyes, and doesn’t talk. John knows how much my care bear means to me. He’s been with me through the toughest of times – surgery, hospitalizations, etc. I have Crohn’s Disease, and my care bear has always been my comfort. Well after we were talking, John went on eBay and ordered me an original secret care bear that still talks. He knows how much it means to me. It was probably the sweetest thing he’s done. I just thought I’d share what he did because, while John is always caring and sweet, sometimes it’s hard for him to initiate things.

Timothy Guetling (survivor)…Swaim Guetling is soon to graduate from the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB). He is a Communications major with a 3.5 GPA. Swaim is my Swaim Guetling21-year-old son. I’m thankful that he is where he can do best for himself and that he took the love, respect, and guidance from his parents to assist him in his future, wherever it takes him. Swaim speaks four languages. He has been around the US, India, and China with his fellow students. I am stoked to the max. He’s a chip off the old block, except he has hair!

 

YOU did it!

Congratulations to all contributors!

(Clip Art compliments of Bing.)

 

SPEAK OUT! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Itty-Bitty GIANT Steps

SPEAK OUT! Itty-Bitty GIANT Steps

 

Itty-Bitty GIant Steps for BlogSPEAK OUT! Itty-Bitty Giant Steps will provide a venue for brain-injury survivors and caregivers to shout out their accomplishments of the week.

If you have an Itty-Bitty Giant Step and you would like to share it, just send an email to me at donnaodonnellfigurski@gmail.com.

If you are on Facebook, you can simply send a Private Message to me. It need only be a sentence or two. I’ll gather the accomplishments and post them with your name on my blog approximately once a week. (If you do not want your last name to be posted, please tell me in your email or Private Message.)

I hope we have millions of Itty-Bitty Giant Steps.

Here are this week’s Itty-Bitty Giant Steps.

Karie Jacobson Collins (caregiver)…Today’s victory was that my husband initiated saying “I love you” to me. He i_love_you_by_pambahas responded in kind when I have said it to him. But, this is the first time since the morning he had his accident that he initiated it. My cup runneth o’er.

Jonathan Curtis (survivor)…I just bought myself art paper and colored pencils for the first time. It’s an Itty-Bitty Giant Step that could lead to great things.Writing+and+art+supplies

Michael Montepara (survivor)…My Itty-Bitty Giant Step for this week: I kept all appointments, did chores like Hazel thehappy-pill-sparkling-bottle housekeeper, twice shopped for snowstorms, got a much-needed haircut, refilled meds that I was nearly out of, filled my truck with gas, reached out to an old friend, wrote a letter to my Ex and sent it, contacted a lawyer for advice, sent faxes for a hearing, and managed to piss off several Facebookies! It’s been a busy week so far, and it’s only hump day!

Pam McClurg Richardson (survivor)…Sometimes I OVERTHINK things. I am MY OWN worst enemy! I need to learn not to be so hard on myself. After all, each of us is human with human flaws (with or without a brain injury). 🙂 I came to a point where I realized that Girl_thinking_ct_smI was a different person now than I was before my TBI. It’s OK for me to be a “different” me now and to grieve the loss of the “old” me. Besides, in some ways, I am a BETTER me. 🙂

JR Vigil (survivor)…I moved back to the U.S after Christmas. I was in Orlando in January for a month while I was being fitted for a new prosthetic socket. At the urging of my dad, I searched for a job. (I was actually offered a job, but I turned it down.) When the other job prospects weren’t looking so great, I thought, “Who do I know that I can stay with?” I’ve been in Seattle a little over two weeks, and today I had an interview at a temp agency that offers benefits. This temp agency is paid by companies looking for temp-to-hire workers, so it did not cost me a thing. A few hours after the interview, I bought a car for the first time in my life. I still can’t believe it! I will be applying to business us_map-736562schools in the following months. Driving around in the U.S. is definitely interesting with a brain injury. It’s a good thing we have map apps now because I have gotten lost so many times. There was one time where I had to make five U-Turns – no joke! On the other hand, after about two weeks, I didn’t need the apps for the places I frequented, so there is hope.

 

YOU did it!

Congratulations to all contributors!

(Clip Art compliments of Bing.)

SPEAK OUT! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Itty-Bitty GIANT Steps

SPEAK OUT! Itty-Bitty GIANT Steps

 

Itty-Bitty GIant Steps for BlogSPEAK OUT! Itty-Bitty Giant Steps will provide a venue for brain-injury survivors and caregivers to shout out their accomplishments of the week.

If you have an Itty-Bitty Giant Step and you would like to share it, just send an email to me at donnaodonnellfigurski@gmail.com.

If you are on Facebook, you can simply send a Private Message to me. It need only be a sentence or two. I’ll gather the accomplishments and post them with your name on my blog approximately once a week. (If you do not want your last name to be posted, please tell me in your email or Private Message.)

I hope we have millions of Itty-Bitty Giant Steps.

 

Here are this week’s Itty-Bitty Giant Steps.

Yourself-Hugged-John Bell (survivor)…I hugged three of my four kids – the oldest couldn’t make it to dinner. (There is no school tomorrow for the two still in grade school because of the weather conditions.) I got in a pre-lunch run, and I plan another run tomorrow night with a run group. (The temperature is predicted to be in the low single digit range; with wind chill, it should feel like -25.) Firewood use has been nonstop. I’m trying to replenish the stock, but I need help to try to keep up with the demand. I just got back from skiing in Colorado with an old friend, but now it’s time to get back to work.

April Snyder Bomysoad (caregiver)…My husband went from having pneumonia to being more aware – all in a week. I am amazed! I can talk to him about my day, and the next day, he would ask me about it. The aide told me about how aware my husband is and how well he is doing. I said you would know, since I see him only once a week. My car has died, so I’ve got to save money to fix it. My husband asked me about it and instructed me on what I should do. It’s so weird – I feel like my husband has returned!

Jonathan Curtis (survivor)…Got friends, got a job, got dates, got transportation, got a nice view of the city, got spending money. I am loving life! I also got a past that22072823-origpic-ba2d02 I find to be remarkable – reminds me that I’m capable of so much more.

Jonathan Curtis (survivor)…I was given a tremendous blessing this morning. I was reunited with a wonderful ex-girlfriend. I haven’t communicated with her for twenty years, yet we chatted like we just dated yesterday!

Joshua Edward Daniel (survivor)…I joined a gym today. I have a hard time running now. I get lightheaded, but it should get better. 🙂

Michael Montepara (survivor)…I’ve had a few nice Itty-Bitty Giant Steps this week.graphics-laundry-basket-181953 I scheduled a follow-up with the vision surgical team for Friday morning. I washed clothes, swept floors, did some shopping, tried several times to contact my Ex, and kept sane for another week! Yippee!

Cindy McFaden Samartino (caregiver)…Good news today! My husband and I won a Cindy McFaden Samartinosweetheart photo contest with this picture from our December wedding. And, I had a preliminary part-time job interview, with a follow-up on Sunday. AND, I was finally able to get the stubborn stain off the shower floor.

 

Jim Ward (survivor)…Friday I had the second interview for a job. The position is with an environmental consulting company in the Madison, Wisconsin area. The interviewGot a Job lasted a whole fifteen minutes! It took longer to drive there through the drifting snow! I was asked a few questions. The last question was, “When can you start?” I almost blurted out, “Where is my office?” :} (LOL) I didn’t though. I start next week! I feel so blessed, and I am very thankful. I want to thank everyone for the prayers, the good wishes, and the positive thoughts to help with the outcome. People told me after I left the hospital, “You won’t be able to work again.” Well, thankfully, they were wrong! Work hard at it, have faith, and believe in yourself!

YOU did it!

Congratulations to all contributors!

(Clip Art compliments of Bing.)

 

 

 

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