My Accident
Some of you may know about my accident, others don't. Here is the story. I'm not asking for your sympathy or pity, I'm just trying to explain what I have been through in the past.
April 5th, 2004
My mom was driving me to school one sunny Monday morning, when on Hinchey Road in Gates, we hit ice. The following took place at 35 MPH. The car spun out of control and hit a telephone pole at the passenger door. I was in the passenger seat. My mom was lucky enough to get up and walk away from the accident. However, I did not have such luck. I was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital. I was knocked unconscious, had a fractured pelvis, some broken ribs, a collapsed lung, and was in a coma. What was worse is I had a contusion on my brain stem. This paralyzed my entire right side.
April 27th, 2004
I slowly awaken from the coma, but am still pretty out of it.
April 29th, 2004
I was moved to St. Mary's Brain Injury Rehabilitation unit. I made very little progress in my first 3-4 weeks here, and at was convinced I would be left to live in the hospital forever. I went through a period of thinking I was 6-7 years old, and at one point even though I knew my grandmother was dead, I told my mother I was going to visit her. I think I thought I could go back and forth between the worlds of living and dead or something.
May 31st, 2004
It is the first day that I have a clear memory of. The rest is all fuzzy fragments. I finally believed I was going to get better then, and was not afraid for my mother to leave the room for fear she would not return.
June 4th, 2004
I am allowed to leave the hospital for the evening to go to my dance recital. Of course, I couldn't dance in it; I could barely walk. That was one of the hardest things I had to experience. My senior dance recital and I didn't get to be in it.
June 16th, 2004
I am dismissed from St. Mary's. I continue outpatient therapy until the first week in August.
June 23rd, 2004
I graduate from Gates Chili High School. I get a standing ovation from my class and the loudest cheers out of anyone. A bit of an accomplishment for someone who missed the whole fourth quarter of their senior year.
Katie & Amanda Kuchman and Steve Ha came to visit me after the prom, and Megan Schwingle, Emily Powell, Maryana Misula, Beth Sosik, and Eileen McKee took time out of their senior skip day to visit me.
Lingering Effects:
- A condition similar to that of ADHD, in which I am not able to concentrate, and am very, very impatient.
- Slightly slowed movement and reaction time.
- Am not able to tolerate the stress levels of a normal person.
- Easily frustrated, and frustration with the fact I can no longer do things I used to be able to do.
- Can no longer process the information I used to and have to take slower, easier classes.
- Had to cut my hair due to the right side being shaved off to accommodate for the tube to drain pressure from my brain.