When I first had my brain injury there were so many changes I was just trying to make sense of all that was happening. As time went on and my questions were not answered I think the whole focus became the brain injury and finally everything that happened in my life was because of the brain injury when actually things were happening in spite of the brain injury.
I couldn't get anybody to listen to me and answer my questions so to get to where I am today I just had to rely on my instincts and every day get up and put my feet on the floor and keep on trying.
In the 13 years since my stroke I have learned that "I am not my brain injury" I am so much more than a little damage to my brain. I have learned that people still don't want to talk about the brain injury, I still have a lot of questions, I still don't have all my memories back but all those things do not make me who I am.
Who I am, a person who wakes up every day and tries to be thankful for what I have experienced and how I can share it with others. It wasn't easy but it was worthwhile because I have learned so much about myself and others and hope that I will be able to continue to share my story so others can find strength in dealing with their own brain injuries and the brain injures of the people around them.
Finally to sum up the answer to the question above. We become our brain injuries because we don't get answers that will help us deal with our brain injuries so without answers we fall into dealing with our brain injuries the best we know how and we live with our brain injuries so they become a big part of the decisions we make and how we live our lives.
