alyssaament2
alyssaament2
| Forum role | Member since | Last activity | Topics created | Replies created |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Member | May 5, 2015 (11 years) |
- | 1 | 0 |
- Forum role
- Member
- Member since
May 5, 2015 (11 years)
- Last activity
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- Topics created
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Bio
I am a twenty-eight year-old brain injury survivor of almost fifteen years from an ATV accident and I was wearing a helmet. My injury left me with the symptoms of a stroke patient: with no use of the left side of my body. I got back major muscle function in my arm and leg, but I'm working on receiving fine motor movement of my fingers, toes, ankle, wrist again, my doctor told me if it hasn't come back after four years that it won't come back. She told me the movement I already have can get stronger. Summer of 2017 I volunteered to have an experimental stem cell surgery. Within the Clinical Trial are three different control groups: high concentration of stem cells, low concentration of stem cells, and placebo. I didn't find out my control group I was chosen for until the study was over at the beginning of August 2019. I just had to work my a** off like I knew I was given stem cells. I did the exercises given to me for the study and started going to PT (Physical Therapy) and OT (Occupational Therapy) on my own. Later I found out after a very long wait that I received the placebo. My overseeing doctor didn't even know what control group I was in. We were all very surprised to find out that I was given the placebo. I made so much progress that they thought I was probably in a stem cell group.
I am, depending on the day, an upbeat person. When I had my brain injury I was thirteen and knew nothing of brain injuries, let alone life...I was thirteen (duh).
"An estimated 1.7 million people sustain a TBI annually. Of 52,000 die, 275,000 are hospitalized. TBI is a contributing factor to a third (30.5%) of all injury-related deaths in the United States," (cdc.gov). I am lucky to be alive.
This blog is for people who have questions about brain injuries, or any kind of loss. This blog is a place where other brain injury survivors can share their stories, talk about how difficult they are, or complain about how their AFO brace is always squeaking in their shoes. If that is the case with your AFO squeaking in your shoes, try taking the sole of your shoe out. I've put mole skin in the area of my shoe that my AFO rubs on and squeaks. You can also rub some petroleum jelly on the area of your shoe where your AFO squeaks. That takes care of the issue!
I graduated high school in the 2014 class and attended the Hiram G. Andrews Center Commonwealth Technical Institute in Johnstown, Pennsylvania for Medical Office Assistance and graduated in December 2015. After my TBI I had amazing teachers and therapists that made sure I wouldn't get held back a grade because of my injury. I also hadn't academically fallen behind enough to hold me back. I was so excited to be back with all of my friends that I had already made before my brain injury. After high school and college I had the chance to work in a medical office for a short time before it just didn't work out(The doctor I was working for was a pompous prick) . After that I worked at Butler Sam's Club . They decided to give me a chance to work as a people greeter. I made so many friends there and learned so many job skills that prepared me to work anywhere. After that, I moved to Cheboygan, Michigan to be near my mom. I transferred from Sam's Club to Petoskey Walmart. I made so many friends there and learned so many skills. When I got my own apartment in Cheboygan I transferred to Cheboygan Walmart. Later, I got tired of Cheboygan Walmart and got a job at Petoskey Mejier pharmacy. After that just as Covid was starting I worked at Cheboygan Walgreens, because traveling to Petoskey was too hard on me. Because of Covid it didn't work out at Walgreens and I started working as a hostess at Big Boy. I am so thankful to have had all the opportunities and experiences I've had. While I was working at Cheboygan Walmart as a people greeter I met my husband, Josh. He worked third shift and I worked first shift. We added each other on facebook and started talking. We got eloped on August 21, 2021 in Upper Michigan. We now live a beautiful life in a house we own with our two cats and bearded dragon(the beardie is his responsibility, because he's the one who begged for it)
I've been taught how life can at times be unfair to those who don't deserve it and even to those who eventually deserve it . I did not remember until long after my accident that because I hated my life and nearly everyone in it at the time that everyday before my accident I prayed to God for something to happen to me to change my attitude and my life. Did I unknowingly have my accident on purpose? Did God answer my prayer? I really think He did, and I have no one to blame but myself.
After not remembering that I asked this of God daily I was upset that God let this happen to me, therefore, not believing in God for an extended amount of time after I awoke from my coma of fourteen days.
I want this blog to be a place for where TBI, stroke, and other disability victims to come and share their story and not feel discouraged or judged. Here you can learn that you have to build your own self confidence and not care about the rest. How other people view you doesn't matter because they don't always know the full story. Don't be afraid of when people ask you "What's wrong with you?', view as your chance to inspire others. Since I started this blog, I have gotten married to a wonderful man named Josh who fully supports me and my everyday needs. We started dating in December of 2018, and we've grown so much together as a couple and separately as individuals since then. I'm so proud of how much he has grown as a person since we first met, and how much I've personally grown with his encouragement.
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