This afternoon will be 20 years since my TBI

[DollyKim]

By this afternoon I will have lived longer after having a traumatic brain injury than I did before. On that day I blacked out and woke up with my head under a vintage kitchen bar stool, with a step that folded under the seat, that I had pushed in to the wall. Somewhere in it all I hit the sharp rim of the stool with my face getting scars in my left eyebrow and under my right eye, managed to lift it up to get under it, then have the stool hit me on the back left side of my head. I also broke a rib.

I woke up with quite a case of WTF and was ready to go on with my day. I was taken to the hospital, checked out, got 5 stitches in my face, and walked out. Within a month I'd be back at full time college finishing up my degree. The first person to notice a change in my personality was an art teacher I had before and after, he said I used to be "in my head" more. Because my right frontal lobe took the brunt my memory was intact.

The hit changed my life, it knocked me off a path of OCD rituals, general anxiety freak outs, severe hoarding, and becoming my grandmother. I still have to battle those things but it's easier. My art and handwriting suddenly got better. My communication skills, hampered by severe sheltering and not being socialized as a child, began to get better. I lost all the layout and design classes I took, I never feel I can lay things out and make a nice presentation. Many times it's hard to figure out literally where to start projects because my brain has prombles with step by step by exacting step.

What saved me and got my brain stimulated, which is key to TBI recovery, was dolls. I became a bit obsessed over my Teen Skippers and their world. I tried to make stop motion movies with them. Their "non Barbie" forms led to the custom dolls, my Dollfie Plus and first Neo Goh will turn 10 soon, and they led to the painting, rerooting, sewing, pattern drafting, sculpting, and doll making I am still learning to do.

Thanks for dealing with my nuttiness, I come by it naturally, and every year I hope I'm getting better and leaving this world a more interesting place then I found it.

[SetsunaKou]

:hugs: God bless you, Kim-san!!

I'm so happy for you and your continued progress! You never let it get you down and you're always a kind, helpful and friendly presence here on DS! :hugs again:

Thank you for being you!!!!

[babytarragon]

I'm glad you are celebrating this milestone, showing how far you've come and your strength of character.

[richila]

Hugs! Congratulations on this milestone in your life. I am always amazed and inspired by your creativity.

[Trethowan]

It is always inspiring to see people rise above serious injuries and determine to move forward no matter what. Rock on!

[Kirahfaye]

You've always fit in just fine with us here, DollyKim! Which says more about us than you, I think!

[zirconmermaid]

I'm glad you are doing so well! It's a great milestone! And those dolls help a lot of us very much. I have always enjoyed seeing what you do with yours!

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

That's a great milestone to be celebrating *hugs* Your creativity astounds me

[Qrinta]

That is super awesome!

[DollyKim]

Thanks everyone! Dolls and the stuff I've needed to learn for them has been the biggest part of my recovery. The online community has been icing on the cake giving me a place to share what I've done, communicate with people, and be inspired to do and share more.

The key to any recovery is having a reason why, not matter how small it is.