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Lori Williams 45 Specialist 4 United States Army
Conroe, TX United States
Greetings,
Thank you, thank you, thank you ReMIND.org for not only shedding the light about brain injury, but spreading the word.
Hidden injury of war. Absolutely. Although I did not serve during military conflict, therefore I do not have combat experience, I have served in the Army. It was in 1985, while on active duty in Germany, that I was in a car accident and sustained a severe traumatic brain injury.
It does not matter that the vehicle I was in was an orange Volkswagen Beetle, rather than an olive drab green truck, I wore the uniform--the circumstances of my life was the military culture.
The Army did what they could for me, based on what they knew about TBI at the time. Since the understanding of TBI was not nearly the understanding there is today, what I know today I learned from personal experience.
When the Army determined that I was no longer fit to serve, I was released via Medical Retirement. Afterward, the then Veteran's Administration awarded me compensation by a service-connected disability.
Long story short: since my TBI I have earned a Master of Social Work degree, but I can not hold a job.
Simply put, I can not hold a job as a direct result of my TBI.
Although I am smart enough to have earned two degrees (BA in Social Work and MSW), how I express myself--how I present myself--has prevented success in the work place. [A side effect I did not know about until nearly 20 post injury.]
One of the positive aspects of ReMIND is the support connecting with other people who are living the same circumstance you are. It was more than twenty years before I have had this--and it has been all on the Internet.
To know one is not alone helps ease the shame of this condition.
A year ago I wrote and published a memoir documenting my story. My New Brain is a reflection of the significant cognitive, physical, emotional, and spiritual change a traumatic brain injury had on me, as well as my continuing recovery. My goal is to offer support and encouragement to both the survivor and his or her loved ones during what, at times, feels like a heavy burden. [More information can be found at: www.outskirtspress.com/mynewbrain.]
Again, thank you ReMIND, for your outreach.
Sincerely,
Lori Williams
