The Smallest Things

I know it seems for many brain injured people, joy is a distant memory. We often become like the people we spend time with. I am a positive person who verbalizes daily the things I am happy for. I tell my family I love them and am sure to mention the things they do that make me feel good. As many of you know, Veronica has a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), and I have a moderate TBI from the same car accident 16 years ago. Once I was out of the hospital after 3 weeks, having sustained 6 breaks in my pelvis and having 9 staples in my head, I kept a journal for the next 10 ½ weeks Veronica was an inpatient. Every day I found a blessing. It could be a half smile, a movement of her hand, a wiggle of her leg. I wrote it down and thanked God.  I just wanted God to leave Veronica with us in any condition He chose. I am still that way. And I share my feelings on a daily basis. When I am down, I still recognize the things that make me fortunate. I have deficits. I am still grateful for my abilities, large or small. My husband and I have guardianship of Veronica and she and I spend our days together. I have tried to lead by example to teach Veronica to think like this as well. She too, is a very positive person. Are there many things she misses being able to accomplish in her life? Absolutely! We talk together, we pray together, we have fun together, and we also cry together.

The other morning, I was sitting on the couch across from Veronica, who is 31 now, while we drank our coffee and I read a book. I looked over at her as she enthusiastically wrote in her notebook. I asked what she was writing about if she didn’t mind sharing. This is what she read to me:

I love my life. I love everyday I am here. For so long I thought everyone needed to know everything about me. I think I am really taking a mature look at the world now. I know I can fall in love with anyone. I trust God with my heart, my life, my world. I know whatever he faces me with, there is a reason he led me to that path. I don’t have to fall head over heals for every potential person that may come in my life. I want to continue making myself better and the world better. I used to be scared of so much in this world. Now, everyday whatever comes I know God is with me. I do not feel afraid anymore.

It was incredible! She is very grateful, full of joy, and aware of what she wants in life. She may not always be able to have what she thinks about, but she is surely articulate and clear in what she is thinking. Her ability to communicate is still improving to this day.

I do know there are many brain injured people reading my blog that do not have a good support system and that does make being positive at times, near impossible for so many. That makes me sad, and I do pray for you. What I am hoping by you reading this, is that you will take just a moment to think about your can do’s, not your can’t do’s. If you are reading this, you have a huge, wonderful ability that many only dream of. You can see. Maybe you are listening to someone read this. Then you can hear. I can’t think of a time where I can’t think of at least one good thing. Even though I like so many, do suffer depression at times. Even if our deficits don’t go away, we learn how to manage them better as time goes by. There are alternative ways of doing things. And I am so grateful to have learned that throughout my journey. Through difficulty, can be delight. But you have to open you mind to it.

If you would like to know more about our lives, our trials, and triumphs, and about what it has taken for us to remain positive throughout our brain injured lives over the years, please read my book titled,

A Miracle a Day, One Day at a Time: Hope After Traumatic Brain Injury

https://store.bookbaby.com/book/a-miracle-a-day-one-day-at-a-time

If you are interested in purchasing my book, press the link above. It is only one of many places my book is sold online.

Please remember we are not alone in this. We have each other through as many Facebook brain injury support groups you choose to participate in. My book will help you feel validated, understood, and more educated about the brain injury life so many of us live. That includes survivors, caregivers, family, and friends if we are so fortunate. My weekly blog is something so many can often relate to. And from that, you know you are not alone.  

Have a blessed week acknowledging the good in your life.