Let Me RE Introduce Myself

The best thing I have ever done in my life is marry Greg Corbelli, and with him, have two beautiful hearted daughters, Kylie and Veronica.

When I was 17, I joined the Air Force. I got married when I was 19 and became pregnant shortly after. That same year, I won Airman of the year for all of Sembach Air Force Base. After three and a half years I left the military to be a stay-at-home mom. We had our daughters 22 months apart. I was home with them for the better part of their school years as a very involved, active parent, supporting them. During that time, I achieved my bachelor’s degree in Applied Behavioral Science. While the girls were in high school, I created a club called TAG- Teens Against Gossip, for high school students, as one of my school projects.

While my husband was in the military for 23 years, we traveled the world and settled in Colorado.

I was only back at work for a few months, when in ONE split second our lives changed forever.

At the age of 15, my younger daughter and I were in a near fatal car accident on February 13, 2008, where we both sustained brain injuries; hers severe and mine moderate. Veronica and I are no longer who we were before injury.  Although I have many cognitive deficits to this day, I am Veronica’s caregiver.

My worthiness is something I questioned, and because I felt this way I had to prove to myself I WAS still worthy. I began volunteering a few hours a week, which turned into several hours a week, at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and was there for 3 years. During that time, I won the Giraffe Award for sticking my neck out and advocating awareness for mental illness. I was on the radio, in the newspaper, and taught nursing students about bipolar disorder, since I experience that illness myself. I believe in helping others, even if it places me in a vulnerable position by sharing my truths.

I realized I needed to be with Veronica more to help her grow while healing and recovering from her brain injury. I could no longer volunteer due to the difficulties and deficits left from my brain injury and my bipolar disorder. Later, Veronica and I volunteered one day a week at a place called Westside Cares for eight years, handing out clothes and toiletries to the low-income and homeless people.

I believe God left me here for a reason, and it wasn’t to feel sorry myself. I choose to make something positive out of the trauma our family has been through. I wrote and published a book about the first 12 years of our recovery. A book titled,

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

I did this so other’s in our situation would feel validated, understood, and less alone on this difficult journey.

For the past 4 years, Veronica and I have been teaching about brain injuries at high schools. I also write a weekly blog on my Raw and Real brain injury website to enlighten others on what it is truly like to live with a brain injury. I write about our family’s trials and triumphs, sadness and laughter that comes along with our daily life. I also write about researched brain injury subjects. I will teach anyone who will listen.

I am a proud Brain Injury Awareness Advocate.

I feel successful and I owe that to God and the endless support of my loving family. My proudest accomplishment is having a successful marriage pre and post Injury. And we have been married for 36 years now. That does not mean all of us did not go through excruciatingly painful times of adjustment. WE DID and we still have rough times!!! But we always loved and love each other.

Truly, the best part of my days is when my family is near. I sit on the couch with Veronica and our dogs, in my comfy clothes. I live a beautiful life, because I concentrate on my blessings, and I could not be more grateful.