I acquired a severe traumatic brain injury in 2005 while riding my bike home. That’s all I know for certain. I have no memory of the accident and the following three weeks.
I have epilepsy, I don’t know if I had a seizure and fell or a car helped me hit the pavement. I wonder about the car sense I needed to close my eyes and turn my head when cars passed me after I left the hospital. It really doesn’t matter, it happened, it’s time to start healing.
I don’t like having a brain injury and I don’t like being disabled, but I need to deal with it. For many years I felt insecure or self-doubt about having a severe traumatic brain injury. I thought that I and others like me wouldn’t be respected since I have daily fatigue, difficulty walking and I’m inefficient with everything. My injury was something to keep quiet while I regained my self-confidence and self-assurance.
Nine years after my severe traumatic brain injury I felt comfortable to write a blog about the many ways a brain injury has affected my life with the intent of informing people what a brain injury survivor endures. Keep in mind that all brain injuries are different, what I experience will not be the same as others, you cannot compare one persons health with another persons health. Having said that, I also believe that there similarities.
I have found that reading stories of tbi healing can be reaffirming. I would like to think that by sharing my stories I will give confirmation to other brain injury survivors.
I have epilepsy, I don’t know if I had a seizure and fell or a car helped me hit the pavement. I wonder about the car sense I needed to close my eyes and turn my head when cars passed me after I left the hospital. It really doesn’t matter, it happened, it’s time to start healing.
I don’t like having a brain injury and I don’t like being disabled, but I need to deal with it. For many years I felt insecure or self-doubt about having a severe traumatic brain injury. I thought that I and others like me wouldn’t be respected since I have daily fatigue, difficulty walking and I’m inefficient with everything. My injury was something to keep quiet while I regained my self-confidence and self-assurance.
Nine years after my severe traumatic brain injury I felt comfortable to write a blog about the many ways a brain injury has affected my life with the intent of informing people what a brain injury survivor endures. Keep in mind that all brain injuries are different, what I experience will not be the same as others, you cannot compare one persons health with another persons health. Having said that, I also believe that there similarities.
I have found that reading stories of tbi healing can be reaffirming. I would like to think that by sharing my stories I will give confirmation to other brain injury survivors.
The Healing Images:
At the left of the silver bar above, contains twenty-six images with text describing my struggles.
“Week 1 through 8” images represent the time I spent in the hospital including doctor notes, diagnostic reports and physical therapy notes.
Images listed in the “Week 9 through 32” and “Week 35 through 67”, I write about the difficulties that effect my life most, my losses and my recovery. The scrollbar at the left contains the text and illustrations in the image.
I made these images soon after the accident, my intent was to learn what happened. I didn’t find any understanding, but making the images became art therapy were I could express the uncertainty of healing and daily life.
“Week 1 through 8” images represent the time I spent in the hospital including doctor notes, diagnostic reports and physical therapy notes.
Images listed in the “Week 9 through 32” and “Week 35 through 67”, I write about the difficulties that effect my life most, my losses and my recovery. The scrollbar at the left contains the text and illustrations in the image.
I made these images soon after the accident, my intent was to learn what happened. I didn’t find any understanding, but making the images became art therapy were I could express the uncertainty of healing and daily life.
The Site Menu:
At the right of the silver bar above is the site menu containing my Brain Injury Blog and a Contact Me page if you have any questions.
I’ve also included some of my black and white photography before the injury and “70 Years of Family” a series of sixteen family pictures through out a woman lifetime describing the meaning of belonging.
I’ve also included some of my black and white photography before the injury and “70 Years of Family” a series of sixteen family pictures through out a woman lifetime describing the meaning of belonging.
About Ken Jefferies:
Ken is a survivor (recipient) who acquired a closed skull severe traumatic brain injury. He feels fortunate to walk, speak and think as well as he does. He continues to walk with a knee brace and cane, occasionally has difficulty speaking what he is thinking and is slow at learning and understanding. After ten years since his injury Ken is willing to share his recovery while remaining obscure. He continues to improve his health with volunteering, exercise (physical therapy) and reading (concentration).
Ken has a background with visual media, yet the development of this website / weblog have taken three years, the difficulty was learning a new software, it also has been part of his healing process.
Ken has a background with visual media, yet the development of this website / weblog have taken three years, the difficulty was learning a new software, it also has been part of his healing process.