I had a Traumatic Brain Injury.

              I Had a Head Injury.

What makes it so different to be a TBI* * TBI = "Tramautic Brain Injury"  Survivor than say, a Cancer Survivor?

When you’ve had a brain injury you don’t just survive, you become. You become a new person physically, emotionally and cognitively. Having a TBI is like having your total being uprooted.

How did I make that transition?  
  How do I stay on track??
      It’s not always easy.  

There definitely are those times when I get confused or can’t recall, am not organized or despondent about my situation.

Is there one answer?  Not really.  Is there one place to look?
  Definitely.    Where to look?

• Look at yourself in the mirror. You have the power. You just may not realize it.
• Trust yourself.
• Read my daily blog.
• Feel free to email me with your comments at jeff@tbisurvivor.com.

Jeff Sebell  

  You don’t have to walk before you run…

After a couple of weeks in the Rehabilitation hospital, I was allowed to go home on weekends.  No one knew it, but I had a plan. You see, I was still in a wheelchair, learning how to walk…and I was frustrated at how long it was taking.  I thought that walking was so difficult because it was slow…choppy…not fluid.  There was too much time in between steps to lose your balance, too much thought and effort involved.  I thought if I let my instincts take over by running, I would be fluid and natural.

I went to the high school track with my father and my eight year old brother, ceremonially threw down my cane, and started to move my legs.  I fell.  Of course I wouldn’t let anyone help me up.  I began to run again.  It worked!!!!  I could feel the wind in my face, and the incredible sensation of exertion.  I was running!!!!  I was alive!!!!  

I looked next to me, at my little brother, who was taking baby steps and keeping up with me.  This didn’t matter.