I am a survivor of 2 traumas. In 2016, a few days after my wife and I returned from our Honeymoon I was stopped at a red light and a distracted driver plowed into the back of my car without stopping. I suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury from that accident and went through years of therapy (speech, physical, occupational, eye).
A few years after my TBI, I attempted to take my life but was able to listen to the police that responded and got help. From that point on I have been trying to live my best life. When we found out we were having our first son, everything changed for me. I needed to help myself before helping my family.
Then in August 2024, I had my second trauma. I was in a motorcycle accident after hitting a large pothole. I ended up with fractures and breaks in my spine from C2-T8, broken scapula, collar bone is now titanium after coming out on impact, crushed foot and a crushed hand along with an aneurysm in my carotid artery. Even with the metal now in my spine and the metal collarbone I refuse to quit, even on my worst days!
I am still working on my TBI and will be for the rest of my life. I am still in physical therapy for the motorcycle accident and I am still surprising doctors with my recovery!
My wife, Laura, has been a huge supporter. I also have my parents and my in-laws along with my sisters and brother and sister and brother in-laws. I also can’t forget about our mini golden doodles Oliver and Quincy! It has been huge to have family and friends around during these tough times. I would not make it without them.
I had two past trauma patients visit me in my hospital room, I immediately fell in love with the Trauma Survivors Network program and all the trauma victims and families.
What do I wish I knew at the start of my recovery? To accept help! Not push it all away! I can’t even begin to start with who helped. Over the course of the past 9 years and the 2 trauma I have had 100’s of people come into my life to help. Keep fighting and never stop asking for help. If someone offers help….. TAKE THE HELP. It could be small like doing dishes or for me someone to watch my son while I’m at physical therapy.
I wish everyone could understand some injuries are invisible and are not. Don’t let that stop you, especially if someone says “you look fine”. Just smile and move on.
Constant depression, pain, anxiety and stress all play a factor in my life. Being a stay at home dad to a 2 year old and having another on the way adds a little stress, but my son makes me fight harder (along with our son on the way in early August).
How do I define being a survivor? This is always a hard question for me to answer. I used to ride for a rescue squad and was always the person responding to the accident, being the patient brings things into a whole new perspective.
I just wake up in the morning and realize I’m still here, walking, talking and taking care of my family.
