My Story…
Tl; dr:I’m doing a 10k walk on Saturday morning, March 26 at Kiwanis Park, Tempe, to raise money for Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona to give back to the organization that gave me so much when I was recovering from my TBI. Please donate, or join me and the team I created.
Alright y’all, I’m about to get real vulnerable and talk about something I haven’t talked about publically in over 3 years, because my lawyer and the Lord both told me to remain silent and move in stealth mode to trust justice and restitution in mind, soul and materially would happen I did my best to remain positive and listened to a lot of sermons over this time. . It was uncomfortable and a way for me to heal, grow my faith, and submit to the Lord, trusting on a different level, standing on His promises and being forced to “Bee 🐝 still.” Although I was scared, it was also the closest I felt in the Lord’s presence, and the most peace as well.
11/10/2018 Things were looking up, I was finally ready to believe in myself and start freelancing and working for myself. I just won 2 tickets for a free sunrise hot air balloon ride; a bucket list item checked off- knowing dreams come true and God will provide in His perfect time. That day, my life changed. I sustained a concussion, a TBI, as a freak accident occurred. My brain took a bruising, and impacted m for months.
This was less than 8 weeks before I was scheduled to start my 2 year chaplain course. I couldn’t drive, be in front of screens, wor sunglasses everywhere, and couldn’t deal with any loud noises. It was a scary time. I was sleeping nearly 20 hours a day trying to heal, and go to PT appointments 3x a week, OT also 3x a week at a different location. It was right around the holidays. I was scared, a lot of things were happening out of my control and somehow, God got me through a tough year leading up to the Brian inury, followed by my best friend being called home to Heaven a month earlier. 2 of my spiritual mentors at the time both encouraged me to postpone a year as I healed. Yet, I remained faithful to the Lords timing and trusted He would guide me through.
In addition to my faith, this organization, BIAA, has helped me time and time again. I saw a flyer at my neurologists office the first time I was there and was intentional about getting connected. My self esteem grew, they connected me to multiple resources along the way. I found my lawyer, a connection group, a job, and they’ve even helped pay my bills. So as my birthday approaches, it would me the world to me to have your support; whether by prayer, financially, or on run/walk day as a partner or a supporter.