I realize that I have never met many of you; however, I also recognize that we share something deeply personal. We’ve all experienced a major brain trauma issue that has changed our lives in ways most people will never fully understand. That shared experience connects us, strengthens us, and reminds us that none of us are walking this path alone.
I would like to hear your story, how the stroke happened; what you’ve went through during and after, how you’ve coped with the ramifications of your issue. Or just your personal story… I’ll share my story first to get us started.
My name is Jeffrey Brown, I started this blog mainly because not many people realize how much “brain trauma” affects a person’s life, even after the initial onset. It literally changes you physically as well as mentally. It’s like starting over from square one! I know now that brain trauma affects pretty much everyone who has had one or more incidents differently; but there is also a similarity about them as well.
My experience with stroke started on February 3, 1982. What I can remember about that day is that it was cold, and I think it was raining, but I really can’t remember. I had gotten out of the Navy recently and had been living in a town called Willits, CA. I remember going to work that afternoon, I was working the swing shift at Advanced Manufacturing & Development. It’s a precision sheet metal/machine shop. I had been in the shop, I think, for about an hour when I thought I heard a “pop,” but I could have imagined that—who knows. All of a sudden, I couldn’t do anything… I couldn’t talk, couldn’t walk, couldn’t think, couldn’t reason… nothing. I don’t remember anything except that. I think I just fell down and blacked out, because I don’t remember how I got to the hospital, or even leaving the shop. It’s as if my mind went blank or something—I remember NOTHING after this.
That is all that I can remember about having this stroke. I had either passed out or my brain shutdown and had gone into survival mode; I really can’t remember, even to this day. The next thing I CAN remember is waking up and I discovered that I was in Santa Rosa Memorial hospital, (80 miles south of Willits) and that it was March 3, 1982. I had lost the whole month of February! The last thing I remember was being in the shop working… then I discovered that I couldn’t move any part of my right side, it’s just lay there. The rest of the story continues 44 + years, and many, many procedures and test later I am still feeling the effects of it.
If there is anyone out there reading this, who is looking for answers or just needs to talk to someone; to ask questions, get answers, I’m here for you. If I can help you in any way, let me know; I don’t have all the answers, but this is a learning process, and I’ve been learning for 44 years…