THE LAST YEAR – NOW 3 THINGS I ASK, not about business or COVD19

One year ago today, I had an event that impacted my life, t-boned by a car running a red light. My cracked sternum has healed; however, the most considerable injuries couldn't be seen and still impact my life every day. I am referring to a CONCUSSION.

Please be aware of the injuries, and suffering people may have that you can't see. They aren't weak; they are not soft, nor are they making it up. The injures can be invisible, crushing, debilitating events.

I started to sleep 20 hours a day with pounding headaches causing me to be physically sick. The dizziness, the sensitivity to light and noise. The fogginess, the embarrassing forgetfulness, to downright lost memory. The inability to complete simple daily functions. I asked my wife the same questions several times during dinner and forgot it each time.

The only benefit of the COVD shutdown is people didn't get to see my ongoing suffering and recovery. The number of calls I conducted lying on my home office's cold floor because sitting up would make me sick. The 4 to 6 showers a day to help break the cold sweats. I have been going to occupational and physical therapy several times a week, learning to walk without banging into walls and balance.

The uncontrollable emotional swings, the depressing outlook, total confusion. Depression. Frustration. Rage. Not being able to read. Battling this is likely the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I wish I had never had to. There have been lots of little wins and many annoying setbacks.

I ask everyone three things:

1.      If someone says they are suffering from a concussion or mental health issues, believe them, and support them, you can't see it, but they are likely suffering more than they are saying; it is authentic, excruciating, and can be something you can't understand. It is genuine, and it is hard.

2.      If your suffering, reach out to the experts, seek help, the right people will listen. 

3.      There is no text message which is more important than paying attention while you are driving. The last thing I saw before a car ran a red light into my vehicle was the young lady driving the other car, looking down and texting. I wonder if her text had as much impact on her life, now, still one year later, as it has had on mine.

Try the Concussion Foundation and Concussion Legacy Foundation

On the one-year anniversary, I just wanted to say these things.