My Brain Injury Journey into “The Twilight Zone”

“You’re traveling through another dimension…..”

By Stephen Terrell

Brain Injury is a new dimension

My brain injury made me a survivor but it changed my life.  I’ve made progress but I still need help.  But I’m learning how to be more independent and rebuild my life with determination, help from caregivers, and goals for my future.

To quote Rod Serling’s Tagline: “You’re traveling through another dimension. A dimension, not only of sight and sound, but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of the imagination.”

For those who remember the series, we only thought of it as a weekly Sci-fi show that focused on ordinary people who suddenly found themselves experiencing the unexpected. This is something we, as Brain Injury Survivors have been through. We experienced the unexpected. This is the story of my journey into “The Twilight Zone”.

The plot

I’m a man who once lived independently. I drove myself wherever I wanted to go. I had a job. I was and still am Boston Celtics #1 fan, but other than continuing to be a fan, the rest of who I was came to a stop Sept. of 2005 when I became a Brain Injury Survivor. I was at my mother’s home the day I became a survivor. She had asked me to take something upstairs for her, but on my way up I tripped and somersaulted backwards down 18 steps. I was lucky my mother and 1 of my sisters were there to do what I couldn’t do at that moment. They called EMS for me.

I was unconscious for a short while, but came to while awaiting the arrival of EMS. When I woke up I was seeing stars. I tried to stand but felt dizzy and off-balance. I could hear the sirens of the ambulance and see the lights spinning. I felt as if I had just entered my own episode of “The Twilight Zone” because of the stars and colors I was seeing, as well as the pain I was feeling. I didn’t realize this was just the beginning of my journey. I just knew my head, neck, right shoulder and arm hurt. Someone in the ambulance or at the hospital told me my fingers were even twitching.

When I arrived at the hospital, there seemed to be people everywhere I looked. There were Doctors, Nurses, and people who worked in all different areas of the hospital there. I felt like a lab rat in a way as they each approached me to do their job. I wasn’t entirely certain as to what was happening. I just know I felt I was beginning the next leg of my journey into my “Twilight Zone” as the fear and uncertainty I felt grew.

I have only a few memories of what occurred when I arrived at the hospital. Other than a routine blood draw, some woman drawing x’s on my head, and being wheeled into the X-Ray Dept. only to be placed on an ice cold table, then entering big tunnel there isn’t much else. I know the tunnel was for a CT Scan or MRI to check for injuries. But the x’s on my head were confusing until another member of the Brain Injury Survivors Clubhouse I belong to explained. The x’s were placed so that a Radiology Tech. would know where to attach lead wires to monitor brain wave activity, a test that would help to describe my brain’s injury and function as it recorded the activity.

The doctors

After all the tests a doctor came in to tell me what was found. There was an increase in fluid putting pressure on my brain. There was some damage to the right frontal and temporal lobes of my brain. There were no broken bones, but there must have been pressure on 1 of the trigeminal nerves causing the pain to radiate down through my neck, right shoulder, right arm, and causing my fingers to twitch. But I was lucky too. Pain or no pain, I hadn’t broken my neck.

Following all the tests I underwent a successful brain surgery. The fluid pressure was relieved, and damaged tissue removed from the affected right frontal and temporal lobes. But what is strange to me is that I don’t feel I experienced much memory loss when I fell. I think I was scared more than anything then. But I do now have problems with memory and comprehension at times. My friend explained to me that each area of the brain is responsible for different functions. Apparently the small areas I lost were responsible for how we remember and understand, but that’s ok, I can try to learn again. I just need the help of others to do so from people such as the staff and other members at the clubhouse, my family, friends, church members, and the couple I now live with.

Conclusion

I can’t live independently at the moment. Right now I am living with a couple who act as my care-givers. They provide me with a safe home, meals, and encourage me to try to do what I can on my own. I’m afraid to drive or go to any type of carnival with rides. I’m afraid of receiving another head injury or worse. Since I don’t drive I rely on Handi-Ride Services, the couple I stay with, and others to take me where I need to go. My journey into “The Twilight Zone” has produced a fear I didn’t have before.

I’m trying to find a way to leave some of that fear behind me. The best thing I did to begin that journey was to become a member of this Brain Injury Survivors Clubhouse where I’m with other people who understand. I’m a member of the Communications Unit here. I’m learning computer skills I didn’t have before. I’m learning how to research on-line. I participate in the Meals on Wheels Program, and enjoy participating in the Social Program with other members each month. Of course someone else drives for us since the majority of the members are no longer able to drive.

I recently graduated from the VCVTP Job Club. (Virginia Vocational Transitions Program) where I learned that with time I can fend for myself again. I may eventually reach the end of my journey into “The Twilight Zone”, however, in the meantime, no matter what, I will continue to be the Celtics #1 fan.

Denbigh House, located in Virginia, is a clubhouse for people with brain injuries. You may contact them via email at denbighhouse@gmail.com