In November 2020, I was in a bizarre bicycle accident in which my head struck the pavement with great force. My skull was badly damaged. I lay unconscious on the road in a puddle of blood. A jogger, the only witness of the accident, called 911 and stayed with me, along with some friends who came shortly after the accident, until the ambulance arrived. At the hospital, I was examined by an incredible E.R. neurosurgeon who performed a craniotomy that saved my life. He later told a reporter that it was the worst swelling that he had ever seen.
I had experienced a severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and a coma was induced. The plan was for me to be in the coma for a week. After a week, efforts to bring me out of the coma failed and there was talk of sending me to a special facility for comatose patients. Just before I was to be moved, after 3 weeks in a coma, I regained consciousness. I would stay in ICU for several more weeks. It would a week before I was able to speak. I was fitted with a tracheostomy and a feeding tube.
The prognosis for injuries as severe as mine are not good. My family began considering life with a wheelchair bound husband and father who may need help with daily care. Speech and communication were expected to be problematic.
My recovery exceeded the most optimistic expectations. For example, the earliest forecasted date for return to work was in 6 months - May 2021. I began working (from home) 2 days after I was released. Regardless, I had, and still have, some problems. Both of my inner ears were severely damaged which affects my hearing and balance. I've got other issues.
In 2021 I underwent a day-long exam and assessment by a Neuropsychologist who specializes in TBI. She determined that my brain seems to be functioning average, or better, than men my age with advanced degrees. Nevertheless, I'm certain that my brain is still scrambled. Certainly, my family and friends think so.
Almost certainly, you're valuing the opinions of people with less brain function than me right now.
Consider this. Perhaps the trauma to my brain has provided me special insight and perspective that others lack. I believe this to be true, but then again, I've suffered a severe brain injury. You be the judge.
TBI Man