A Tale of Brenda's Brain Injury...

Well hello there my fellow readers, and welcome to our March installment of this blog. I'm Trevor aka T Man, your host and golden boy. BOL I just loved saying that. It's Brain Injury Awareness Month in the United States and that is what we will be focusing on in this tale. 

As you know Brenda underwent a right frontal lobe craniotomy on September 8, 2008. As a result she now lives with an acquired brain injury. Frontal lobe syndrome is real and can be scary, because it was foreign to Brenda in the beginning of her journey. It was about a month after her procedure that things started to materialize. She was getting her stitches removed and was getting ready to have another CT scan. While the technician was trying to get her IV started to inject dye, so they could perform the CT, Brenda started crying, actually sobbing. The technician thought she was hurting Brenda, but no this was different. It was an overwhelming sense that Brenda had never experienced before. She assured the technician that she was indeed not hurting her. They handed her a box of tissues and it was then that Brenda realized she had been through something serious. She made it! Now what was she going to do?

It took almost a year after to realize that this was completely normal. You see, Brenda had by this time connected with other brain tumor survivors, particularly those who had had the same type of brain tumor she had, a meningioma. She found out that those who had had a craniotomy performed on their frontal lobes, left and right were also experiencing those same types of fears and reactions. 

Brenda's surfaced at reacting to someone being wronged by anger or tears. She also began to feel more empathy for others and even herself. It is really okay to feel empathy for yourself. We are here to tell you that is beyond normal. We try to keep this blog as transparent as possible. Brenda wanted to especially have me share this month, what she has been experiencing as of late. 

The weather where Brenda lives has been so wacky that it has caused her to not be able to walk as much to and from work. She is grateful to those who have stepped up to the plate with offering rides back and forth. It really has taken a toll on her joints with the rheumatoid arthritis (RA). She also has degenerative arthritis in her lower spine (OA) so walking is paramount for her. 

Brenda has shed a lot of tears, mainly out of frustration. You cannot be expected to be upbeat all of the time. Brenda also knows that remaining in the valley for too long is not good either. You have to find a balance and that is why writing in her journal is helpful. She has been doing this pretty much since 6 months after her craniotomy. She is currently on her 13th journal. Now for having been a brain tumor survivor for 13 years, that I would say is pawtastic. Had to get my doggy lingo in there. BOL

For Brenda writing has become a healing balm. She lives alone and as you know, we have been going through a pandemic for almost 2 years now. It would be much longer in dog years. Thought I would throw that in there. BOL

Brenda's advocacy opportunities have been put on hold as well. She realizes that everyone is busy and so Brenda is trying to make the best of things. She advocates pretty much from behind her keyboard and really is okay with that. It's something! Traveling is no longer an option for Brenda. You see, she deals with vertigo at times and her sense of direction is much worse since her craniotomy. She gets where she needs to go, but a trip alone would not be advisable. 

She also deals with severe head pain at times, all checked out by her neurosurgeon. Turns out it is scar tissue where the craniotomy was performed. She also has areas where it feels numb, but Brenda still also feels pain. This is the brain we are talking about. The brain itself does not feel pain, something Brenda was not aware of before she embarked on this journey almost 14 years ago. 

Brenda has learned much. She also wants to tell you, that you're not alone. There are others out there just like you. Brenda was told once, "That if you don't share your story, no one may ever hear it." That was a powerful statement and something that has always stayed with her, since she heard that. 

Brenda shares her story any chance she gets. She also was given the gift of creativity. I am proof of that. Can you imagine if someone would have told her back in 2008 that starting in 2011, she would be adding a storyteller to her blog, which would consist of a golden retriever no less. She would have thought they were out of their mind. Brenda's blog started in 2009, one Friday morning. She had no idea what would transpire, but here she is almost 13 years later, sharing at least one tale a month, with my help of course. BOL

Her brain injury became an opportunity. Sometimes substitutions in life can actually turn out to be better than the original. Brenda recently came up with that comparison. I love it! She was referring to when she does her online grocery shopping. She's been doing this for almost 2 years and doesn't see that changing anytime soon. 

When Brenda became a brain tumor survivor, her life was forever changed. She allowed herself to emote, which you cannot fight anyway, so go with the flow. You will be better for it. At least, that is what Brenda says. 

Brenda has had several opportunities afforded to her in the form of being involved in several writing projects, being involved in interviews, both local and worldwide. This makes my golden heart sing. Brenda made what could have been a terrible situation and turned it into something golden. After all, they used a Midas drill on her head during the craniotomy. She started writing and added a golden retriever to tell her tales, you figure it out from there. PURE GOLD in my doggy book. BOL 

We are happy to see that Governor Doug Burgum has declared March 2022 Brain Injury Awareness Month in North Dakota with a proclamation. We thank that brave soul that contacted his office to make this happen. 

Brenda would like to leave you with this; Make the most of your days by looking for that open door, to share even a sliver of HOPE to someone who may need it. You will be glad you did! 

This has been another T Man Production. Happy Brain Injury Awareness Month!  

~T Man barking off~

                                                   Graphic courtesy of North Dakota Brain Injury Network