Just Joe's Story

HERE'S MY STORY

Saturday August 21, 1999 will always be a special day in my life. On this day I got up and headed off to host a company sponsored Forklift and Truck Safety Rodeo. It was kind of ironic that the day was about safety. Because it was on this day, the day of my 17th wedding anniversary that my life would change forever.

Despite it being my anniversary I was off to host this event but promised my wife I would be home to take her out to dinner to celebrate this special day. I had a secret dinner planned followed by an evening at the races.

The event had gone very well and was a success. However, while waiting for the company who had supplied an event tent to come and pick it up a freak storm started brewing, and quickly. The wind was beginning to gust and the tent began to tip, at this time I called the tent company to warn them their tent may blow away. At that point the tent tipped towards me so I decided to move around the tent to be safe, big mistake. As I walked around the tent a gust of wind picked the tent up and in doing so a guide rope from the tent wrapped around my wrist and took me with it. I have no memory of this but people said I was lifted off the ground and thrown for about 20 feet landing on my head.

At this point I have a vague recollection of someone standing over me, then being in the ambulance and finally in the hospital. Other than a couple broken ribs, bruised lungs and multiple bumps and bruises I broke nothing. I remember picking gravel out of my hair but the doctors did not x-ray my head, in fact there was no mention of my head in any report. I was released from hospital later that night and went home to recover.

I spent 6 week recovering from the physical injuries but the whole time was having problems in my head that I could not understand. Finally, I was physically ready to go back to work. I was only working on limited duties and was told to only work on the upcoming 2000 department budget. This is something I had done for 10 years and yet I was really struggling. I couldn’t remember things, I couldn’t explain how I came about some of my numbers and I was extremely tired with constant headaches.

About a week after I was back the company nurse came in to check on me. As I started to explain the issues I was having I broke down and started crying uncontrollably. She then started to ask me some questions and within a couple of minutes said to me that I was done working and she called the doctor for an immediate appointment. That was the last day I worked at my job.

It was this simple conversation with the nurse asking a few questions that helped her recognize the potential of a brain injury. It was confirmed by my doctor that this was a strong possibility. It took several weeks after that to get a CAT scan but at that point there could very well be nothing to see as so much time had passed from the original injury. And due to the type of injury any insurance that was available to me was tough to get. Simply put, they had limited exposure to brain injuries and so they were less than willing to pay. I was fortunate to get a case worker with WCB that helped me above and beyond the call of duty.

I spent the next several months struggling with my injury as I did not understand what was wrong with me and how to deal with it. I had severe bouts of anger, depression, sleeplessness and sleepiness. With every passing day without help I felt myself sinking into what I now call the ‘BLACK HOLE”.

It wasn’t until the following April that I was set up with a psychologist who in all likelihood saved my life. He gave me a place to go to talk and where someone was concerned about me and not worrying about insurance payouts. John may not have understood brain injuries but he took the time to listen and he gave me some coping strategies such as meditation and self talking. He helped keep the destructive thoughts in check.

Thirteen months after my accident I finally was set up with a place that understood brain injuries and offered rehabilitation. The company was CNS, Community Neuro-rehab, they are truly an amazing company. They first help you accept that you have a brain injury which in some ways is the hardest part, then help you understand all the symptoms and finally, help you rehab. Don’t get me wrong this is the toughest thing you will ever have to do but it is worth it. The single biggest thing you will have to do is accept the injury and the changes in you it has caused. Once you do that you will then start on the road to recovery, but until you do that you will be stuck in the “BLACK HOLE”. I bet I lost 3-6 months fighting the fact I had a brain injury.

Finally, after one and a half years in the program I graduated happy and looking forward to the new challenges in my life. My wife left me as she could not deal with the changes and my kids had to endure much sorrow during this time. But guess what, I didn’t let those things slow me down I just kept pushing forward.

Now 8 years later, I have found myself the love of my life, my kids are doing great with my daughter in University and my son finishing grade 12 before heading to college. And let’s not forget my job. CPx took me in and stood beside me while I adjusted to my shortcomings as a result of the accident. Jim, Rilla, Glen and Linda are 4 very special people in my life who may never really know what they mean to me.

I am an aquired brain injury survivor who wants to make a difference. No one understands a brain injury other than another brain injury survivor, and that is what Just Joe Image is about.

Just Joe is a place people can go to find hope and inspiration when dealing and living with a brain injury. The more people to get involved with Just Joe the more all brain injury survivors visiting the site can benefit.
 
Why the pictures? Simple, I found an ability and love for photography after my accident. My wish is my pictures (images) can give hope and inspiration to other survivors that good can come out of the tragedy of the brain injury. I sell my pictures to help fund my website.

If you know anyone who has suffered a brain injury please direct them to www.justjoeimage.com where they may find hope and inspiration.

I share my story and have this web site to offer hope to anyone who has suffered a brain injury or any life altering injury. We can learn from each other.

Just Joe