I’ve often asked myself when is the right time to tell new people I meet about my brain injury and the traumatic experience from it?
Common situations: First dates, job interviews, new friends, coworkers
The truth is there’s no right or wrong time to tell others about your brain injury and or disability. I do think however, it’s important to make sure it connects into the conversation. You don’t want to bring it up out of the blue.
Let me give you a good example when to bring it up:
I remember during a job interview when the man across the table from me asked that I tell him a moment or experience in my life that I was humbled.
I responded, to tell you the short version of the story, when I was 14 I had a brain AVM and was hemorrhaging. The doctors didn’t think I’d make it through the night and I ended up being in a coma for 6 months. I had to learn how to walk and talk all over again, and a year later it happened again due to residual issues. I ended up surviving a 10 hour brain surgery that was life or death.
Now, that was an appropriate time to share my story, but for common situations I don’t always tell people. If it comes up during conversation, great. If it doesn’t, no big deal.
I’ve noticed that when I share my story with someone who I’m not necessarily connecting with, it brings us closer together. I don ‘t know if it’s because they didn’t understand who I am or that I shared an intimate story with them? Nonetheless, you’ll know from your gut instinct when the best time is to tell others about your brain injury and disability.
Extremely Grateful to be Alive!! Thanks to Ryder Trauma Center / Jackson Memorial Hospital I am grateful to be alive. I am Marcelo Vidal and use to work at Pistils & Petals on Miami Beach, FL. and had my second night time job working on Venetian Lady Yacht Charters doing fabulous weddings and private parties for the rich and famous unfortunately on 10/17/15 this high speeding driver did not stop on his red light and crushed me in my car until firefighters arrived with, ” Jaws of Life ” rescued me out by boarding me on a Black Hawk Helicopter owned by Jackson Hospital which airlifted me Ryder Trauma Center / Jackson Memorial Hospital were I laid in coma for 29 days and stayed hospitalized for 6 months recovering from a fractured leg and Traumatic Brain Injury, TBI.. What saved my life was wearing my seatbelts as I am going to be doing therapy for the rest of my life and so grateful to be alive. I was released home wheel chair bound and wearing pampers because I could not comprehend until Brain Injury Association of Florida authorized therapy at American Pro-Health Physical Rehabilitation Center and by the Grace of God and the excellent therapy within a given me by Rafael GarciaOrtiz within a year or so I can walk, talk, comprehend and use the restroom.as I am grateful to be alive. By this time I was cleared to do Aquatic Therapy by Kelly Gomez Messett at Jackson Health System Recreation Therapy Neuro Group and had an awesome time swimming in an Olympic Pool as I am grateful to be alive. As I continue seeking Adaptive Rowing Therapy at Miami Beach Rowing Club while looking up I would to enjoy the beautiful South Florida weather as a crack of smile appears on my face knowing how thankful and grateful I am to be alive. During all this time till present date I have sessions with my Neuropsychologist Dr.Susan Ireland from the five inch head scare I have across my head that gives me constant pounding headaches with hallucinations and I can not take any medications because it would intensify my hallucinations so Dr. Ireland tought me this breathing counting exercise a form of meditation that has taken all my symptoms away as I have been DRUG-FREE NO MEDS for more than a year now as I continue doing therapy at Jackson Rehabilitation Hosp. continue my sessions with Dr. Ireland and attend TBI EXPRESSIONS CAFE/Recreation Therapy Neuro Group hosted by Kelly Gomez Messett every last Wednesday of the month at Diagnostic Building at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, FL.from 6:30pm-8 pm as I continue my daily therapies listening to tbi Music lovers and do LoveYourBrain YOGA- Meditation -BIKE/ELLIPTICAL/WALK as I am extremely grateful to be alive as I enjoy reading The Brain Health Magazine and listen to I CARE FOR YOUR BRAIN with Dr. Sullivan & Brain Chat because I am extremely grateful to be alive.
Hi Marcelo , thank you for sharing your amazing story. It sounds like you’ve gone through the ringer. It’s great to hear you’ve had a strong recovery! I would love to learn more about the breathing exercises you do. Would you mind sharing the exercise?
Thank you for sharing!