Our Member's stories, as told in the StoryBox Project
Footsteps
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Footsteps are things that we all need to learn to take at one
point in time.
From the time that you are a baby, to when you have to take those steps to move
away from home, footsteps are our journey through life. Some of the
members of
Hinds' Feet Farm have literally had to learn to take these footsteps all over
again.
And even though we aren't always taking foot "steps" in life we are always
trying
to move forward.
I had to learn to take footsteps all over again in 1996 due to
complications after
brain tumor surgery. My footsteps were guided by many people, and now
being
at Hinds' Feet, I feel as if I'm "up and running" again.
- K.T.
Who Am I?
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I am me.
I don't know about me.
I'm trapped inside my mind.
It's trash right now.
I can't go where I want. I can't do what I want.
If I could walk in a straight line, I would be hiking without my cane.
I would drive if I could.
I want to go fishing. I want to run.
I want to have a job. I want to have fun!
I want to gulp drinks without a straw.
I basically want to be a plain person with no disability and no dumbness.
I am not stupid!
Don't treat me like a baby.
I am an adult!
I am unique and special.
I care about people. I give to people.
I try hard. I have patience and humor.
God treats me with respect because I am His child!
I am a thoughtful and creative person.
I live my life with love, patience, hard work, and faith that God will take care
of me.
I have talents and skills.
I like to work with wood and like making things out of wood.
I am good at putting things together.
I am good at training dogs. I used to help train puppies to work with blind
people.
I like to sing.
Freedom is important to me.
Life is important to me.
Life:
I don't know what life is.
It changes all the time.
I want life to be better.
I'd like to know the right answer because I just don't know.
Life is challenging...becasue everything that happens will be different.
God says our purpose is to love him...and love other people.
- B.T.
Our thoughts are mindful...
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Our thoughts are mindful
Coming one at a time
Not far apart
But each one coming as a new minute passes
Thoughtful and full of meaning
Each thought passes me by with such fullness
That I don’t know where to go with them
Each thought is a horse
Running and jumping…
- E.B.
With truth comes
wisdom....
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With truth comes wisdom
life's full of challenges so create a positive & strong spirit in your heart
laughing births a journey full of joy & peace
understanding music inspires, comforts the mind, heals the body
Trust in yourself
- J.M.
In the winter....
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In the winter, I manipulate my death
to be the power of gratitude & eternity
& I give my soul only to God.
He created me, I will give my eternity only to Jesus.
- R.W.
Hope is change...
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Hope is change
Change is hope
Hoping for a reaction
Some say it’s easy
Hard work is needed for some
Not foe me
Ask Barack, ask me, even ask Baby
It has, or had changed
Peace to the three
Father, son, and holy ghost
- R.B.
The Vole
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The horses boast
because they run the most
Soaring hawk looking for prey swoops down to catch a vole
A gentle breeze carries with it the early signs of autumn
Peaceful butterflies flutter in the waning summer heat
The cat sits looking for a vole
The hole had a mole and a vole inside
Among Friends
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A tree swaying in the breeze
The blades of grass rippled as the wind blew by
The tree danced in the breeze in front of the Carolina blue sky
Pretty red velvet ant off to masquerade at the Ball
The hawk soaring swoops down on its prey
Bullfrogs sing a song of joy to welcome the summer’s heat
Horse stalls stand bare as the horses frolic in the field
The cool summer breeze is delightful as we sit among friends
Musings from a
Stone Path
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Cedar trellis frames our journey towards our inner nature
Trees rustling in the wind create the sound of rushing water
And this is some back to nature
Water flowed down the creek bed
We are sitting here listening to the birds chirp as a pine needle fell onto my
arm
The solace of the forest is comforting
Scaly pines streaking towards the heavenly sky
The birds flock as the crow caws
Shadows of trees juxtaposed on the geometric ground beneath
Shadows of the trees dance and move in the wind
Crickets and cicadas are singing and rejoicing in a symphony of life
The birds melody is the definite chime in to early fall
The benches are warped by time and the wear of nature
We remain a circle of friends for eternity.
"Brain Box" Story Box Project
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more about the
StoryBox Project
"Raising from near
death"
March 18th [1993] was a
day of the unknown. For me it was just the end of the week, for a "Notorious"or
Macevilli.In the since, one get shot, and one disappear .I was shot in the head,
by mistake. It was a random shoting . I want get in the details; however, I
wasn't suppose to get shot. I was the only person standing, and I don't know
many barbers the are are so young, to offer their services at their patrons
homes. See I decided to be a friend, and bring my supplies to their house, and
give personal service. After a quick walk to the friends house. What felt like
eternuty. I set up my tools, and began to cut his hair,to a Bald box fade. That
was the type of hair cut he wanted. After began cutting his hair a guy ran in
the house. It was crazy, but I didn't pay any attention. The guy that ran in the
house was a dude that broke in my house, but I didn't know it from a couple days
ago. There was a gunshot into the front of the housee Everybody fit the floor.
After awhile everybody got back up. Then I got shot once in the head in the
right temparel lobe of the brain. One guy told me I got shot. I guess I went in
shock. I don't remember being in an ambulance, or going threw brain surgery.
I had a surgery to but holes in my skull. because my brain was swolen. Then, I
got surgery to get a shunt. It lets fluid on my brain, to drain to my
intestines. They couldn't take the bullet out because it would kill me. When all
this was happening I was unconcious. I was like that for three months, and when
I was awake it was scarry as haze. I didn't know where I was, or why I couldn't
move. My left side of my body wouldn't work. I remember vividly that someone
wrote on paper saying that I got shot. I think I went in shock. I had to start
therapys, Like speech, Adj, and other ones I can't remember. I did that for like
six months. I rwemember going to church on Sunday mornings, and going home on
Saturday, but I had to come back to the hospital. That evening, I guess I wasn't
stable enough to leave. I did that for nine months. When I was able to leave
the hospital, Theree where tv camaras. I went to Highschool, I went for half a
day. I just recently say a speech and OT theripies. They where tripping out how
I'm so grown up. My speech person gave me an three Musketer. I'll never forget
that. or that stuff when she covers her mouth. At one time they thought I was
deaf, but they then found out the part of my brain, of speech was damaged. I had
therpy for speech in Highschool, CIR, and CMC. I also had OT ,PT. Ot for
the upper body, I guess PT the lower body. The tenth and eleventh grade I went
threw the Brain injury program, its kindda like HHF, but your inside, no horses,
or cats, lol. I finished highschool, that was the most happies day of my life.
I was in the news like crazy.. I went to CPCC, and got general college classes.
I wanted to attend ABFI, what is now Art Intitute of Charlotte. I wanted, to
have my own clothing company. plus a barber and hair salon,shop. An all in one
spot. I guess it was to expensive and that I had a brain injury. I got some
fashion classes at PCC. plus my majar was Liberal art, I was mostly in the
public speaking courses., and some fashion courses. as minor. Vr, and my mom
felt it was to hard, I personally feel it was about money. Plus I did
math,english. Then I start working, I used VR agin, I got a job coach. They
narrow the job search for me. I had a job at some apartments, I worked there for
awhile, Then I worked at Walmart for six years. Then I came to HFF. I just
resently took a test for housing and work. I waiting on my leg, and for them to
get back with me. Like Forrest Gump says at the end of the movie.That's
about it.
- a member's
story
I was born with a
brain tumor and have surgery to have it removed. But 3 months later it grew
back again so I had to go back to the hospital and have the procedure done
again. This time it did not come back. Then when I was six I was hit by a car
and broke both of my legs. I am very lucky that I didn’t die! I had to recover
in the hospital for several months. I think it is important to let everyone
know that I did survive but there are some things that are hard for me to do now
and some things that I cannot do at all, but most things I can do just fine. My
favorite thing to do is bowling. I also like to play basketball. In fact the
person I admire most is Michael Jordan because he played basketball so well. My
big dream was to be a train engineer but because of my injury, I won’t be able
to achieve that dream. It makes me sad to think about. But another thing I
like to do is collect modern day clocks – right now I have over 250 in my room
and hope to get more someday because they interest me.
- a member's story
On November 11, 2002 I was in
a horrific car accident well, horrific to me anyways! I was a junior in High
School at the time. It was a quiet day in my neighborhood and my best friend,
at the time in my life, to fill out job applications. So, I was happy in a way,
so I could make money to get thing’s I need and want! But, right now, I am 22
going on 23 soon. As for what I can recall about my accident is, that I was
trudging along a back road to my friend’s house, on a lake! But as to what I
can remember, at being 16 ½, I was very excited about working for the very first
time! I went over but had my accident along the way! I was on a small NC back
road. Being the first time I’ve been this way and my experience with narrow
backroads, I was unsure about driving these road’s. so, I somehow strayed off
the road, spinning the car right into a tree! Going at the tree at such a high
rate of velocity it was so unmistakeably unbelievable that I am now working on
my way, nearly six and half year’s later now being traumatically brain
injured…am now left side weak, unable to use my left side much! Meaning, I
can’t use my left arm much. So I’ll stop at that!
- a member's story
I was in a car accident in
March 1969. I went back to high school after that, it was only in my freshman
year, so what I remember starts in 1972. I do have some memories before that,
but only what I have been told by other people. After I went to high
school, I can still remember my algebra, my World History, and my health ed from
that next portion of a year. From my sophomore year I still remember my
philosophy class. It was mostly the history of philosophy during that semester
and discussed some of our philosophy.
- a member's story
I received my head injury on
June 23, 1985. I was knee boarding behind my friend’s boat, he turned the boat
around and I ran into a palm tree. I was in a coma for a month, I received
speech therapy, which I don’t remember. The physical and occupational therapies
I remember very painfully well. When taking blood from me, 3 or 4 nurses were
needed. I was pleasant during my rehabilitation, the nurses and doctors liked
me. The doctor’s said I was employable, which made it very hard to locate a job.
In 1989 I worked at Long John Silver’s until August 1990. My memory from
1990-1994 is fuzzy so I can’t give any details for that time period. I moved to
the BIRC hospital in Clearwater in 1994-1995 - Brain Injury Rehabilitation
Center. It was here that I first walked, even though the doctor’s said I would
not. My determination made it possible for walking again. In 1999 I moved to
North Carolina, I’ve worked at Food Lion since April 19, 2000, though just 5-6
hours per week. I’m currently looking for another job, part-time. The state of
the economy makes finding another job very difficult to do. Please be very
careful, avoid accidents, head injuries and other traumatic accidents. Your
brain will thank you for doing so.
- a member's story
My name is Jennifer and I am
33 years old. I had a Traumatic Brain Injury in early 1977 when I was 19 months
old. It was caused by abuse from my real father. He was abusive to my Mom for
several years and she was trying to leave him because of it. They had been
arguing, at one point she was holding me then my father punched me out of my
mother’s arms on the right side of my face just below my right ear. After I hit
the floor he kicked me across our living room to the other side. After that I
was like a newborn baby again. I had to learn to walk, talk and get potty
trained again. The doctors found that I was also deaf in my left ear. I am
also going deaf now in my right ear. We are learning sign language because of
my deafness. I’ve had several challenges over the years but one thing comes
easily for me, which is my hand-eye coordination. That comes in handy when I
drive my car. And also when I Work on my needlecrafts. Some of the needle
crafts I do from time to time are crochet, sewing, cross stitch, embroidery,
tatting(lace making), knitting, weaving, bead work, and even a little basketry
too. I even made a pillow out of two small rugs I hooked. I like to design my
own patterns when I cross stitch gifts for my family. I like to work with my
hands. And I LOVE listening to music. Music will be the biggest thing I’ll
miss when my hearing is gone, besides my families voices. Imes I. Hearing loss
is just one of the many side effects of Traumatic Brain Injury. Other side
effects include vision loss and blindness, losing the ability to smell, feeling
either too hot or too cold, fatigue, depression, memory loss, and paralysis.
Those of us with brain injuries only have our parents to rely on. Most of us
will not get to have families of our own because of our injuries. The worst
thing about brain injuries is the lack of true friends. Many of us have had our
friends scatter away from us after our injuries happen. And sometimes even
family members scatter away too!
- a member's story
I don’t remember
much about my accident but I can tell you that Brain Injury can be diagnosed at
any given second of any day and finding a way to live with it is a key factor in
Living life I mean finding a way to Heal it is a key point in anyone’s life.
The key factor is don’t work 2 shifts at work and then go party and drink and
drive. Because if you do that you’re not only saving life but lives of others
which is important. If we as human being can not do stupid things then we can
all be life savers. Party’s that involve drinking are for dummies. I am a
firefighter and professional security officer and I am saying drinking is for
fools.
- a member's story
Sept 19, 2005 I had a life
changing experience. I was out with my friends drinking and smoking my life
away. It came time for us to go home, so I argued my keys back. We were about
30 minutes from home. The drive home went well until we got to last stop light.
I sped through it and missed the turn. The car started to flip and ended up
right on into a telephone pole. The next thing I remember is waking up to my
mom painfully shaving me in a nursing home from that point on I went through
years of therapy. The therapy was very hard and painful but it was worth it. I
am now working in customer service and making speeches about my accident. I
really like educating people about brain injury. I feel my story will teach
people that consequences come from bad actions.
- a member's story
Hi! I would like to share my
story about traumatic brain injury. Here are some stories of my recovery that
had or are having some different results.
My accident
I don’t actually remember this but I have been told this story. On June 6th,
1999, I was driving our families’ Acura. I accidentally slid off a bank and
flipped three times into some trees and concrete steps into an apartment
building. So in other words, I tore my car and myself up. The car is
completely out of use. My body was not working at all either. When the police
and paramedics arrived, they did all they could but they weren’t sure I was
going to live so they rushed me to the hospital in Blacksburg, VA. There they
decided to airlift me to Roanoke,VA regional hospital. They couldn’t help me
there so they sent me on to University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville
by helicopter. I spent over a month in neurological intensive care unit (NICU).
The amazing Dr. tried a last ditch effort to save me and removed half of my
skull so my swelling brain could have space to breath. Through all their work,
I thank them for saving my life. I have no idea of the many things that happened
during this time. I was in a coma for a whole year and then my mom and dad took
me home but I still don’t remember any of that… I just say that I was asleep for
two years.
- a member's story
I remember sort of vaguely now
anyway attending school at the College of Charleston, and cheering for their
basketball team. I remember all of my friends from high school (where I
graduated in the top ten percent of my class with many cords for honor
societies). I remember waiting tables at Chili’s in Myrtle Beach. What I don’t
remember is how exactly I wound up in the stinky situation that I seem to live
in now, of living at home with my parents, not being able to drive or make my
own decisions. Being frustrated with remembering my life before my brain injury
and being at my wits end with the struggle of every day life living at home with
my parents, being stuck there if we get into an argument, and just not having
many friends to call and complain to. What I have been told that happened was
that in the summer of 1996, I went to cheerleading camp in Georgia and came home
having double vision and really bad headaches, so my mom said that she took me
to the eye doctor, who saw pressure behind my eyes. She sent me to have an MRI,
where they found a brain tumor! I had that removed supposedly “successfully” in
Myrtle Beach, by a doctor that was supposedly the “best doctor around.” He then
sent me back to school. I was there for like a week, moved into my new
apartment. I was there for like two weeks and my caring mom called me everyday
to see if I was ok. One day though, she said that she called and I didn’t even
know what day it was, so she sent my dad to pick me up, he found me laying on
the floor in my apartment, picked me up, put me in the car and started toward
Myrtle Beach. On the way I had a seizure in the car and couldn’t walk, or know
who my own mother was for like four months. When I got out of the
hospital, I went through physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational
therapy for about a year and a half. What is hard for me now, post injury,
is accepting that I have an injury and that sometimes I do need help with
things. Accepting that I can’t drive or live by myself and that I have to write
EVERYTHING so that I remember.
- a member's story
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