On August 4th, 2001, while walking across a street, I was struck/run over by a Ford Explorer. From that event I sustained MANY injuries, but the most serious of which was (is) a Traumatic Brain Injury. Now (and for the rest of my life) I'm just a little slower than most. Physically, my entire left side is weaker and less coordinated. While I did re-learn to walk and talk, my balance has been so irrepairably damaged I'll (probably) never ride a bike again. I have barely any problems doing "normal" everday activities, but learning new things might take me a while. While sustaining a TBI has changed me, yes, but I'm no less of a person, and can still (I hope) lead an enjoyable life. Many people have shunned me or treated me poorly because of my disability, but I've learned 2 important lessons from that:
1) A large number of people in this world just don't care
2) What doesn't kill/hurt you only makes you stronger/tougher
A lot of people don't like me because I'm disabled and "slow in the head," then I really don't need them in my life. I'll just look harder for kind and accepting people to spend time with. Becoming disabled myself has changed the way I look at people in wheelchairs or with mental retardation, and the thoughts I direct towards them. Instead if pity and comtempt, I feel proud that they've survived as much as they have, and learned (sucessfully) to live with their disabilty and to work around the obsticles Life throws in their way. My advice to those with disabilies: DON'T GIVE UP!!! My advice to everyone else: Show kindness and compassion to the peple who have to daily work/try just a little harder to live a "normal" life.
