February 13, 2023 is International Epilepsy Day, a day that provides “a platform for people with epilepsy to share their experiences and stories with a global audience.” This is important because epilepsy is “one of the world’s oldest known medical conditions”, there is still misunderstanding, fear, and reluctance to learn and talk about it. This … Continue reading International Epilepsy Day 2023
Tag: trauma
Ten years ago today was the third and last surgery on my cranium after the accident I was in nine months before in May. Even though it has been a decade, I still remember how terrified I was during the days before and the day of the operation. I remember still being awake as the … Continue reading September 21, 2012
Five years ago Puerto Rico was changed by Hurricane María. It caused so much destruction, so many deaths, losses and changes that just the mention of a hurricane causes a deep sense of fear and stress in everyone. This time is was Hurricane Fiona, which was different than María but still deadly. Fiona turned into … Continue reading Hurricane Fiona
Every year the month of March is Brain Injury Awareness month. Today, March 4, on Brain Injury Awareness day, four representatives introduced the TBI and PTSD Law Enforcement Training Act. This legislation is intended to “implement several measures to better train law enforcement for interactions with individuals suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI) or post-traumatic … Continue reading TBI and PTSD Law Enforcement Training Act
I was trying to do some cleaning today in my room, trying to get rid of some of the junk I didn't throw away when we moved, when I found something that immediately caught my attention. I was fascinated when I found some of the essays and stories I wrote in college . I thought … Continue reading “My first memory”
It's March again and you know what that means? Brain Injury Awareness Month. Every year different organizations have different campaigns to celebrate this month, like #ChangeYourMind from the Brain Injury Association of America or the best one I've seen so far #notinvisible. This campaign is being used by Faces of TBI, a movement started by … Continue reading Brain Injury Awareness Month 2019
November is an important month, not because the holiday season starts soon or because we eat turkey, because it's epilepsy awareness month. There are a lot of activities happening around the world to teach people about epilepsy and to help people who suffer from it. I want to welcome November, like I always do, offering … Continue reading Epilepsy Awareness Month
Every year, on October 31 I come around this great memory. This was one of my proudest days during rehabilitation. I had been working hard for months I was still not able do do anything by myself, when after six months, I was able to stand. That's it, standing, which now I take for granted … Continue reading I was finally standing
This is the best way to show how angry I was six years ago, while I was still in the first stages of my recovery and I saw no way out. There were dark moments, like when I wrote this status update, when I would hit rock bottom, I was angry and would take it … Continue reading I’m just happy to be ok
Traumatic Brain Injury survivors, like myself, have a lot of trouble controlling our emotions and recognizing, not only our own but others' too. Medicine can help with controlling our emotions, but they can't help us recognize them. I take an anti depressant but I still have to constantly ask people if they are kidding ( … Continue reading My emotional compass
I think one of the many things that can help you heal from whatever situation you're going through is charing your experience and talking to other people. You never know how many others are out there going through the same thing and are ready to share their experience with you and help. I was reminded … Continue reading Get support and give support
I thought I was over the whole "crossing the street" thing, but nope, I can't do it. I was about to cross the street when I just froze on the sidewalk. I couldn't do it. I saw the cars coming, I thought I had enough time to get across, but I couldn't move. I was … Continue reading I just stood there
This morning I went to Guaynabo for my fourth driving lesson. This was a vey last minute class, scheduled last night. We began the lesson in the parking lot of a small stadium, where I thought the whole class would take place once I saw the instructor setting up the cones for me to practice … Continue reading Driving lessons- Day 4
The way music affects the brain has been very interesting to me since the moment I realize music helped me concentrate. I would study and read with my headphones on listening to whatever came up on my iPod. I would listen to music as I read all seven Harry Potter books, as I studied and … Continue reading Music can change your brain
My life with my dogs has not been easy, dogs are a lot of work, but despite all the work I have loved every second of life with them, except 5 minutes that felt like hours on Wednesday night. We were just leaving our building to take the dogs for a walk, when I heard … Continue reading I watched my puppy run at the speed of light
Unstoppable María 