Finishing My Education After My TBI

I began working on my bachelors degree in 2009 while still with Arlington County Fire Department.  I wasn’t sure that having my degree after I retired would have a substantial impact on any future employment but I personally felt it was an important thing to do.  About two months before I retired from Arlington Fire Department I had reached the point where I had only four classes to go and I was actually planning to address some of those classes through CLEP tests.  

Fast forward to March 2011 and my fall and suddenly my education, along with many other things, got put on hold.  About 7 months after my injury I decided that I wanted to finish my degree and signed up for a class.  Restarting school was one of the most challenging and difficult things that I have had to deal with since my injury but it is also one of the best decisions I made.  

I came close to dropping my first class because I found it very difficult to complete the reading and writing required to keep up with the class.  At the beginning of the class it was very hard to read even a few sentences.  I wasn’t able to focus my eyes while reading and had a hard time concentrating on what I was reading.  I was surprised when after a few weeks my ability to focus and concentrate on what I was reading got easier.  I found that the challenge I encountered advanced my cognitive level, probably much quicker than would have happened if I wasn’t taking the class.  My improvement was very important to me because after my accident I wasn’t sure what the future would hold.   

It has taken me almost two and a half years to complete my last four classes.  My progress was slowed down by a number of infections and surgeries.  My last surgery was in November.  I had to have the bone that had been replaced in my skull removed to address an ongoing MRSA infection.  I started my last class about two months after my surgery and got my final grade two days ago!  I feel like such a weight has been lifted off me and I am glad that I was able to complete my degree.

Today marks the third anniversary of my fall and the beginning of a new life that included a TBI.  In the next month, I will face my next challenge, the surgery to replace the skull piece that is missing.  I am hopeful that this is my last surgery. I am quite intimidated by my upcoming brain surgery, but I am hoping for a positive outcome. Accepting challenges is never easy and a TBI often makes it more difficult. 

While I have another surgery to deal with I am thankful for my family, friends and the fact that I have recovered to the point that I am able to write this blog.  I am looking forward to my family vacation, working with Project Rebirth, cycling with R2R and Cadence Cyclery, more blogging, fishing and helping others dealing with TBI.

Have a great weekend!  Don’t forget that March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. Help spread the word about TBI.  Please share your thoughts on this post. I always appreciate hearing from others about how they are dealing with their TBI.