It was just your average Saturday night for me. At the time, I was a second-year physician assistant student in my second clinical rotation (psych/behavioral health, funny isn’t it?). I had been out on Las Olas in Ft. Lauderdale with some friends, just blowing off some steam from the week. While crossing the street to get to my roommate’s car to go home, we were both struck by another vehicle. It’s nothing short of a miracle that we both survived. And that’s not an exaggeration.

I was in the hospital for about two months. I’d suffered an open break to my humerus, a broken mandible, broken orbital bone, and last but not least, a severe traumatic brain injury. I don’t remember anything from around that time, but I’m told I was kept in a coma for three weeks. My Glasgow Coma Score was just 3. Not a very good prognostic factor. Many of my friends from PA school told me they didn’t think I would make it. Luckily, I managed to prove everyone wrong!

Before all of this happened, I was at a very high cognitive level. I graduated from The Ohio State University with a major in exercise science and a minor in dance with something like a 3.8 GPA, I think. From then, I moved on to Barry University’s physician assistant program. Just getting accepted to any physician assistant program is no easy task. For those who have no idea what a physician assistant is, think the majority of medical school but in half the time. Thankfully, Barry University will take me back!

Still striving for life’s goals.

I’ve been trying to study for the day when I finally return, and it has been unbelievably frustrating. I feel so dumb, knowing that at one point in time my brain could handle all of this information, no problem. I knew all of the medical material very well before the accident, but I’m still waiting for it all to come back. A friend of mine sent me a Ted Talk video the other day that I found really helpful. Instead of trying to tackle things like neuroanatomy or pathophysiology all at once, start by breaking it up into really small, unbelievably tiny tasks. Rather than trying to go through an entire lecture, just make it through one PowerPoint slide. And then try to read it again before moving on. I know I’m not the only brain injury survivor who struggles with memory!

I’m starting to realize just how important it is to celebrate the smallest victories. Like yesterday, I was able to make it through 20 minutes of a three-hour lecture I was watching! The old me would never have thought was something to be proud of, but it’s a very big deal to me now. It’s absolutely essential to be able to see the positives in every situation. Yes, I got hit by a car and got pretty mangled up, but I lived to tell the tale! I know that depression is pretty common after a brain injury, so being able to be proud of yourself for the most mundane things is uplifting for more than just one reason. Did you remember to turn the oven off? Were you able to wake up on you own without an alarm or someone having to wake you up? Did you remember to move your clothes from the washer to the dryer on time? Good job! Give yourself a pat on the back!