A medical, legal, and
informational resource
for persons dealing with
traumatic brain injury.

STORIES OF AMAZING RECOVERIES

Submitted By: Rachel Gayne
Submitted from: Tennessee
Contact via: gaynebab@aol.com

Well my story is about my step-dad after he had a real bad automobile accident of January 17th 2004, it left my father with an enclosed brain injury. He suffered from multiple lacerations to the face, a left kidney removal and having his spleen taken out. The doctor's told my mother that they didn't give him 24 hours to live, but I knew that he was a tough man and I knew he would make it. Well after spending 14 days in the trauma unit at UT Medical Center of Tennessee, he was taken to his own room. The doctor said a normal person would not have lived through an accident this traumatic, they told us that he had the heart of a 20 year old, and that was on his side. He never had to go to physical therapy, but he ended up going to Patricia Neal in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The reason why I'm telling you this story is because my Dad is the best. Not only is he the best Dad, but he worked at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base of Tennessee as an airplane mechanic. He served 19 years there and had to have an honorable discharge because he can not ever work again in his life because of his extensive brain injury. Someone has to be with him 24 hours a day, 7 days a week because he forgets to do things, but he knows what he is doing to an extent. So I stay home with him and take care of him and make sure that nothing happens to him. My Dad's accident was a miracle from God.

My Dad was driving one day, it had been raining and his tire blew out. He fish tailed and hit a house, his head hit the windshield and then he was hanging out the side window. He was DOA when they revived him and then flew him to UT Medical Center and they brought him back. He is very lucky to be alive, if it wasn't for God he wouldn't be here now. He is doing much better, it has been 5 months since his accident and that's my story about my father's brain injury. Thanks for letting me share it with you.