Urban Poly Princess

I know how lucky I am. It was just pretty jarring last night to realize my balance isn't where it needs to be. I should've been a vegetable, I know that. It's a miracle and all that crap BUT IT STILL REALLY TICKS ME OFF THAT I'VE GONE THIS LONG WITHOUT ADDRESSING OR FIGURING THIS OUT!!! It's frustrating but I can overcome it pretty quickly too. I remember when I first had to learn to walk a straight line-one foot in front of the other with a glass of water. I couldn't do it in the beginning without spilling some water. I didn't forget how to drive at all although I did have to drive with an instructor who told me I was fine and would require NOOO driving restriction. I'm glad that's not something that was ever affected. Why did everything else get messed up? I should not have recovered as well as I did. It's like all the mental pathways remained but my body wouldn't do what I told it to do. I couldn't screw the cap back on a tube of toothpaste or even pick up a coin because it required fine motor skills that vanished with my brain injury. I had a difficult time using utensils just to eat. In my head I could do all these things so I just did them until they were like they were before. BUT when I could do everything it

I had to attend speech therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy. The therapists were nice, the whole thing however was awful. My dad flew in the night I ended up at the hopital. He told me I was in ICU at first. I was a huge faith-building experience for my dad. It didn't do that for me although intellectually I get how awesome it is-when it happens to you, you don't get how amazing anything turned out. My parents prayed for me and their prayers were answered. My mother came later the same week. It was nice to spend time with them even if it was for horrible circumstances. I loved having them with me. It's weird what you miss. My mother cooked for me and it is when I really started to gain weight. My Poly professor friend at the U asked me soon after my accident if it had affected my digestion NOOO-thank you Edwin for acknowledging my weight gain!!!-having my mother wait on me AND cook for me was a nice treat after NOT having that for almost 10 years AND YES I took advantage of that.

They have brain injury survivor groups that meet regularly. I don't attend. I don't have anything in common with my survivor friends. Heavenly Father helped me recover as well as I did. There's this guy who was also in a car accident on the same road from my community in Hawaii. His accident was a couple years earlier than mine. He couldn't communicate well or even walk normally EVER after the accident. That is typical for brain injuries. I always felt guilty whenever I encountered his family. They are Samoan. I am sure they were thinking why did Tony have to go through what he did when Puanani seems untouched. Tony has since passed away. Maybe 3 years after my accident so he lived about 5 years after his accident, couldn't work after that and never returned to the musical genius he used to be. He could play the piano like nobody's business and he sang well. We all nicknamed him Luther. His wife died in the same accident. Maybe it's good he could be reunited with her.

They really do ask you in the hospital EVERY day what you name is, how old you are AND what the day, month and year are. The battery of mental and psychological tests they put me through was the WORST. They once built a structure with various blocks and gave me the same shapes and colors of blocks for me to recreate. I know it's for my own good that they did that. If there was something wrong it SHOULD be examined and diagnosed.

I spent HOURS answering stupid obvious questions. I felt like writing equally annoying answers BUT the thought of it resulting in MORE tests dissuaded me. I've been told I was rude to people in the hospital. I don't remember it. My family tells me they told the nurses not to get offended and that it was how they could tell I was feeling better.

I was in a coma for two weeks and then spent 2 weeks conscious but I still don't remember anything about that time EXCEPT when my Dean from the U came to visit me. I remember him talking to my parents and telling them to sign some paper to drop all my classes. I remember telling them NOOO. There was a nurse there with red hair. I remember her telling my parents I would never go to school again and that my injury was too severe. I remember that because I was EXTREMELY mad at what she said and I couldn't wait to prove her wrong. When I was out of the hospital the FIRST thing I did was enroll for summer classes. 

I was DETERMINED to wear heels asap so I made sure I wore them a lot so I could feel comfortable in them. Once I could handle that I figured my balance was fine. Uh NOOO!!!

Instead of waiting for Summer to go skating I'm going to go skating at the Fun Park. I looked them up online or rather ANY roller rink online-It is 3.50 to skate and 2.50 for skate rental. I can do an hour a day every day but Sunday. We have a RS activity tonight BUT I'm going to get on my balance now. I don't know how long it's going to take me to take care of this but I am committed to do this asap. I'll do the fun park now and then buy rollerblades for the summer. It'll just be another component to my physical fitness plan. Tonight is $2 Tuesdays meaning I can skate and get rentals for just $4-it's also Taco Tuesdays at Cafe Rio which is in that direction anyway-I think it's $1 tacos. I can skate tonight for an hour THEN go to my RS activity. I need to figure this out!!! I have to email my RS sisters.