Hitch Your Wagon to a Shooting Star: The True Story of a Successful Survivor After Severe Brain Injury

By Nancy Lee Parker

Recent data shows that, on average, approximately 1.7 million people sustain some form of brain injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain. Each year, injuries contribute to a substantial number of deaths and causes permanent disability, if too severe. HITCH YOUR WAGON TO A SHOOTING STAR is a self-help book for all survivors of brain injuries (slight or severe) to help them put their lives back on track.
The book tells a survivor's true story of how she came full circle in her recovery after having a brain aneurysm, coupled with spinal meningitis acquired in the hospital, which left her paralyzed on one side with the loss of many cognitive abilities. She tells how she has coped with the aftermath of losing aptitudes and abilities and becoming a person with a disability.
She returned to college, received her Master's Degree, and is now a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, dedicated to helping other survivors.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Nov 28, 2011
• ISBN: 9781467041720

Nancy Lee Parker

Nancy Lee Parker was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She worked in the business world for over 20 years as an executive assistant working in Tulsa, OK, San Francisco, CA, and Dallas. TX. She worked for a chemical company, two universities, several advertising agencies, an actuarial consulting firm, and a nation-wide computer company. She has remained single, is independent, and enjoyed her lifestyle until it was taken away by a severe brain injury. She fought to gain it back, which she has accomplished. Now being a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, she continues to advocate for continued physical and cognitive therapy of ALL survivors. Emphasizing that the transition period after brain trauma is critical for survivors to take back control of their lives.

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© 2011 Nancy Lee Parker, M.S., C.R.C. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 12/23/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4670-4172-0 (e)

ISBN: 978-1-4670-4173-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4670-4174-4 (sc)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011917971

Printed in the United States of America

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Losing One’s Freedom

Losses

Snatched Out of My Reality

My Recovery—Learning a New Reality

New Reaction—On My Own Again

Hope Improves—Getting Out and About

Hope Grows—Moving On Up the Recovery Road

A Personal Word to Survivors

Tips for Family, Friends, and Caregivers

Tips for Professionals

What’s Needed Now—The Next Step in Rehab

References

This book is dedicated with love to my parents who always loved me unconditionally, family and friends who have been supportive and always there for me; and a heartfelt thank you to Janine Jordan, Rose Longshore, Marcia Cooper, Sandra Williams, Larry Warnock, and Sandra Gosnell whose encouragement, contacts, and literary skills made the publication of this book possible.

Losing One’s Freedom

Freedom. I never understood the true meaning of the word until my freedom was taken away because of a brain injury. Suddenly, not being able to choose for myself, make my own decisions, having no control over anything in my life was, in many ways, just no life at all. I felt as if I were just two doors away from hell, and floundering, ungrounded, with no direction.

I deeply cherish my freedom, having it back once again, and feel blessed to be living in a country where freedom prevails. I appreciate all our servicemen and women who have made freedom possible for everyone in this country. Their struggle and sacrifice has not been in vain. Maintaining our freedom is the ultimate measure of love for our country and all human beings.

I have come full circle after a brain aneurysm coupled with spinal meningitis, which I acquired in the hospital. I was paralyzed on my left side and unable to walk, talk, read, write, think clearly or process incoming information, and emotionally labile. Today, the only physical sign one can see is I walk with an irregular gait, a residual of the paralysis, and use a walking cane. By always stimulating and challenging my brain daily, in six years I had gone from complete helplessness to full independence. I returned to college, received my Master’s Degree, and am now a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor.

Having lived through this transition of being snatched out of my reality and the process of recovering and building a new reality being disabled, I feel a need to share with other survivors how I was able to succeed by always moving forward with what I’ve learned. I want to help others as they struggle through their recovery (whether slight or severe) so perhaps they won’t have to flounder as much as I did.

Being an able-bodied person and suddenly a person with a disability is a transition that’s very fragile psychologically. It immediately changes how people perceive you because of society’s stigma towards being disabled. Living the transition myself, now I understand the military survivors returning from combat over the years with a disability and what they have endured. This transition needs to immediately be addressed upon their return to avoid further psychological scarring. In my case, professionals (doctors, therapists, or psychologists) never addressed the psychological ramifications of such a transition/loss. It took me a long time to understand why I was always confused and irritated with other’s condescending attitude towards me instead of encouragement when I was trying so hard to recover.

It is imperative that another step in rehabilitation be provided for brain injury survivors as they move up the long road to recovery. Today the success of a rehabilitation center is focused on patient’s physical well-being (i.e., walking, talking, dressing, increased self-sufficiency, etc.) at the time of release as an outpatient. When I left rehab the therapist said Good luck, and little did I know at the time the tremendous challenges I would face with zero input or guidance as I entered the everyday world.

When I was finally on my own, I was desperate for input to point me in the right direction to moving forward in my recovery, but every attempt I made was futile. Waking up each morning with no agenda for the day, coupled with dealing with my disabilities, was depressing. I felt stuck and totally frustrated. There was one therapist at the rehab who did mention the brain injury support groups when I was ready to leave, but she mentioned in passing. If rehabs do not have a follow-up program for patients being discharged, they should at least provide a brochure, pamphlets, or a flier about people and places to contact for help (i.e., support groups, recommended counselors, etc.) in their area.

With rehabilitation services being cut back, and people like me, a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and Transitional Living Consultant, being overlooked because there is no slot in the existing system, changes need to be made. This is the perfect time. Now so many men and women are returning from combat with brain injuries. Rehab providers should take rehabilitation another step forward to include the psychological adjustments of becoming disabled, and a follow-up program for survivors once on their own. Little progress is being made for many who could already be moving forward into a more normal life style. What a waste for all concerned! Many survivors who are staying home, doing nothing, could have already been working, doing something to make their lives richer, and more productive. A follow-up program for brain injury survivors could provide statistics needed to set a baseline and determine a scale of survivors’ needs after rehab discharge to inform doctors of continued needs of physical or psychological therapy. This would be a win-win for all concerned.

This book is for brain injury survivors, who can recover with time, their families, friends, and caregivers, and for professionals in this arena. I’ve