The Other Side of the Curtain

By Daryl J. Koerth

A glimpse at what it's like to be disabled, since I've become disabled. This book was really hard for me to write, but I feel it's important to let people know a little about the realities of a situation like mine.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rockin' K Publishers LLC
• Release date: Aug 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9781959282112

Book preview

Introduction

This will be a little different type of book. It may make some readers uncomfortable.

Good.

This book is the story of how I went from independent, genius-level web developer, husband, and stepfather to an utterly dependent, still-genius disabled person with PTSD who lives with his mom and battles constant fear and limitations.

I think this is an important story, for several reasons. One, it may help shatter some of the common illusions people have about those with disabilities. Two, it has something important to say about our business environment (economy). Three, it has something very important to say about our medical and pharmaceutical industries. And four, and most importantly, it’s about me.

Yes, that last one was a joke. Lighten up, people. This book will get heavy enough. You’ll need the laughs. Trust me on that. Parts of this story read like a horror story. So, laugh whenever you get the chance. Please.

I had to consider long and hard about writing this book. I mean, disabilities are a touchy subject in our culture. Almost nobody understands them. I would argue that the only people who really understand them are the people who have them and the mental facility to consider them. Of course, this means we don’t talk about disabilities, not with any intelligence. That’s a shame. I think a lot of good could be accomplished if the conversation were open and honest.

To be perfectly honest, I believe there are some disabilities that can be overcome if not outright cured. I believe human beings have limitless potential. I believe we are all children of God, and I believe that means something real. Why am I bothering to tell you this up front? It’s important to my (ongoing) story. It’s going to come up a few times. It helps me through the rougher times. I won’t apologize for it.

I don’t play the conversion game, but if my mentioning my faith offends you, find another book to read. I don’t play the appeasement game, either. It’s amazing what you can learn spending twenty years as a pagan. If you want to read that story, I’ve also written a book called The Truth About Christianity. Have at it.

Back to disabilities. This is something that, until four years ago, I really didn’t think much about. Then I died – no, I’m not joking – and got shocked back to the mortal coil, and woke from a brief coma with brain damage. If you want to read all about that experience, guess what? I wrote a short book about it called A Brush With Myself.

In any case, brain damage is not nearly as much fun as those 1980s this is your brain on drugs commercials suggested. It sucks. I’ve been stabbed, nearly cut my foot off with an axe, and had lots of other cuts and abrasions. I was able to tend all of those wounds myself. Brain damage is different. You can’t see it. You can’t feel it. You certainly can’t stitch it back together with Scotch whiskey, dental floss, and super glue.

That’s not a joke, either. I’ve done that. It hurt, but it worked.

Brain damage is the most insidious type of wound, mostly because we have only very vague ideas about how the brain works...and every brain is unique. It’s also one of the most risky and expensive surgeries you can have. In general, though, even brain surgeons can’t tell you exactly what the effects of brain damage will be. If you get one that does tell you, you’ve met a liar. Imagine you have a map that tells you Los Angeles is in Oregon, and my map says that city is in Ohio. That’s really what brains are like. So, if you happen to