Just Another TBI Recovery Story

Ever since I have come to really cherish those relationships that have stood the test of time. At times, I wonder how a couple remains strong despite the many challenges that have messed up their relationship. Well, my marriage wasn't exempted.

Rick, my husband who is a senior police officer was injured in rally dispersal last April 2016. He has suffered severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). He has been under intensive care unit for a month and was discharged from the hospital after two months. Medication and therapy continued at home. Home care management has been so tough. Physically, he was healed after several months but the brain has another story. When friends ask how his recovery was progressing, my answers were just about the same. "He is doing well and things are progressing as well as could be expected". When he started to talk after five months, I bore the brunt of his endless TBI monolog. Every day we talked about his vertigo, headache, body pains, incessant ear ringing, unclear and sometimes the loss of vision in his left eye. Sometimes he talked about his grief as he realized that he was never going to be who he was before the incident. My kids and family are not far behind me. But I do all I can to see that they don't worry about me.

As I read about what other TBI patients and caregivers have experienced, we faced the same issues. I don't feel so alone.Days have been so tough and challenging but it doesn't mean that life ahead is less valuable and fulfilling. Challenges aren't spells. They keep couples together instead.This is the time I realized that my husband needs me most.