Eric Miller

In 1995, I had a collision during a legion baseball game shortly after graduation from high school. I suffered internal injuries that required extensive medical care. During a routine endoscopy procedure, I experienced an allergic reaction to medication and ended up suffering an anoxic brain injury.

I entered the hospital as an 18 year old ready to tackle the world teeming with confidence. I left the hospital, barely potty trained, unable to throw a baseball, unable to walk, speak coherently and confusion with even knowing who familiar people were. I was no longer myself.

I went in prepared for college, and was now left playing with children’s blocks to build coordination, and reading children’s books to relearn how to comprehend the story.

I attended a full year of intense therapy in order to regain adequate functionality to continue my life. I went through years of self betrayal and depression before clawing my way to a new existence of independence.

It’s been 30 years this year. It took me around 12 years to earn my associates degree. I still experience self confidence issues, have short term memory problems, and have some numbness in my left foot. I have large centralized blind spots in each eye, so I always sat on the left side of the classroom in order to see the entire board behind instructors. My brain is always working overtime so I don’t forget things I need to know. I love to write and have found it to be a useful tool in grounding the mess in my head.

The greatest lesson I’ve learned through this life altering injury, is to take as much joy in reaching the small goals as I do in the big ones. Successfully cleaning out my truck is appreciated as much as a work accomplishment. Sometimes remembering to put gas in my car before I run out is just as kmportant to me as reaching a milestone at work. Appreciate the small accomplishments and slow down to notice them.

This version of my story is the shortened version. There are years of heartbreak and setbacks that weren’t included. People still tell me that I’m different from my earlier self. I only remember bits and pieces of my former self. I’ve lived more years post TBI than pre TBI, and I’ve still got challenges to overcome that are a direct result of that injury.