Katie Howard

I have two brain injuries with the first one being in 2016 being shoved down at a festival and slamming my head into concrete developing multiple subdural hematomas ending up with two craniotomies and a titanium plate put into my head. I walked out of the hospital like nothing happened.

That all changed in 2023 when I got into another accident and broke the titanium plate that was in my head and it concaved into my brain. I had intracranial brain hemorrhaging. Similar to that of a Hemorrhagic stroke. That left me completely paralyzed on the left side of my body.

See, both my injuries were on the right side of my brain. This one changed my life forever. I had a three year old to take care of now, and it left me unable to even take care of myself. Now was the time I had to muster a strength I never knew that I had. I had to learn to walk again. To use my arm again. To do everything all over again, like a child. But I was determined. My little girl needed me. and she needed me functional. Well, as functional as I could get myself…

To this day I still can’t use my left hand, but I make it work. I’ve found ways around it and learned different ways to get things done. I found a place to work that accepts and works with me and my disability. I’ve grown my right side so strong that I can pick up and carry around my little girl. I’ve learned to lean on people which I was always too bullheaded and stubborn to do before.

There was a long time that I hated myself and longed for nothing more than to just be normal again… and don’t get me wrong, I still have those days, but I’ve learned to be grateful for what I do have. The doctors told my parents I would never move the left side of my body again and look at me now! I can walk, I can work, I can hug my baby, I can CARRY my baby! I have so many things to be grateful for. I’m alive and I get to watch her grow up. I’m doing things I never even thought about doing before like being in school for my master’s degree which wasn’t even on the table three years ago before my accident happened. I challenge myself now because I know I can accomplish whatever I set my mind to.

My brain injury changed my life in bad ways sure but in good ways too. It’s all about your mindset. It made me a single mom but I’m still a mommy. It made me disabled but I still work. It was a setback but I’m doing SO much. My brain injury journey is long… but strength and character building.