Mary Kay Campbell

Using a TBI to Spread Light
By Mary Kay Campbell

It was a mild February evening. The sun was just starting to set and I gazed at the beautiful ribbon of color high in the sky. I was in the right-hand lane, cruise control set to 60 mph, the speed limit. I had no distractions. The radio was off. My phone was charging face down. I was alone with my thoughts.

Suddenly, an old, blue, beat-up, pick-up truck pulled directly in front of me from a side road on my right. I couldn’t slow down. I certainly couldn’t stop.

I tried to swerve to miss him, but there wasn’t time. I hit the bed of his truck and my white, soft-top convertible rolled 360 and spun 180, landing in the shoulder facing the wrong way, horn blaring, window blown out.

I remember it all. The sinking feeling that this wasn’t going to be a near miss. The force of the impact. My airbag tickling my face as it deflated. The world spinning. The blunt force to the top of my head. Cold air rushing in where my window should have been.

I sat in my car stunned. I assessed my body, no apparent damage. I felt chunks of glass all over my face and chest. I felt the blood trickling down my cheeks.

Somehow, I got out of my car and stumbled to an electric box which I leaned against.

Fast forward to the ambulance. I sat there with bright, blinding lights as the paramedic and EMT attached monitors and started an IV. They continued to check my head and confirm that it was “just tissue” and not my grey matter that was protruding from the back of my head. My head was split open, front to back.

I sat there and realized that I was miserable in my job and where we lived. You see, I had worked my way up to senior leadership roles. I had paid my dues and had been in the C-suite and executive suite. I was where society said I should be. And I hated it.

I knew in that moment that I needed to make some changes.

For years, I had felt led to be an inspirational speaker. I had felt led to help others. But, as a single mom, the weight of the world and responsibilities kept me tethered to secure jobs with higher pay. I had to have consistency, retirement, health insurance and so much more. I had to be responsible. But I was miserable.

I sat in that ambulance and KNEW I needed to make changes. What I didn’t know was that I was being given the opportunity to do that.

It’s not been easy. My brain doesn’t work like it used to. I could never be an executive again, even if I wanted to do so. I mix up words and numbers. I need a long nap each day. I get killer headaches. I can’t remember details. I can not multitask AT ALL. Don’t ask me a question while I’m trying to divide a salad or write down a number. It won’t happen. I can’t do two things at once.

But what I’ve found is I have great peace. I move more slowly and I like it. AND, I am living my dream of helping others. I started Queens of Moxie and my keynote speeches and training programs are a way for me to give back. They are: Reclaim Your Moxie: Crush Burnout with Joy, Purpose and Community and Executive to Disabled: Supporting Your Team Members with Invisible Disabilities.

I provide speeches that inspire and motivate others. I use my recovery and research to help others reclaim their moxie without a traumatic event! I have taken something bad and made it good. I utilize my expertise as a former executive and college adjunct professor and help teams and leaders. I help them find joy and purpose. I help them understand what invisible disabilities are and how to help their team members. I provide hope and light to those around me.

And, I wouldn’t have taken that leap without my traumatic brain injury. It’s different. It’s hard. And, it’s wonderful.