Steven Edelman
In 2005, I worked as a sports reporter for a newspaper covering high school sports in New York. With my savings, I moved from my parents’ house to San Diego, California, to pursue my writing career. I secured a freelance sports writing job and also worked as a teacher’s assistant in a special education school to make ends meet.
On July 30, 2007, after a beach party with colleagues, I made a life-altering mistake. The party moved to an assistant teacher’s apartment, where I continued drinking. Late that night, I attempted to jump from a third-floor balcony onto a nearby palm tree but missed and fell onto the concrete below, resulting in a traumatic brain injury (TBI). I spent three months in a coma and another three months in ICU in San Diego. By Christmas 2007, I returned to New York, moving back in with my parents and beginning a long, difficult rehabilitation at Helen Hayes Hospital.
The transition from my life before the TBI to my new reality was incredibly challenging. I struggled with walking, speaking, reading, writing, and communication. On top of that, I had been dealing with depression since I was 12 years old, often turning to alcohol and drugs to cope. If I could go back, I would have sought help from a therapist instead of using substances to numb my pain.
After several years of hard work at Helen Hayes and with other support systems, I made significant progress in regaining my abilities. However, aphasia—a condition that makes communication difficult—has been one of the most challenging aspects to overcome since my TBI 17 years ago.
After my recovery, I switched careers from writing to teaching ESL, hoping for a fresh start. Unfortunately, my challenges were often misunderstood or overlooked by school administrations, leading to several job losses. The most devastating was the week my son was born; I lost my job for taking the wrong attendance in class. This loss led my wife, Lori, and me to decide that it would be best for me to stay home and take care of our son, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Being a stay-at-home father has been a wonderful experience, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. However, as my son prepares to start kindergarten this September, I’m nervous about re-entering the working world. I’m passionate about using my experiences to help others with traumatic brain injuries overcome similar challenges. My journey has taught me resilience, and I’m eager to contribute to the TBI community by raising awareness and supporting others in their recovery.