My name is Scott E. and I am the survivor of numerous brain injuries. My story begins in September of 81, at which time I had an automobile accident. As a result of the accident I was in a coma for 31 days. After coming out of the coma, I was partially paralyzed on my right side and I was left with deficits to include a contracture of the muscles in my right arm (which in laymen's terms means that my arm was stuck, bent at the elbow and my hand was stuck in a position just under my chin) speech difficulties, my vision went from 20/20 in both eyes to 20/20 in my left eye and 20/60 in my right eye, bladder control, as well as intestinal difficulties and paralysis in my right leg and foot.

I spent over 3 and one half months in the hospital, at which time I was transferred to a rehabilitation center off and on for 2 and one half years. At this point in my life I was 21 years old and couldn't even begin to imagine the ramifications of what lay ahead of me.

I was left with very few choices in my life and was totally unprepared for the road that was in store for me. I can remember the first time I was alone with my thoughts, I was on a bench in the middle of a blinding snow storm where I had to face up to the greatest challenge of my existence. Essentially I had to either pickup the pieces of my life and try to move ahead or to just cave in to my fears and challenges of what lay ahead. I distinctly remember crying and feeling very hopeless.

You can't begin to imagine the daunting road ahead of me. Can you imagine for an instant what it was like to be left with the feelings of despair of being only half if not just a fraction of what I had been or possibly could be. I had had a great career in stationary engineering which included all forms and phases of construction, steam plant operation and the responsibility of managing several people under me at the same time. I had a great love for working with and for people of all ages and backgrounds not to mention nationalities and races.

During this time I had therapies to include physical, occupational, speech and other forms of treatment as well as counseling on a regular basis. Also during this time I underwent a vocational evaluation to determine what my options were for a new vocation.

During my tenure of Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center (WWRC) I trained in bookkeeping After leaving WWRC I spent a brief period during a home rehab program and getting back into the community while awaiting for a schedule A appointment to do an internship with the Treasury Department. It was September 1995 that I had gone to my finance office before going to the office. I was crossing the street in front of my office and was struck from behind by a car. As soon as the car touched me I went into shock. Can you imagine your legs being hit from behind the knee, kind of like I was broad jumping forcefully, flying up on the hood of the vehicle. The car locked up after hitting me which threw me onto the pavement. This motion caused my brain to shake back and forth in my skull causing me to have another brain injury. Post concussion syndrome (PCS).

I then did a stint at Mt. Vernon Hospitals "Bridge Program", the same one that James Brady (president Reagan's press secretary) attended. I rehabbed for about 6 months on an outpatient basis.

At this point is when I was introduced to Brain Injury Services. Since meeting up with BIS I have recevied numerous services to include case management, and instructional learning about my disability and other issues, and also grief counseling after my two sons died in an automobile accident. They have been and will be a very important part of my life. Their administrative Director Ms. Karen Brown has been very supportive of and to me as well as all of the staff. I am currently going to get a life skills assessment which is one of the service they provide to help me face life's challenges and taking care of myself and my living from day to day. Also, I receive grief counseling through BIS because in August of this year, my son and his half brother (who were both very close to me) died in an automobile accident and I don't know what I would do without BIS services. Because of BIS (Brain Injury Services), and other foundations and events, people with TBI can and do receive therapies necessary to their return to main stream life.

Another fund raising event for the Brain Injured community is Kit Callahan's Miracle Mile, which is held annually in the fall to promote community outreach and education about Brain Injuries and increase awareness of Brain Injuries and how to prevent people from having one. The event is a 5k Fun Run/Walk that will be held this year on September 14, 2003 from 8 am until Noon at GMU at the Fairfax Campus.

I can say personally after having volunteered at last year's event that I not only helped to raise funds, but I felt like the community was enlightened as to the ramifications and challenges that are imposed from having a Brain Injury.