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An artistic expression created by patients at the National Rehabilitation Hospital.
They gathered to create a collaborative artistic expression of life since brain injury.
The composition consists of symbolic images placed throughout the green maze of the 'recovery world'*. To some participants, the color green represents growth and the beautiful world. The group members realize that they are getting better as they continue to commit themselves to the healing process of recovery.
The recovery journey begins in the bottom left hand corner. A brown figure recently injured with head hung low is greeted by the good doctor and good nurse. The red car symbolizes the members' desire to work so that they can earn money. Members express that they want to return to a productive work life again. The devil represents feelings of being down, disgusted, and angry. Not knowing what to say, feeling aggravated, and being overwhelmed are also portrayed by the Devil. He is boxed off by himself in the lower right corner - present, but separated from the healing path. Continuing up the maze of recovery, one is assisted by helpful nurses and therapists to re-learn abilities lost by the injury.
Kids and family members bring love and happiness to the patients in the hospital. The eight figures, seven of them shinning the colors of the hopeful rainbow symbolize the many visitors who come to visit. One can get better and remain in a wheelchair. Thus, the figure in a chair on the same level as the family.
Lying down, a figure dreams of going to heaven and seeing angels, as one participant did while in his coma. After coming through such a traumatic experience as having a brain injury, group members identify with having a stronger spirit. Continuing on the path, one "feels great' and realizes he or she is improving. This is represented by the figure climbing the ladder to open the door to a new beginning. In the top of the composition, four angels are present. Each participant painted the angel that he or she identifies with in a chosen color.
Each participants realizes the importance of God in their life and recovery.
parentheses were generated by participants in the brain storming session.7/6/96
The story of my brain injuries have been somewhat difficult. My husband came home from work, I was out in the yard working. I came in the house took 2 tylenol laid on the sofa for awhile Myhusband came upstairs and found me on the floor. I complained about being hot he turned the fans on. My husband went back downstairs came back up about 25 miutes later. I had passed out in the bathroom. He then called an ambulance and took me to the hospital.
This happened May 7th 1996. I am still in National Rehabilitation
Thelma Hammett
Mary doesn't remember when she had her stroke. She had taken her children to school in the morning and laid down to take a nap at 1 in the afternoon. She told a friend that she felt very tired and he left for work. He came back at 8 in the evening to check on her and she was unresponsive and he called 911. The children had come hoem from school but had not realized she was not well. Mary says she doesn't remember being in the Baltimore hospital although she was there for 3 weeks. It was not until she came to NRH that she became aware of her surroundings.
Mary doesn't know what to tell other about her stroke-it was a stroke of bad luck
The story is about my cycle cell attack. One night when I got home from work In the morning I got up for work, but I told my mother that I wasn't feeling good. Then she called her friend, and he took me to the hospital. When I got to the hospital I went into a coma. When I went into the coma, as soon as I woke up I didn't know where I was. So the nurse told me where I was. I was in a coma for three months. It was right after Christmas. When I got the hospital I was worried about my job. My mother called them and they said don't worry. The main thing of what I was worried about was my contract for singing. I was worried about my mother too. I was worried if I should get the contract. My mother told me, that he said don't worry, that's not a problem and worry about that when you get out.
Then I got to the hospital and I didn't know where I was. There was a radio in the room that I thought was mine, cause my cousin brought me one at the hospital. As I went off, my cousin told me that the radio wasn't mine and was property of the hospital. A couple of days later he came in with my radio and I was able to calm down. When I got away from therapy one day, I saw a radio, another one, with a cassette player. One day I went off because my mother brought me shoes and I couldn't find them. She said calm down cause I was going off, I get mad and frustrated. The shoes were under the drawer. I then calmed down after they told me that.
A couple days later they transferred me over here. I haven't had to go off here, cause the nurses here are pretty alright, because at my first hospital I wanted to call my mother. I called my mother and the nurse snatched the phone down from me. She said I wasn't going to call my mother. Later in the day I called my mom and she fussed at them and the next day when I was ready to use the phone they said don't play with them. They didn't want no trouble from mother Betty.
I would tell others to be patient and not to be causing any trouble. I'd tell them not to take drugs or alcohol. I'd also tell them to behave theier parents. That's one problem with my nephew. He was out of control. When I talked to him he got scared. I told him that he wasn't going to Kings Domor. I gave him three strikes. He already has had two. So everytime I talk with him on the phone, he call me uncle Danny Goo, and he's been good so far. I haven't had any problems. Obey the laws. I don't believe in violence. It's only 2 times that I had to get violent. I was in a club with my girlfriend and she went to the bathroom. Since my injury I have changed mentally. I am a pretty patient guy. Mentally, my brain was goen when I came to the hospital. My emotions, like feelings are better. I feel good about everything and anything until they get on my nerves. I go off physically. I'm gonna get my health back together. Basically I'm gonna get myself back together so I can get out of here and start me a family.
Intellectual, I am a straight up man. I process things not the way I should. I think about some things that don't make a difference. My mother told me not to worry about anything, cause as soon as I get out of the hospital, she's gonna throw me a party. Spiritually, my mother made me change after the injury. She told me not to go to the club and party. And she said it's like a sun. she said she didn't want me to go to the club. I asked "Why" whe said, "cause,that's not right." But I told her that it was jsut for entertainment. I told her it wasn't like I was committing a sin. She didn't agree with that. Sometimes it's alright. When I was in the coma I was in a dream. I saw angels. The angels had wings. I walked through the door, like the song says. They wanted me to knock on the door. I was like "No, I don't want to go there, I'm not ready. I'm not going to walk through the door it was like God stopped me from walking through the door. He was like, "If you walk through that door, it wiil be like hell." I saw a couple of my relatives there, They told me "Danny, don't walk through that door." Then when I woke up, I woke up sweating. I was thankful to be alive. I think this is why my mother doesn't want me to go to clubs. My future plans are to cut a record, get a family and become famous.
Once I cut that record, I'll be famous then. I want to stay healthy all the rest of my life. I appreciate my life more cause I'm able to get my brain back in order so I can do the things I did before. I am grateful for this change in my life because God gave me a second chance. My family treats me good. Some of my friends get on my nerves, cause I'll be talking about something and they will interrupt my conversation. Some people who I don't know treat me good and some don't, like the nurses at the other hospital. I am frustrated by my limitations cause I want to get back to my old self. I was in a band. We did a march for McKinley. A long march downtown. God wants me to go on with life.
I was driving and they were shooting. I got shot in my head. I was driving my wife and my son. We were going to my wife's mother's house to visit. My wife was ducked down before they started shooting. This was good. I got shot in the back of my head. My son was got down by my wife. There were 2 shots. There were more than that but I don't remember. I don't remember too much. I remember my wife said, she was crying, I was in a coma for a little bit. My relatives came to see me but I was in a coma, I didn't know anybody was around me. They shot me and they ran. I was just passing by and they shot me. They were shooting at some other guys and I got unfortunately in their path.
I would tell others to watch the company they keep. I have changed emotionally a bit. I think...I get mad sometimes when I don't see my family. I am more mellow now. Physically I've changed-the right side of my body is not the same. I am a little bit as smart as I was before. I have gotten better since I got shot. Why I got shot must be for a reason. I want to go back to work. I use to paint houses. Me and my wife are just paying for our house. This is good. I want to get better because my wife has a lot of bills to pay. I want to help her, I want to take my family on trips. I want more children, my wife wants more-she wants 4-I say that's too much for me-I want one more. I appreciate my life more because I'll be thanking God for me, I am grateful for this change in my life-grateful for my wife and son. My wife is just wonderful. She is nice too- nice personality. She is beautiful. Thank God for my wife to come for me. My son is 5 years old. He is doing good in school. I am proud of him. His grades are good, I'm thankful for the way the rest fo my family treats me. I am a lucky guy. My friends come visit, this is good. Friends come and look for me. My arm makes me mad sometimes, cause I can't do the stuff I use to do. I believe in God, I thank him everyday for making me better. If I had no God, I'd be gone a long time ago.