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Created by campers at Camp Bruce McCoy at the Triple R. Ranch in Chesapeake, Virginia.
They gathered together each day to create a collaborative artistic expression of life with brain injury.
As they shared and learned from one another, their personal understanding grew.
The composition is set within the structure of a human eye, reflective of a change in vision common after injury. A Yin-Yang symbol is located in the center of the pupil setting the entire recovery theme of balance between positive and negative emotions and experiences. Three grave stones are located in the center honoring those who do not survive the traumatic accident. They are located on a stairway that leads to heaven. A child, mother and father mourn this loss holding one another showing the necessity of strong family. The blue woman also represents the incredible contradiction that occurs after one has survived a brain injury. Her being pregnant acknowledges the feelings of re-birth most experience after injury, yet she cries deeply, as most do, for the loss of the old self. The thirteen colorful and expressive figures represent how the campers feels about themselves today, dancing with the grateful passion for being alive. Each camper painted him or herself as he or she sees themselves today.
The right side of the eyeball exhibits the negative components present intensely after injury. Feelings of anger, fear, not understanding, isolation and sadness are expressed by the red figure clenched up inside of a brick walled box. A grey figure, symbolic of therapists and doctors, stands to the right trying to help rebuild the wall of self worth and values. The white figure on the left, the healthy self, also works on rebuilding the walls of self-respect and protection. Support from the outside is essential but the self has to make conscience effort to heal also. The large question mark symbolizes the confusion that can overwhelm one recovering from brain injury. In the upper right corner the sun shines brightly showing that one can also be burned by the bright rays. Graffiti in the lower corner acknowledging past negative habits some had before. Fortunately, after surviving brain trauma one has a second chance to choose how he or she will behave in more constructive manners.
The left side of the eyeball, surrounded by blackness and ignorance, holds new discoveries of self love and forgiveness. A donkey's behind is located in the bottom left corner symbolic of those who judge, misunderstand or patronize those with injury. A woman and man hold hands as they smile under a heart and the life-energy radiating sun. These two figures represent the self love and respect one can attain and look forward to after accepting the new self. Clouds are present showing that it is hard work to accomplish this state of being and it is easily cover by self doubt and fear. A green frog jumps with happiness as it celebrates the simple joy of being alive.
Camper quotes about what the art piece represents for them:
"This is the story of the journey of life with traumatic brain injury. One of the most important things you need while you are experiencing a brain injury, is love and companionship. While having a brain injury it is so hard to find and experience all of that love and companionship. Even if you really know that someone loves you, you always have that second thought that they are really just saying that to make you feel better. It is also so very hard just to go through everyday life, because it is so hard to just basically do everything. The only things that you need to do while having a brain injury is work hard all the time and never give up working." J.D.
"After recovering from surgery I was happy and jumping for joy and others were amazed that I recovered also. This is represented by the green frog jumping on the art piece. We are all still alive and living. Life is an amazing gift. God has given each of us our lives and no one can take it away from us". H.K.
"It's cool - the whole thing. I liked brain storming with the group. The words were interesting, I related to them." P.J.
"It was a collaborative way of expressing how we feel. The symbols represent different stages of recovery and what has happened in tragedy. It was very insightful getting to know how everyone else experienced this." C.C-T.
"The two things on the sides don't mean nothing to me except the one in the middle. The one in the middle means a lot of tragedy to me about my step-dad who is gone."S.W.
ON JULY 16, 1995 I HAD A BRAIN HEMORRAGE. IF I COULD TELL PEOPLE SOMETHING ABOUT MY BRAIN INJURY, I WOULD TELL THEM THAT EVEN THOUGH I MIGHT PHYSICALLY LOOK DIFFERENT AND CHARACTERISTICALLY ACT DIFFERENTLY THAT I AM STILL THE SAME PERSON AND I SHOULD NOT BE ABANDONED.
SINCE MY INJURY I HAVE BEEN TOLD OF MANY CHANGES THAT HAVE OCCURED SOME OF WHICH HAVE BEEN COGNITIVE, YET MY INTELLIGENCE SHOULD NOT BE UNDETERMINED. I HAVE GAINED QUITE A BIT OF WEIGHT, BUT , WEIGHT AIN'T NOTHING BUT A NUMBER. I HAVE ALSO CHANGED FROM A QUIET AND SOMEWHAT SHY PERSON TO A TALKATIVE, OUTGOING AND SOMETIMES AN EMOTIONAL PERSON.
SOCIALLY, I HAVE BEEN DROPPED AND AT SCHOOL, I'M LOOKED AT AS A SOCIAL OUTCAST. I HAVE MANY THINGS I ANTICIPATE FOR MY FUTURE, SOME OF WHICH INCLUDE FINISHING HIGH SCHOOL, GOING TO A GREAT COLLEGE AND THEN GETTING A FABULOUS, WELL PAYING JOB.
BECAUE OF MY INJURY, I FIND THAT I APPRECIATE LIFE MORE. DEATH ALSO EFFECTS ME MORE SO THAN IT DID IN THE PAST. I BELIEVE THAT LIFE SHOULD BE LIVED TO THE FULLEST BUT, YOU SHOULD TAKE EACH DAY ONE DAY AT A TIME.
I THINK THAT MY INJURY HAS BENEFITTED ME BY MAKING ME MORE SENSITIVE AND NOW EMPATHETIC TO PEOPLE IN SIMIALR OR COMPERABLE SITUATIONS.
I THINK I AM UNGRATEFUL TO MY INJURY BECAUSE I AM "SHUNNED" BY MY PEERS AND HAVE GONE FROM BEING QUITE POPULAR AND CLASS PRESIDENT FOR 2 CONSECUTIVE YEARS AND SCHOOL PRESIDENT FOR 1 YEAR TO BEING A LOW LIFE, OUTCAST AND NOTHING.
I HATE THE WAY MY "FRIENDS" TREAT ME AND CONTINUE TO TREAT ME. I THINK THAT STRANGERS WHO MAY NOT NECESSARILY KNOW WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME TREAT ME WELL AND I STILL GET PICKED UP BY ALOT OF GUYS.
MY FAMILY HAS BEEN THE BACKBONE OF MY RECOVERY. THEY JUST HAVE CONTINOUSLY BEEN THERE FOR ME.
I AM REALLY FURIOUS FRUSTRATED AND TICKED OFF AT MY LIMITATIONS BECAUSE UNTIL I AM ABLE TO DO EVERYTHING I COULD PRIOR TO MY INJURY, I WILL STILL BE LOOKED UPON AS WEIRD, DIFFERENT AND CRIPPLED ETC.
I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE A NEW CALLING IN LIFE THOUGH. IT COULD NE TO BE THERE FOR PEOPLE IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS.
I was in a coma-sleep. I waked at MCV to work out and get stronger. I had to pump alot of weights. I'm still taking therapies to get better like Speech Therapy, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy.
I was riding a bus and saw the car coming fo rus. I stood up and pointed at the oncoming car. I yelled car coming and then we crashed. I was in a sleeping coma.
I now have to work very hard. I hve to have people cheer me on like my parents, Johnny the aide at the high school.
Since my injury my speech has become bad. It's hard for me to do school work.
My future plans are to finish high school. I want to fly my parents to Disneyland in California as my future plans and goals.
I appreciate living more since my injury and I'm grateful for the changes in my life.
I am thankful for the way people treat me, because I'm treated nice at my new high school.
I am frustrated at times about what I can't do but I don't know.
I could tell a new head injury patient that you may have a coma but you come out of it. Get out and try to make friends-go to camps.
My dreams are to take off and FLY!!!!!
I can do this by learning to live.
Since my injury, I appreciate life more!
I am grateful for what I have now.
I am Christopher Scott Hignutt.
Airplanes will take me away.
I am too great for you all!!!!!
It's a pain in my butt!
Good luck to you
Think about what
I will answer their questions
Heidi
In someways I appreciate life more or less. I do and I don't because theri new things do but their our things mis. I'm grateful for my abilities and what I can do. I am frustrated my own limitations their are things I can't do that could do before my brain injury. I could run and fas now I can't.
Car Accident- I was in a terrible car accident . some tragic happened. My two friends died and my stepfather. When I was in the hospital my mom came to see me she got off work and came to see me. My head was all swollen as a beach ball. I was in a coma for 2 weeks and when I came out I could remember- I knew half of the people. Some of the people who I knew for more than 3 years I didn't know their number- I couldn't think of phone numbers. The only phone number I knew was my best friends. First she asked me if I knew my own number and I didn't know it. Then she aked me what's my friends number- and I knew it. When I was in a wheelchair in the hospital. I could walk just like that but they still wanted me in the chair because they though I'd probably fall. Since they found out when I first got out of the chair I could walk. I'd tell other people to not get into a car with a drunk person or if all of then have been drinking-don't get into the car.
Since my injury I've started remembering things better. Phone numbers came back. In the beginning I lost memory abilities. But I've gotten them back now. When I grow up- I want to be a barber. I want money, I want a nice car. I appreciate life more because I was at death's door. I almost could have been dead. God gave me a reason to live. I don't know what that is yet. I want him to show me some things that I'd probably would never do if this injury never happened. Like being a preacher, I am grateful for the change in my life. One reason is I am glad that girls feel sorry for me. I am thankful for the way family treat me. They treat me fine and nice. They give me anything I want. My friends act the same. They are still the same. My friends are always there for me. Strangers don't know I 've been in an accident. When I tell them they ask if I'm alright.
Playing basketball frusterates me now I can't shoot anymore like I used to. I was real good before the accident. I can shoot a little bit now. I can't play football till next year said the hospital. I feel I have a new calling in life to be a preacher.
My life is a risk. I can't see tomorrow. They won't know about life. I want to be masseuse, to help others to be teight. Other is to fly because it's jsut easier than driving. I am grateful to understand with people with or without the pain. Your brain is helpful to use.
I'd tell people who just got a brain injury:
-time will heal all wounds
-practice is helpful and you'll be better with everything
-watching alot of movies helped me practice to be a performer
-listening to music helped me
I'd tell others who knew nothing about TBI
-help others with head injuries like mine
-be careful for cars
-watch out
At age 18, about two years ago, drivin' ta' school on one rainey day, (they said I was not speeding) but I hydroplaned into a telephone pole. I received a closed head-injury, as a result, I have forced to basically "give-up" my life, baically, that is leave me alone! I'm not stupid! Just because I'm brain injured, I'm not dead, yet.....prior to my injury, actually, I guess you could grant me ALL the credit. My future plans-ect. are thus; every has a life; USE IT!!!!
Every "accident" is "completely" different just depending on when, where, and how it happened. Also the recovery is different, depending upon the person, where they live, what their living conditions are. Even the recovery time differs depending upon how serious the effects were. Some people might even be a little more spiritual or emotional, they could even be more sensitive. At least I know I am, when I look up at the sky at night, when the stars are shining I really do believe that I can see about a billion spirits and angels. I can even see God's shadow, I even whisper my thoughts, emotions and feelings into the sky, I whisper so others can't hear me and think I lost my mind, I sometimes cry, it just depends on what I'm saying, how hard I cry depends on what I'm thinking and how I'm feeling both physically and mentally. It also depends on how I feel emotionally and spiritually at that point in time. The spirits even sleep every night even when others don't see them, only I can see them, hear them and feel them, maybe other people have the ability to do the same with other spirits, the spirits I see keep me safe, they make me feel better when I'm not feeling good, they give me encouragement when I feel like quitting. I believe that every single "human Being" is always surrounded ny holy spirits whether they see them, feel them or hear them, they're there. It also doesn't matter if they have had a head injury or not. I believe in many other things but I have absolutely no idea about hwo to write them so they make sense to those people who don't know me and read my writings.
I am thankful and grateful for the way my family treats me takes care of me and looks out for me. I also am thankful that they push me to move on and work hard. My family lets me go out and hang out with my friends, and when they know I am going to be safe but when I am around strangeers they treat me like I am a total and complete moron. I would tell everyone with a brain injury only to work hard and do what ya can. Just do what my family said to me.
Honestly- do not remember how I was before my "unfortunate event" occurred. ny "unfortunate event" occurred 8/18/89 when I was on my way home from work. I used to work at Pennys. Since my "injury" I have changed in many ways. I now am more emotional, spiritual, and also my physical ability has lessened, meaning that I "wiggle" when I walk, I am not able to drive because of my vision, I always see double. In my opinionI changed for the better in some ways because I can think in a more meaningful manner. I can "read in between the lines" especially when people are putting on a show. I can "feel" love even when it's not shown and I now stronger believe in God, angels and other holy spirits, I now still believe that I can "hear" my friends spirits when I "whisper" to their spirits. I can still think more "deeply," If I were to tlak to someone who just had a brain injury I would tell them that love is still possible, there are still alot of things you can do if you sey tour mind to "it", I would tell them that I had a brain injury and I'm still working on my recovery, that doesn't mean that your recovery will be this long because every brain injury is different. All injuries are basically the same but the effect is "completely" different and the recovery process is "totally" different depending on the person, how "it" happened, the effects and who they live with-
My brain injury happened in 1993. I've come a long way since my car acceinded. I was whellchair bound now I can walk talk and feed myself I'm almost back to myself. In school I'm M.H. and mainstream classes. Next year I'm going to be in 8th grade and probaly in all Mainsteam classes and then onto high school. I would tell a person who just got a brain injury the following advise: Keep working you do your hardest at everything, live life to it's fullest!! I'd tell people who didn't know anything about brain injury:
-I'm just like anybody else
-I'm just a little bit slow
On July 16, 1995 I had a brain hemorrhage. If I could tell people something about my brain injury, I would tell them, that even though I might physically look different and characteristically act differently that I am still the same person and I should not be abandoned.
Since my injury I have been told of many changes that have occurred some of which have been cognitive, yet my intelligence should not be undermined. I have gained quite a bit of weight