Aug 13, 2024
Kelly Tuttle became a brain injury survivor in
2015 after her car T-boned another car that had pulled out in front
of her. She thought she would shake off the crash and continue with
her life.
The next day, her co-workers said she wasn’t talking coherently.
So, she saw her doctor, who said she had a concussion, and she
should be better in two weeks. Months later, she was living
with a stranger in her head; she felt alone and lost. She didn’t
like this stranger; she was rude and impatient, had the focus and
attention span of a gnat, couldn’t remember anything, was
irritable, and slept a lot. She couldn’t arrive on time for
appointments or even plan a birthday party. She spent too much
money and got into financial trouble. It was terrible to live with
her, but over time, she realized she was not a stranger, but she
had gotten a “new” brain. She spent years after her car accident
seeking help to recover through a neurophysical therapist and
speech therapist. She discovered the role of physical medicine,
rehabilitation doctors, and behavioral optometrists in caring for
brain injury patients. These specialists taught her how to live and
work with sound and light sensitivity and chronic fatigue. As time
passed, she got better and got to know the new “me.” She is not the
same person she was before her brain injury. Her personality and
values changed. She became like a sloth rather than the energizer
bunny she was before her brain injury. Her traumatic brain injury
marked the beginning of a new life and a personal journey of
self-discovery. Her brain injury led her to change her career,
write a book, and become a brain injury advocate. Her brain injury
recovery has been long and challenging, but she likes the new “me”
and her new brain. She shares her story so others know there is
hope and they are not alone. You can learn more about Kelly in her
book After the Crash: How to Keep Your Job, Stay in School, and
Live Life After a Brain Injury.