2.

Where to start? I turned 35 this past year (holy crap, I feel old), prior to my accident I had a pretty good life, I was working in an industry that I love and I was good at my job - if I do say so myself. I was working as the Pastry Chef at the Sheraton Keahou Bay on the Big Island of Hawaii, I was renting a great condo, I had found a fantastic roommate, and I had awesome friends. Then came August 1, 2009 and my life changed forever. It hasn't been easy and I do NOT wish this journey on anyone but I do feel that it is important to get my story out there.  If there is a chance that my story can help someone else who might be facing a Brain Injury, it would be irresponsible to not share what I have learned.
 I was able to be home in San Dieo with loved ones for Halloween, I celebrated Thanksgiving with my family, I spent the Christmas season with my family and close family friends, I was able to ring in the New Year and if you ask anyone close to me you would hear how close we came to not being able to do just that. My friends are a huge part of my life and things might be a little harder for me right now but I don't feel alone. I have lost touch with very few people and I have been able to reconnect with people I thought I had lost awhile back. I am grateful that I am still here and I am working hard to get as much of my life back on track as possible. I miss working, I miss driving, I miss living on my own but I have faith that I will achieve those things for myself once again.

3.

I had some very dear friends go to Oahu to be with me from the beginning, although I have thanked them I would like to take this time to extend a huge hug to Tera, Jo, and Aaron for making their way to my bedside and being there for me in my darkest hours. All of this happened while my parents were called and told of my accident and how serious it really was. This is a phone call that you never want your family to receive.  My mom got the first flight she could to Hawaii, out of LA, and depended on dear family friends to get her to the airport. All the while my Dad stayed home and waited to hear back from the hospital and let my sister and her husband know what was going on. Here is where I will let you know that it ts entirely possible that I have the best family EVER. They have loved and supported me, even when I had no idea what was going on. My best friend Lauren flew from North Carolina to be with me, her family came to Oahu for other family reasons and while they were in Oahu Lauren, her brother Randy,her mom Renee and her dad Mark were at that hospital willing me to get better. They supported my family and friends and officially became a second family to me - Lauren and I have always joked that we must've separated at birth because as adults we became friends very quickly and we never looked back.  My dear friend Kate also made it to Oahu to hold my hand and make sure I was receiving the treatments I so badly needed.   We had "slumber parties" in my hospital room and while I was in a coma Kate talked to the nursing staff and did her best to get My Mom to take care of herself.  My Mom, bless her heart, stayed with me in Hawaii the entire time until I was finally released from the hospital. My Dad and my sister came to the hospital in Oahu to see me and then went over to the Big Island to clean out my apartment and put my things in storage. They managed to bring back a few things they thought would be important to me (photos, recipe notebooks, stuffed animals, my computer, specific shoes - hey, I'm a girl). I cannot explain to you what it feels like to know, to really know, that the people you love most in the world will stand by your side and fight for you when you can't fight for yourself.