I have no memory of the first six weeks. My first clear memory is April 21, 1996—43 days after the crash. I woke up in a hospital bed, looked out the window expecting snow, and saw green leaves and freshly cut grass. I thought, “What the hell?”
I got out of bed, went to the window, then noticed the family calendar by the door. They had been crossing off days since March 9. I had been in a coma until March 29 and was still in the hospital.
A nurse explained everything. I asked how long I’d be there and what I had to do to go home. She gave me a long list of “normal” functions I needed to demonstrate. I replied, “I was never tested for any of these before the accident—what are you comparing me to?” She said “normal.” I answered, “Well, there’s your first mistake—I’ve never considered myself normal. I’ve always considered myself better than that.”
She smiled and said, “Then I guess it’s going to take you longer to go home, because we’ll hold you to a higher standard.” I laughed. That attitude carried me through.
TBI and coma facts:
Comas after severe TBI typically last days to a few weeks (rarely longer than 3–4 weeks). My 20-day coma was consistent with severe injury. Emergence often involves post-traumatic amnesia (PTA), confusion, and agitation. Frontal-lobe involvement commonly causes temporary personality changes, including aggression or irritability. Recovery can continue for years; many patients show meaningful gains between 6 and 24 months post-injury. (Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center “Understanding TBI: Part 3”; UPMC Neurological Surgery research, 2026; Rancho Los Amigos Levels of Cognitive Functioning)
Head trauma frequently produces aggressive or angry behavior during early recovery—exactly what the staff at Regions observed. They removed the phone from my room because I was calling people at 1–2 a.m. (I have zero memory of this). I wore a hospital gown with an alarm pin; every time I tried to wander, it sounded. In my mind, I was fine and being held prisoner.
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Chapter 4: Transfer to Bethesda Hospital – Freedom and Rehabilitation
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