Surviving the Storm: My Journey Toward Healing By Rachel Davis
Meditating with the Cefaly Device
Originally, my injury was diagnosed as a concussion. I was a teacher headed to a leadership training with 21 students to Fellowship Farms in Pottstown, PA. The driver of the school bus ran the red light and hit two cars. I was sitting in the front seat. I hit my head against the bolster and the back of the seat. Imagine a bobble-head. Months later I would be properly diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury. My family was told I would be better in a few weeks but the weeks turned to months.
No one processed my accident information for a long time. When the new school year came in September, I was expected to return to work. My family and I had to fight for the correct diagnosis and treatment. Once the treatment started we had to fight to keep Workmen’s Compensation paying for it. Every few months, we had to go back to court to prove I was still affected by the TBI. Once correctly diagnosed, I was sent to Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation to begin Speech Therapy and Vestibular Therapy. I remember using the Dynavison Machine to improve my eye/hand coordination, visual memory, and cognitive endurance. It was great for treatment and fun to use. I’ve had plenty of physical therapy, occupational therapy, along with low vision therapy to help with some of my issues, like photophobia, phonophobia, vertigo, constant headaches, and loss of balance. After reaching a plateau, I was able to function in my new normal, but the symptoms came back. This caused me to go to Moss Rehabilitation. Where I had to start all over again. I also suffer from headaches every day since the accident - after a variety of different medications, I am currently using a Cefaly device which does decrease the pain for a short period, along with Botox and Emgality. Unfortunately, even with this combination, I am never headache-free.
“Heal me, O Lord and I will be healed: Save me an I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.”
As I was healing this was posted on the back of my door. I even purchased a shirt that states, “I’m Healed”. For me, positive thinking is how I move forward in life. I choose to stay positive about life and focus on the blessing and love that God has placed in my life rather than dwell on the negative. I could cry every day over constantly having headaches, but instead, I focus on the beauty of waking up everyday!
I have suffered from headaches every day since the accident. I haven’t had any relief. But with meditation, it brings about relaxation and instant calm to my body. So far I’ve taken 3 mindful meditation classes (6 weeks each) and one LoveYourBrain yoga class. It helps with my balance and it provides me more energy and flexibility.
Brain Injury Association of PA Conference, Lancaster, PA (2017)
Patience is such an important word in the process of healing. We must have the patience to stand in the storm and trust that we are strong enough to survive this ordeal. We need to trust the people who are placed in our circle to help heal us. Lastly, you must be kind to yourself. Life is no longer the same nor are you. Love yourself enough to push past the hurt and the pain and create a new world.
As a survivor, I’ve learned how important it is to seek support with this condition. This is not a road we can travel alone, although many do. We need supportive, caring, non-judgemental, reliable people to be on our journey to healing. Having support groups like the Empowerment Group at Drucker Brain Injury Center at Moss Rehabilitation Hospital, programs like LoveYourBrain and Mindful Meditation classes, and more help us to develop a new normal and create a world we can all live in.
Youth Ministry Group 2019 counting money raised for homeless youth