Portrait: Chris

How long ago was your brain injury and what was the diagnosis?

I grew up in the mountain of Northern Utah in the United States where I enjoyed playing baseball, art, and being with friends. Thanksgiving night back in 1992, I went to sleep not to wake up for three weeks. I was in a coma induced by the rupture of an undetected cerebral arterial venous malformation (AVM) that put massive pressure on my brain. I had two emergency brain surgeries to remove the initial rupture and six more brain surgeries spanning the next eight years to completely remove the AVM. At the time of my last surgery, I was a junior in high school preparing to take Advanced Placed English and Literature exams for college placement, but after my eight brain surgeries, I lost the ability to talk or read—the same horrifying experience that I had after the initial rupturing of the AVM. Thankfully, I recovered remarkably fast and was able to take those exams the next year as well as go to college the following year.

What were the first symptoms you experienced or knew something was wrong?

A couple of years leading up to the initial rupture, I had severe headaches. I visited doctors who told me to just take Tylenol. And although any brain scan would have shown the AVM clearly, no scans were called for. Then the day after Thanksgiving, my parents couldn’t wake me up. I was flown by helicopter to a regional children’s hospital for emergency surgery.

Name the more difficult symptoms that you’ve experienced following brain injury.

I went through intensive physical, occupational and speech therapy to learn such basic skills and walking, talking, or eating on my own. I’ve so grateful that I’ve recovered as well as I have but I’m still left with a slight limp, some lack of control of my right arm and leg and sometimes have difficulty finding the right word.

Which health specialists were involved during your rehab and recovery process?

I had an amazing medical team of neurosurgeons, therapists and nurses. I’m so grateful to have one of the best pediatric neurosurgeons in the United States in my area. After the immediate concerns of removing the AVM, I spent nearly ten years of therapy to regain the skills I had lost. I built great relationships with them and have stayed in contact with some even to this day.

Do you have hobbies or activities you now enjoy since your brain injury?

Despite losing the ability twice, I love reading and writing. I’ve written four published books—three novels and one self-help book and am working on my fourth novel. I’ve enjoyed cycling for decades as well as running and traveling. I love visiting family and hosting family on my small six-acre farm in the mountains of Idaho.

Who are your sources of support?

Throughout my brain injury journey, my family has been my greatest support. I’ve been very lucky to have communities of neighbors and church groups who have added additional support over the years.

The highs: What has been most successful in the recovery journey?

From as early after my brain injury as I can remember, I knew that I didn’t want to let my brain injury from stopping me from doing or experiencing things that I wanted to accomplish. Following my last procedures relating to my brain injury, I graduated from college and received a master’s degree from one of the top schools in my program area. I’ve run marathons, run for public office, written books, and traveled the world.

The lows: What’s missing in the recovery journey and ways it could be overcome?

For the decades following my brain injury, I always had in the back of my mind that my goal should be to showcase my aptitude and ability to be high enough that no one would notice I was a person with a brain injury. And I was super successful at doing just that. By and large, I don’t think people see me in that way.But in recent years, I’ve started to realize that my desire to mask my brain injury experience and the residual effects from it have kept me away from allowing those around me to know me from that very significant vantage point.

I think that if I had been given encouragement as a kid and especially as a teenager to embrace that piece of my life journey instead of trying to prove I could measure up against people without brain injuries, I would be more comfortable living in my own skin and might even be able to view my injury not just as something I need to overcome.

What advice would you give to other survivors and caregivers?

Life after severe brain injuries is not the same as it might have been before, but it can be incredibly rich and rewarding in many ways.

And some of what makes the post brain injury experience rewarding is because of the injury not despite of it. The ability to show true empathy for others who deal with health challenges, the grit and perseverance that has come from relearning skills I’ve lost and that magical sense of getting a second chance at life are superpowers I’m very grateful for now.

Why I’m taking part in SameYou’s Bike & Hike!

I’m hoping that participating in the Ibiza Bike & Hike event will help me break free from looking at my brain injury simply as a challenge to overcome and instead recognize it deep inside as a unique experience that has taught me a new way of living—one that takes an asset-framed approach looking for what’s possible rather than what might be seen as only impossible.

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