Random and rare clear thought from a man/husband with a brain injury.
I’m fascinated with my wife.
She has...
Witnessed me struggle and change
Taken care of me while caring for our child
Never complained
Been by my side since the day I met her.
That’s love. ❤️
After being hit by car as pedestrian and suffered traumatic brain injury/skull fractures 3 months ago, I watched
@CarBombBoom13
video with a new understanding. It’s not easily explained. It’s fucked. It’s hard. It’s different. I struggle daily. I will get better.
My wife has been through it
1 day got a call that her husband was run over by a car
Met me in the ER
2 icu and 🧠 rehab facility
9 mons of outpatient therapy
Her strength kept me going
Caretakers change lives.
#tbi
She’s a rok
♥️caretakers
Thoughts u should know
2 years 2 the day.
•
Never woulda thought getting seltzer water from rite aid woulda turned my world and life upside down.
•
Thank you to all that support and stay in touch.
•
Your thoughts have been greatly appreciated and needed
•
❤️
I’m humbled with tears of gratitude...my family and I thank the
@BCEagles
and everyone for all the support.
I am lucky.
I know I am.
I forget sometimes.
Especially when things are tough.
All the support and tweets like this help remind me.
❤️
Best part of
@LandonKosior
& my tour of Boston College Hockey today was seeing
@HumboldtBroncos
still on the BC Eagles Prayer Board in the team's dressing room. May we never forgot those 16 precious lives lost, as well as all those still fighting for their health!
I get really tired.
I fell asleep on the couch tonight, woke up in time (7:30pm) to help put our 3 year old daughter to bed
Daughter asked ‘why is daddy always sleepy’
It made me sad
Mommy said ‘cause daddy has a brain injury, and he is getting better’
I married the lady of my dreams 10 years ago today.
•
Today we shared a churro Sundae with our 4 year old.
•
Old we will become together
•
I win
•
👊🏼♥️😇
3 years ago today I was struck by a car resulting in💀 fractures and 🧠 bleeds
Spent many weeks in ICU and in rehab
I’m lucky for the support I’ve received
I’m not the same, I won’t be the same as before, but I’ll continue to improve
Work in progress
❤️
1st time skating in 5 years
Was humbling and sad to be honest
Our daughter has been skating with my mom for a few weeks
She’s been demanding that I go skating with her
I did. I loved it. But..
It was hard
Really hard
My balance is bad
I’m tired.
It took all my energy
Impossible to fully express all that I am thankful for this year but:
EVERYONE who sent thoughts and has supported me and my family
Dr’s/Nurses
@AlbanyMed
Therapists
Wife/Daughter
Family/Friends
1st responders
Cherish every moment as things can change in an instant♥️
My 5 year old daughter asked to play hockey with me while at my patents or, her grand parents.
I learnt hockey exactly here.
This is where I learnt to play hockey.
Also note.
This was the 1st time in 3 years I have touched a hockey stick.
Children are special.
❤️
This video means so much to me.
The caretakers of humans with 🧠 injuries and
#Mentalhealth
issues are the strongest and most loving people on earth.
I often don’t make sense to myself. I make poor decisions, my wife loves me and supports me unconditionally
#captainofmyteam
I went to this event today for the 1st time
•
I didn’t go into the room
•
I stood outside and listened
•
Then cried
•
I was sad 4 the voices I heard inside
•
I was sad that this has become my life
•
I left
•
Called my wife
•
‘I’m proud of U that U tried’ she said
•
❤️❤️
Thankful 4 hockey people
•
Been a tough month
•
Other day, I unexpectedly received a vid of support from over 50+ coworkers
•
Youth coaches 2 NHL coaches
•
❤️ U ALL
•
It meant the world to me and my girls
•
Tears of happiness
•
Thank you!
•
❤️
Justin Gallegos, a runner at Oregon with cerebral palsy, thought he was just finishing another cross country race. Little did he know, Nike was waiting at the finish line to offer him a pro contract (via
@kabdullah360
/ Elevation 0m)
It’s with a bittersweet but a happy ❤️ that we dropped our daughter for her first day of school.
Selfishly I’m sad as I feel old, but as a parent I am extremely proud.
She is in great hands and she will live up to, and probably exceed her potential.
❤️
It’s been over 3 years since this photo.
•
Point is.
•
My daughter asks me often about hockey.
•
Mostly, why we don’t DO hockey anymore
•
‘Why does dad not teach hockey anymore’
•
I AM STILL SEARCHING FOR THE ANSWER.
•
That’s the truth.
•
❤️
We are riding a train tonight
•
I am a wearing glasses that help block a wavelength
•
The purple ‘wavelength’ might be the wavelength that my 🧠 doesn’t like
•
Thank you
@CarBombBoom13
for informing me of
@TheCarrickInst
•
😜
Well tonight while scrolling through Twitter I officially felt like I am missing out.
For possibly the first time since 1983 I will not be participating in preseason hockey in one way or another.
Go get it!
As a team.
As a person.
#outsidelookingin
#stillwatching
Thank you to
@Chiefs_Hockey
for this.
•
I am fortunate, lucky and privileged to be a part of this incredible organization.
•
Looking forward to Saturday.
•
❤️
•
🙏
NEWS: Chiefs to Honour Alumni Nolan Graham this Saturday.
"Nolan was the consummate teammate. Always quick-witted and a guy that was able to keep our guys loose but get under the opponents’ skin just as well. He played fearless."
🔗
I cheer for good people to have success.
•
It’s all about good people.
•
Go
@BenBarrUMass
and
@UMassHockey
!!!
•
Benny has never not ever reached out to me.
•
Pretty much weekly.
•
He totally cares and deserves all he gets.
•
A complete legend!!!
Today has been ruff
•
I miss my friends in hockey and my career n hockey.
•
I love coaching hockey and providing athletes a future.
•
Comment away.
•
I could care less of what you think of my thoughts.
•
🤷♂️
I am forever thankful and grateful for
@Crystalgraham7
, and that she willingly signed my life long ‘teammate contract’
•
4ever thankful 4my team
•
Happy 🇨🇦 Thanksgiving to our friends and your teammates, regardless of which side of the border line you live.
•
👊🏼❤️
Today was a great day!
•
Me-my daughter-my bro- his daughter - went swimming today
•
It’s the most time that me and my bros daughter have ever spent together
•
As my 3yo said - ‘it was magical, like a unicorn’
•
I also went up a MT in am
•
🤷♂️
5 yrs ago I pushed my 8 yo nephew 2 safety and took a hit, suffered many 🧠 bleeds and 💀 fractures.
I lost everything but I saved him
I wouldn’t change a thing
This song speaks to me
The Head and the Heart - Another Story [OFFICIAL VIDEO] via
@YouTube
To lighten things up
•
I was forced into self isolation 3/6/18
•
Due to CARvid-riteaid (
#TBI
hit by car)
•
Anxious
•
Confused
•
Numb
•
Seizures
•
But to my credit - I still haven’t hoarded toilet paper
•
I’ll chalk that up as a win
•
🤷♂️❤️
Happy Thanksgiving!
•
I’m thankful for my life and everyone in my life
•
From the people I see everyday to the follower I have never met
•
I’m thankful for every1
•
I’m 🇨🇦 and have been privileged to have spent most of life in 🇺🇸
•
Today, I’m thankful for my 🇺🇸 friends.
❤️
@RPI_Hockey
I’m really happy for the RPI players, all of them!
Recruited most of them
Some players I’ve known since 15 years old
To the players I recruited
I’ve always believed in you
I’m proud of you
❤️👊🏼
I watch closely
❤️
Wish it wasn’t true.
•
Haven’t heard anything from RPI or staff in months or years.
•
No idea why they cut ties, but they did.
•
I will figure it out. I don’t need RPI any more
•
Not happy with how RPI alienated me and treated me.
•
Spent 15yrs as a student and employee
To explain what it’s like with a serious 🧠 injury is like trying to explain how to use solve a sudoku puzzle with Arabic alphabet
It’s confusing
There are so many aspects
I’m different
I’m confused/frustrated/alone/angry
I’m proud of these words
#TBI
@CarBombBoom13
Hello Canada 🇨🇦
Your alpine playground is waiting for you at the new 2024 Ultra Trail Whistler by UTMB.
🗓️ Sept 28-29, 2024
🏃 🟩 100K, 🟧 50K, 🟨 25K
Priority Registration opens on October 30, 2023.
All info
#UTMBWorldSeries
#UltraTrailWhistlerbyUTMB
At times I don’t have a effing clue what is going on..
•
Particularly now with covid!?
•
I do know..........
•
That I have been married 11 years on the 25th of July.
•
We will celebrate when we can acquire a babysitter.
•
I’m proud of our accomplishment.
•
We should be ❤️
I’m still accepting that I can’t coach anymore
🧠 injury sucks and is very disabling
Check my record as a HC if you want
I had high hopes
Honestly, it still hurts not coaching
But I’m grateful to be able to be a fan
Love to all
❤️
via
@YouTube
Today is
#NationalCaregiversDay
3rd Friday in February everyyear
I didn’t know this existed 4 years ago
I do now
I won’t even begin to think where I’d be be without these two women
It hasn’t been as easy as I’ve portrayed
Who would be your caregivers if shit hit the fan.
Sometimes we run and sometimes we skip
•
But we always have fun when we are together!
•
Love your neighbor as you love your own family.
•
We are all equal.
•
❤️
•
#skiptomyloumydarling
These two loves of my life.
•
Won’t think about where I’d be without them post skull fractures and brain hemorrhages.
•
Oh and happy 43rd BDay to me. 😀
Was an absolute privilege to be asked to be on the pod.
•
I am grateful for all who have contributed the go fund me page as well as those continue to stay in touch and support me through my life.
•
❤️
Unbelievably inspiring episode with former RPI assistant coach, Nolan Graham. One of the great minds in our game opens up about the traumatic brain injury he suffered back in 2018 that forced him out of coaching the game he loves. He was honest, open, shared some awesome stories
Tonight’s view was too good to not share
I share, not to brag or make myself feel good, but to remind myself that I am lucky!
I have the love of my wife, and the love of my daughter
It is their love that has brought us here
We are where we are supposed to be
❤️❤️❤️
Brain Injury is real.
It’s unexplainable.
It changes you in ways that you can’t even imagine.
It’s sad. It’s confusing. Its different.
I wish I didn’t have to try to explain Brain Injury.
I believe I am strong enough to advocate for the brain injured humans out there.
Out of nowhere my 5 yo girl asked why daddy didn’t coach hockey anymore.
•
I had no answer that I was willing to provide.
•
One day I’ll explain.
•
But tonight I will bite my tongue and smile.
•
❤️her
Feel the need to add context.
•
Watching hockey on TV
•
Looked at my wife and said
•
‘I can’t believe it’s been 4 years since I was involved in hockey.’
•
Then thought OMG!
•
This is the longest I have ever been out of hockey
•
I became sad
•
I’m ok admitting this.
•
❤️
Today has been ruff
•
I miss my friends in hockey and my career n hockey.
•
I love coaching hockey and providing athletes a future.
•
Comment away.
•
I could care less of what you think of my thoughts.
•
🤷♂️
Absolutely legendary!
•
My dad is, and still is a welder
•
Currently in his 60’s
•
His skill of the trade and work ethic has provided me all that I could of asked for
•
He is now volunteering his trade on the Alberni Steam Train restoration
•
#hewouldvehelped
#inaninstant
At a hockey game in Grande Prairie, a bench gate latch broke during a game. Only in Canada and you’re at a hockey game would you hear the following announcement
“Does anyone in the crowd have a welding truck”. Naturally, in Grande Prarie, someone did. The game must go on!
N’night from our abode
•
Bon appètit
•
We will posting on the gofundme page soon
•
I can’t properly explain the level of gratitude that I have for everyone that has sent thoughts and well wishes
•
The support has been life changing
•
For the better obviously
•
Love you all
After my 🧠 injury
•
My neurologist told me...
•
Now’s not the time to be perfect
•
We need to step aside and survive
•
Things are different, our expectations need to be different
•
Don’t be hard on yourself or kids or family
•
#braininjurylessons
•
❤️
Happy VDay!
•
Photo from a small restaurant in Nanaimo
•
2 our surprise lol all other patrons had young 2-6 yo daughters
•
It was 4pm
•
We had 8 extra headband craft sets
•
Wife and daughter gave a craft set 2 all the girls (7 in total)
•
It was fantastic! ❤️
Happy 8th Birthday to our beautiful daughter Elizabeth Rose Graham.
•
I can’t thank you enough for your energy and positivity over the past 5 years.
•
I love you.
•
❤️
I love 🇺🇸
•
I love 🇨🇦
•
🇺🇸 has provided me an opportunity to achieve my dreams
•
I was educated in NY on scholarship
•
Played minor pro hockey in AK - CA - TX
•
Was a coach in NY for 10 yrs
•
Let’s listen to our fellow humans
•
For our children, let’s improve
•
❤️
Went to my Brain Injury society group today
•
It was about creative writing
•
Upon entry we had to choose a pic from a hundred pics
•
I chose this 1
•
Minutes later we had 5 minutes to write about the pic we picked.
•
My pic and my words
•
❤️
Being real
•
I posted,then deleted last night
•
It’s been two+ below average days
•
Here is what Encephalomalacia looks like in person
•
And in a MRI
•
In text from a radiologist
•
I’m good tonight
•
Sad but good
•
Smile tonight & take care of another
•
You will be rich
Nice afternoon crabbing and watching the sea lions with my dad and family.
•
We were lucky when and were able to collect 6 keeper Dungeness crab.
•
We caught 38 crab in 1 hour.
•
Great time had by all!
•
Except the 6 keepers.
•
Also saw thousands of sea-lions!!!!
#BellLetsTalk
and my thoughts about mental illness.
•
May not be clearly expressed but I hope you get my drift.
•
Care about others before issues arise.
•
❤️
Thank you
@CeHLHistory
for the mention!
I’m honestly humbled to be mentioned on this account
Love reliving my memories of my time down south and really love reconnecting with some old teammates and some other players from opposing teams
Thank you again for the mention!
❤️🏒
A B.C. native and an RPI man at heart, Nolan Graham only played 2 seasons in the CHL, but made a big impact in Lubbock nonetheless. The 2006 CHL All-Star scored 44 goals in 111 games with the Cotton Kings and in ‘05-‘06, tied for the team lead in goals with 26.
@NGrahamer
12 years (6.8.2009) since we lost Nathan Marsters
•
Miss you buddy
•
You are still one of the best and most funny humans I have ever had the pleasure of calling a friend
•
RIP
•
❤️
4 year old daughter just cut me off during bedtime songs and said
•
‘that’s good singing, but no more’
•
I’m not sure if I should be offended or fist pump as I leave her room.
🦁 CONTRACT EXTENSION 🦁
We have agreed to a contract extension with Head Coach Kirk MacDonald. The new contract is a 2-year deal with a team option for the 2021-22 season
#RestoreTheRoar
⤵️⤵️
Happy New Year to all!
•
Here’s to a better year in 2022.
•
However you feel,remember we are all fortunate to be here.
•
Be grateful for today and the people in your life.
•
❤️
To lighten things up:
•
The couple in the back ordered chocolate cake as their appetizer
•
They went on to have soup/salad/main
•
Now back finishing the cake
•
I love their style
•
Oh and of course these two ladies in front of me. ❤️
There should be evening classes for dads with daughters
•
Teach us how to hairstyle our daughters
•
Including beer and wine wouldn’t be a bad idea.
•
🤷♂️
#daughtersponytaillookslikeitwasdonebyafish
Here is focal epileptic seizures post traumatic brain injury
•
Happens every week or so
•
Close left eye and try to function with absolutely no feeling in left side of body
•
Best way to describe he feeling
•
Awareness for brain injury is my new passion
•
❤️
Breaking conversation:
Me: [putting chapstick on]
3yo Daughter: what u doing?
Me: putting chapstick on my cracked lips
3yo Daughter: how do you get a vagina crack?
Me: uhhhhh. Just the way it is. 🤷♂️
Legend.
Rosco please know that every person that ever had relations with you, player, coach, teacher, ncaa coach, pro coach, fan, absolutely loved you.
•
Your heart for all will always speak to me.
•
Rest in Peace Legend.
•
❤️😢
Make another persons life special, if you are able.
Forget money and the lottery.
You don’t need it.
Making another person smile is what we all should be striving for.
I believe it’s that simple.
👊🏼❤️😀
Was an absolute privilege to be asked to be on the pod.
•
I am grateful for all who have contributed the go fund me page as well as those continue to stay in touch and support me through my life.
•
❤️
This episode with
@NGrahamer
is easily one of my favorites we’ve done in the 5+ years we’ve been doing this. Just an amazing human and great hockey mind. You will be a better person after listening to this.
🎙️:
I’d run through a brick wall for Bruce Boudreau
I’d trade in all my assets to not be associated with the aqualini family.
I hope they sell the team to a group that actually cares about
@Canucks
It all starts from the top
Ownership is the problem
#Canucks
#bruceboudreau
#nhl
When your family is out celebrating a birthday and vacation but the mental stimulus is too much.
•
You go back to the hotel room and watch ‘ Wheel of Fortune’ alone.
•
#BrainInjury