Day 395: 3,287 days

Today marks nine years since my traumatic brain injury...or, 3,287 days. 1,643 of those days I spent doing full-, or part-time, rehabilitation therapy. I transferred to the best school in the world because they could accommodate both rehabbing my brain injury and allowing me to take classes part time until I earned my B.A. in Psychology with minors in Neuroscience and Classics. On the 1,643rd day, I graduated from the program as having finally beaten my post-concussive disorder.

After recovering, I began the count over. Today I celebrate my 1,643rd day since beating post-concussive disorder. I can't believe it. And it makes the time in speech, vestibular, occupational, and physical therapy so much more concrete. Some periods are flashbulb memories I recall in a pointillism fashion. Other periods are smudged, smeared like brush strokes on a canvas that have scabbed over, obscuring the details.

Tonight, I celebrate with my husband, playing in our weekly online chess tournament through the Marshall Chess Club with my best furry friend (Rory) trying to crawl into my lap.

With so much gratitude in my heart...

Prepare, don't panic,

-Allison