Surviving Life-Altering Trauma: How BIAD Helped Me Regain Control
My name is Darryl and I am 58 years old. When I was a baby, I was dropped on my head and I believe I have struggled with neurodiversity ever since. I have lived a hard but full life. I have worked hard my entire life as a finishing contractor and owned my own business for many, many years.
In December 2022, I was driving to work when I had a seizure and subsequently crashed into a telephone pole, the airbags deployed and the impact of the airbags caused significant trauma to my head. I was sent to the hospital and treated however, minimal investigation was done as to why I suffered a seizure. Fast forward a few weeks later in where I suffered another seizure in the kitchen, fell and hit my head on the corner of the microwave. As a result of this accident I suffered a number of brain bleeds, 1/3rd of my brain was bleeding. Thankfully, I was placed on anti-seizure medication at this time and diagnosed with a TBI and epilepsy.
These accidents and my new diagnosis’ changed my life drastically. I was unable to work, unable to properly care for myself and had to relearn a lot of the skills that I had known well and used my entire life. I lost everything and struggled to survive.
Shamefully, I made my way to ODSP to attempt to be placed on assistance. I wasn’t met with much help until a lady sent me down to BIAD. That day, I walked down to BIAD with minimal hope in anyone helping me. Once there, I was met with opened arms. I met with the intake coordinator who assured me that she would help me and she began working on my case immediately, flagging me as urgent as a result of the minimal support and community connection I currently had. She helped me to apply for OW which was approved within a few weeks and I was able to receive some type of income to support myself.
Since, I’ve been working with my full time Community Care Coordinator closely and together, we’ve accomplished so many goals. BIAD has changed my life. I’d be lost without these people. They are always willing to help, listen and point me in the right direction. I don’t feel like just a number, I feel like they truly care about me, my understanding of my brain injury and my success through this new lens. The people who work for BIAD are angels on earth, they all have big hearts and go above and beyond.
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