28 Mar 2016
My name is Isaac R, and I am a senior in high school this year. I have been dual-enrolled since tenth grade and will graduate high school with my AA degree from the local college. I plan to continue my college education and earn a degree in Accounting.
My TBI was a result of brain surgery when I was eight years old, I had a complete hemispherectomy done at Miami Children’s Hospital for intractable seizures. The surgery was successful, I have been completely seizure free since surgery, and am off all medications.
I was however, permanently physically disabled and well as visually impaired because of the surgery, and spent many years in therapy relearning how to walk and talk, and relearn all the social niceties that are included, such as personal space, and that fact that pauses in conversation don’t mean people are done talking. My family says that the passage of time was a difficult concept for me to regain, and I gave them a whole new understanding to the phrase “Are we there yet?” I received a therapy dog from Canine Companions who helped me in so many ways psychologically, as well as getting me up to speed with my walking. I tried many sports, but with my visual impairment team sports moved too fast for me, so I now play tennis. I have an awesome one handed serve.
I have worked hard to get back to my grade level academically, and I am very excited to be graduating and moving on to college next year.