When people ask about my TBI, they often ask how “bad” it was. In the medical world, they use a snapshot called the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) to measure consciousness.
On that scale, I was a 7.
What does a 7 actually mean?
- The Category: It’s officially classified as Severe.
- The State: Anything 8 or below is clinically considered a coma. At a 7, I wasn’t just “asleep”—my brain had essentially shut down its arousal systems to protect itself.
- The Fight: A score this low usually means you can’t protect your own airway or respond to the world around you. It’s the point where doctors and machines have to take over.
Why I’m sharing this
I mention the “7” not for the shock value, but for the perspective. Looking at where I am today—back at work and building this site—compared to where I was on that scale is a reminder of how far the human brain can travel.
Recovery isn’t just about getting back to “normal”; it’s about acknowledging how deep the hole was and celebrating every inch of the climb out.
—
Leave a Reply