The Night Everything Changed
It’s hard to believe it’s been over a year since my Traumatic Brain Injury on October 13, 2024. The night before started out completely normal. I was out late with Derrick, Chris, and a few other friends. When we were ready to call it a night, we invited some guests to come hang out at the condo for a while.
At some point, I went outside to take Denali and Rainier for a potty break. That’s where my memory stops. I really would like to know what they did after I suffered a fall that severely damaged one side of my head.
The Rescue
I wouldn’t be writing this today if it weren’t for Dan. We had just met him that night while we were out, but he happened to be out on the balcony three floors up. As an Army veteran, when he saw me lying unconscious in the parking lot, he didn’t hesitate. He ran all the way down and immediately began giving me CPR while we waited for an ambulance to arrive.
The Medical Reality
I was air-lifted to the Level I trauma center in Columbia, MO, where I arrived intubated and in a coma. Things were not good. According to the medical documents, the doctors didn’t know if I would come back.
To put the severity into perspective, I had sustained a massive multi-compartment brain bleed. This included a left subdural hematoma that shifted my brain 3 millimeters off-center, along with subarachnoid hemorrhages and a right epidural hematoma. On top of the internal bleeding, I had a comminuted fracture in my right parietal bone, a fractured right cheekbone, and a scalp laceration that required three staples.
The Climb Back
Surprise, surprise—I came back! But waking up from the coma was just the beginning. I had a lot of re-learning to do and a very tall hill to climb.
I am incredibly grateful to a special person who, through their connections, was able to get me admitted to MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital. It was exactly the best place I needed to be, and I went through some amazing and much-needed rehabilitation and recovery programs there and at Ability KC.
Long story short, with incredible support—including from Steven, and my employer (first ones after the accident), who stood by my side through the entire process—I was able to graduate from rehab and return to work six months later.
While my life will never be exactly like it was before the accident, I am thankful for every single person who has been there for me. You have all made October 13th a day of celebration—my “re-birth day”—rather than a day of sadness. I am truly blessed.
©2026 Timpossible