*It's that time again....the next, updated version of my dream....
“The Dream of a Lifetime”
Have you ever had a dream that seemed so real that when you woke up you let out a sigh of relief or maybe even disappointment realizing it was only a dream? The dream I had was neither of those because my dream turned into the story of my life.
One day I was “fighting” with my high school, in Mississippi, convincing them to let guys be on the cheer squad; the next thing I knew I was in a “jail cell” (hospital bed) and couldn’t even move. I was told I had been in a severe car accident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury (TBI). For those of you who don’t know, this really messes with your memory. I wasn’t able to talk, walk, eat, or even remember who this lady was that claimed to be my mother.
I was in was a strange place, but it was full of people I knew except, they were from all sorts of different places and times throughout my life. My step-mom and Dad were there and they are from Colorado (I lived in Mississippi at the time). My sister and her family were there too, and they live in Texas. To top it off, my old gymnastics coach who had moved to Jackson (a town 200 miles away from Saltillo, the town I thought I was in, was there! People were there from my high school, but they were the only people in this “dream” that should’ve been there; I was in high school. It turned out that they were all there to see me. Why, what did I do that was so great? I was filled with anticipation. This was definitely a dream, but how would it end?? This place wasn’t my house or a place I’d ever been to or even seen before.
Soon I realized I couldn’t move, and there were strange people who came in to move my limbs for me. I was given several tests, daily, to see if my cognition had improved. I was asked things like, “If you look out the window, is it night or daytime?” I was asked what year it was and who the president was. I was asked to do simple things like tie my own shoe, and to my surprise, I couldn’t do it! I was scared, I wanted my mommy!! I was going to get to the bottom of this. I had to find out if this woman who called herself my mom really, indeed, was her. To figure this out, I had to be mean. I knew I could do anything to her; if she was really my mom she could take anything-- my mom was superwoman. In the process of determining if she was my mom, I dislocated a finger or two of hers and bit her hard enough to draw blood. I went on by interrogating her about everything. I told my so called mom that I didn’t like this game and didn’t want to play it anymore. I was told several times that I had been in a severe car accident, but couldn’t grasp the idea of being hurt. In disbelief, I asked who, if anyone, was with me. I was told a girl’s name that I hadn’t ever heard of, so I knew, that it was everybody else that was crazy. It wasn’t until a while after I got home that my mom convinced me that she was my real mom, and it still wasn’t until I had friends visit me, who could tell me about my past (which I thought was present), that I realized I had really been in a car accident.
Through the beginning stages of the healing process, people at Church (First Baptist Church, Saltillo, Mississippi) would shake my hand and I would, nonchalantly, bite or flip them off. At home when people would come to visit, I would show off and I mean that literally, my aunt would say, “Kimi, you’re as naked as a jaybird.” I didn’t care because I had visions of my Savior coming, and He wouldn’t take me Home unless I went to my tomb just like I came out of my mother's’ womb; in my birthday suit (Job 1:21). Even to this day I can’t remember the two years before the wreck, but I think that it is my body’s way of protecting me from the trauma. When reminded about certain events and the people that were around, the memories vaguely resurface, and I still sporadically regain crazy memories. This whole healing process is much like growing up, all over again, anticipating what each day will bring, but I’m just like everybody else in the sense that I’m learning too. I am just learning everything all over again. So a dream isn’t always a dream; when it seems as real as life, it could be.
After many years, I graduated with my Associates’ of Arts degree from a community college and then my BA from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS). I am still unable to drive, but it’s ok because in February of 2010 I started taking classes at Kaplan University…ONLINE!!! My need to drive had lessened.
My first book was a children’s book and is a children’s book that introduces diversity. Although it is a “children’s book,” I am sure the audience that benefits from this book has no age limit. My first job after my accident was 10 years later and I was a greeter at JCPenney for the holidays! Shortly after finishing the seasonal job at JCPenney, I interviewed for a school position and after the interview portion I had the job except sadly my physical limitations gave the job to another applicant. Soon after that I was employed at Harrison School District as an Educational Support Substitute. Over Easter weekend I proofread the first copy of my very first book! This book, I Can’t Walk, But I Can Roll can be ordered at Amazon.com.
As the school year was coming to a close I was called to substitute more often than normal. While I was talking with school employees I mentioned my book. Much to my delighted surprise I was asked to share my book with students at Oak Creek Elementary school. I had and still have huge dreams of becoming a well-known author/speaker and everything starts somewhere.
During a visit to Mississippi to attend my 10 year High School reunion I was invited to Saltillo Primary and Saltillo Elementary school where I spoke to and shared my book with Kindergarteners thru Fifth graders. Once I got back to Colorado I was invited to have a booth at the Explosive Expo which is primarily an athlete/heath conscious expo. Surprisingly I felt right at home. I was able to sell books and make initial contact with individuals who had interest in my book as well as my public speaking!
In November of 2012 I got another seasonal job and this time it is at Target and thank God it takes less than 10 minutes to get to via hot rod and is less than a block from my house (last year the seasonal job took an hour long bus ride to get to) – better yet my boss this year is married to my boss at JCPenney, my seasonal job from last year! I am able “pick up” office substitute jobs as time allows, and will be starting school to get my teaching license soon! I also became a leader at Young Life’s Capernum group and met some AMAZNG people that God must have put in my life to adjust my sad, ho-hum outlook of still being single. A group of mostly older than me (by a year or so hehehe) single ladies took me by the hand (quite literally at times) and invited me to join in different activities-- that was a total answer to prayer! I also started learning how to play the guitar by my neurological incident (NI) friend and a friend from Church.
I am now (1/13) taking classes at UCCS to get my teacher’s license so I can get paid for my tutoring.
(4/23/13) I am currently in school earning my teaching license and I spend most of my time earning my hours towards that license in local school districts. If life goes as planned, I will begin my professional year in the Summer of 2014.
(6/1/13) Was in my first 5k!
The greatest thing since my accident is that SISTER HAS A FIANCE!!
• This story is true-I was the person in the car accident. I was T-boned on the driver's side and I was driving.
• ** This is definitely a story from God because I typed the beginning parts of this story shortly after I came out of a 6 week coma. I add to the end as my life progresses.
I have learned that my story makes some have speculations about meeting me. While I've thought that removing it was a smart move to make, leaving this in my profile will remove the people who do not believe that JESUS HEALS!!
…. The Dream of a Lifetime continues…
Most little girls have the dream of falling in love with prince charming and living happily ever after. I am your average girl and although I can't remember a time before my life altering accident that I dreamt about prince charming, since God has kept me alive after facing a major life obstacle I have many what seem like unrealistic hopes.
The first "unrealistic hope” that I had actually never seen as unrealistic but was definitely unrealistic to much of the world-- I simply wanted to graduate high school after getting a Traumatic Brain Injury. After I accomplished that I wanted to graduate college. This is really no feat for the average person, but I had just faced a near-death experience. I eventually graduated from high school, graduated from community college, and then graduated from a university. Overall, life was excellent!
After I got my degree, I thought the next logical step would be to get married and maybe adopt or have a family. I spent a few years where I seemed to be way too focused on life happening by-the-book and during this time I seemed to have forgotten that every person writes their own book, making it as unique as one's fingerprints. However I still desired to find prince charming-- at one point in college I was so focused on finding prince charming that I completely denied everything that is and instilled inside of me. All of my self-worth and values disappeared. I seemed to be chasing after the wind and expecting to find stability. You can't expect to find a trained kitten among a pack of wolves. \Needless to say, sometimes I'm like the wind and can be blowing in different directions, but can also be found in very still state. The bottom line is I have my degree… Now what?
On October 8th of 2014 I started my very first real job in School District 11 as an EA (Educational Assistant). Currently I work at an elementary school helping with a computer program called ST Math. Primarily I work in the computer lab where I feel most comfortable walking—essentially I am getting paid to do physical therapy!! The computer program (ST Math) has roots in psychology — the field I earned a bachelors in! Could it be true that I actually use my college degree in the first “real” job?
ST Math is game-based instructional software for K-12 and is designed to boost math comprehension and proficiency through visual learning. Integrating with classroom instruction, ST Math incorporates the latest research in learning and the brain and promotes mastery-based learning and mathematical understanding. The ST Math software games use interactive, graphically-rich animations that visually represent mathematical concepts to improve conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills (http://www.mindresearch.org/programs/).
In addition to my exciting days spent working in the computer lab, I have also been able to share my book and answer many of the questions children have regarding my disability and disabilities in general—this is why the book was written! The school year all too quickly came to an end but before I stopped receiving a paycheck from the school district I was blessed to be hired by the same school! God’s blessings never cease to amaze me!!!
That position was dissolved into a requirement of the teachers, however before the next year started I was hired by the middle school! The interview for the position was AWESOME—it was basically a meeting with my friends (coworkers from the previous year as the school is one where the elementary school and middle school are in the same building. I unknowingly met the teacher I would work with the next year at the staff/faculty Christmas party!
Every day I go to work is such a blessing where the students unintentionally encourage me just by being themselves!
I was finally getting into life realizing this isn't a dream and it IS life and then the COVID-19 pandemic began. Our country is going through horrific challenges with many people losing their jobs and companies being forced to shut down.
