A story is only interesting because of what one overcomes and works through — so too is life.

Cravings wavered between an intense desire to transcend deep in a timewarp to life the way it used to be and yearning for life to be no more. 

From autonomous expat racing bikes in the alps to the back of an ambulance racing down the autobahn, intensive care to wheelchair, teetering footsteps to navigating hospital wings, one diagnosis to countless others, I lost any sense of self in endless labels that quickly led to lost hope for life.

Entkommenm, to escape, was my only focus. Life turned dark and dismal at a speed parallelled to the linedrive following traumatic brain injury. Self-expectations rooted in familiar physical strength, agitation and denial were anything but conducive to healing. Escape the hospital, escape reality.

The accident took my eyesight, appetite and every ounce of my optimism with it. Navigating a trail back to life amoung Bavaria’s pristine peaks that had been a playground for my skis, bikes, snowshoes and running shoes was impossible to imagine. Loss of autonomy, new dependency, I was a stranger to myself yet had no interest in getting to know this unfamiliar antaganosit. This character was not welcome in my story. Stormy and dark, I craved the book to end. 

A tenacious supporting cast coddled the intruder. Hundreds of hands enkindled connections to the stranger throughout a rocky trail of chapters in 7 hospitals in 3 countries. Following 26 months, when times of change led to blank pages waiting to be written, there was no more coddling. The skills had been taught, it was up to me to decide how to apply them in the unwritten chapters ahead.

Come along with me through each chapter as I grow from the lessons traumatic brain injury teaches, navigate life with 30% vision while adventuring in mountains and navigating those of my mind. Welcome to my story.