“There’s not a lot that I can’t do, but now I do everything differently,” said Jimmy, who had a traumatic brain injury after being in a traffic accident.
After the accident as Jimmy began to heal, he noticed that things started to unravel for him at home, work and school. “I really thought I had developed a mental illness,” said Jimmy.
A neurologist confirmed his traumatic brain injury, and he began his path toward recovery. Jimmy connected with our brain injury services program where professionals work to remove barriers and integrate rehabilitation goals to get people back on a daily living path.
“There is no typical brain injury. It’s different depending on whose brain it is in. When someone sustains a brain injury, they may not know what they can do or even if they can learn. We help them figure out what is possible after a brain injury,” said Amy Miller, who is the director of brain injury services.
Jimmy began a new career after HVAC training. Once he obtained certification, he was able to start his own heating and air conditioning business. Jimmy has good days, bad days and those in-between days where he is reminded that this is his new reality. Prior to connecting to Easterseals Crossroads, Jimmy felt his future looked bleak. Now he is excited about his future possibilities.
“I never dreamt that after my accident I would be able to have my own business. If it wasn’t for Easterseals empowering me to empower myself, I would still be stuck,“ said Jimmy.
