Working & My Ongoing Recovery

I had a couple meetings with my work supervisor, the call centre manager, Human Resources and my Acquired Brain Injury rep, Dixon, to talk about how I'm doing.
I'm currently at half-time hours. Four hours in the morning.
Then I walk home, eat something, and crash out for three, to three and a half hours.

Kind of crazy.

The next question almost always, and understandably, to be asked is, "and how are you sleeping at night?"

Answer: Fine.
I'm in bed usually by 9:30 or 10, and I sleep through the night till my alarm wakes me in the morning.

I get about twelve hours a day. That's a lot of my day spent giving my brain the rest it needs. Not a heck of a lot of time for socializing.
During the week, I work for 4 hours in the mornings (which sounds sweet, right?), go home, have lunch, sleep for another 3 and a half hours, wake up, (sometimes walk to the YMCA for a spin class), eat supper, walk Chaos (sometimes with my boyfriend-I'll get into that someday, maybe...), watch an episode of The Golden Girls, then back to bed for work in the morning.
Weekends aren't much different. Instead of working in the mornings, I get groceries, be domestic (laundry, dusting, vacuuming, etc), and go to the YMCA.

I used to be very social. I had loads of friends that I regularly spent time with.
I can get pretty bummed out about this part of my injury. Humans are very social animals. I do suffer from brief bouts of depression. Which I'm told is super common for the brain injured.

Yup. Fatigue, anxiety, note-dependency, and depression. 

I know you're jealous of ALL my time off.
(sarcasm runs deep)

Which sometimes makes me wish it was more visible. You wouldn't know just by looking at me that I had a severe brain injury. I can do a lot.
Dixon tells me that only 20% of people with a severe brain injury return to working. I may never get back to working full time. Super bummer.

But hey...I'm working...am I right??

My Catheter Dream/Nightmare

I had a crazy dream last night.
I only started recalling my dreams again after the coma about a year ago. I'm still getting used to having them.

As a child, I always had great dreams that I could float around the ceiling in my childhood home.

Anyways!

Dream. Last night. Sort of crazy.
I was at the hospital (no idea why), and I became aware that I had to pee.
For whatever reason, the medical staff said I wasn't able to go, they said I had to use a catheter. Ugh

I recalled that having a catheter was irritating, but I couldn't remember if it hurt. Just that I was annoyed at the very thought of having to use one again (I had one while in the coma, and for a short time after).

So the nurses put a catheter in(it pinched-why I remembered, or thought I remembered, I couldn't say. As soon as it was in, I started to go. I remember the absolute relief I felt. But the nurses hadn't stuck a bag on the end, it was just the hose, so I was urinating everywhere! I somehow stopped peeing (I don't even know if that's possible with a catheter).
I woke not long after, and immediately checked the sheets. I was sure I peed the bed!

Still dry.

PHEW!

The brain is such a strange organ.

Thee Erin Red Gives A Shout Out To My Dad

Walking to work in the morning.

I regularly listen to my chosen vegan podcasts while walking to and from work(it's about a twenty-three minute walk). Yes, even in the winter. I wear layers.
Monday morning wasn't much different. The biggest difference was that Erin Red gave a shout out to my Dad on Red Radio Episode 53.
He had posted on her Facebook page, thanking her for recognizing my greatness.

I don't think I'm 

really 

all that great, I'm just doing what I need to.

It was the Friday before that my parents had come over. We had a huge amount of snow dump on us all day and night Thursday, so they came to help, with their snow-blower, clear the snow from my walk, driveway, deck, and steps. He mentioned that he had posted on Erin's page.

Recent Posts By Others

• 
  

  Darryl Millham

  Hi Erin! This is Alyx's Dad. Just wanted to say thanks for recognizing our Daughters extraordinary dedication and drive.

  Unlike ·  · January 8 at 12:38pm
  

  • You and Erin Red like this.
  • 

    Erin Red Oh my goodness, what an absolute honor! It is absolutely my pleasure - she is a gem, and you should be so proud! Love to you and the family 

    January 9 at 10:44pm · Unlike · 

I saw my Dad on Monday after I was done work and I told him about the episode.
I told him that Erin said he "raised himself a gem". He responded with, "oh, she knows Mallory too?"

Har Har, Dad, Har Har

Meeting Thee Erin Red

I know I should post pictures of the food we ate(they're coming!), review the talks and inspiring speakers, and celebrate the variety of great people we met. But no, I need to talk about meeting Erin Red.

Yes folks. It was a magical moment.
Abigail and I were sitting, waiting for Colleen Patrick-Goudreau's first talk, From Excuse-itarian to Vegan: Addressing the Blocks and Excuses that Keep Us from Making Changes on Saturday, September 8th.
In the front row, I might add, cause we're super nerds.

What Would Colleen Patrick-Goudreau Do?

"I Can't Even Look At You In That Fur"

Sitting and waiting. I recognized a female's voice just behind me. She excused herself as she tried to get past someone. Before I had even turned around fully, and before the thought had truly registered in my brain, I heard myself exclaiming, "Erin Red?!"
Then I saw her. Red hair and all. She saw me and exclaimed herself, "Alyx Millham?!"
We both grinned widely, and immediately moved from where we were.
I stood from my seat, and she somehow shimmied her way out of the isle.

Seriously. It was magical.
I felt like we were two lovers in an open field, running toward one another, with open arms, about to embrace.
Okay, not exactly...I wrote 'like'...so similarly. And I'm sure we didn't look that way to bystanders.
But we did hug, and took our seats again. She introduced me to her father. He was very kind. And awesome!

After the talk, Colleen was signing books, so Abi and I waited our turn in line. While we waited, Erin talked with us, and showed us her new tattoo! Colleen hadn't even seen it yet! Pretty incredible stuff, I must say(mighty tempted to copy her).
Colleen signed my Vegan's Daily Companion, and Abi's The Vegan Table.
Yes, Abigail and I lugged them from home in Regina, Saskatchewan. Don't judge.
I got Erin to sign Vegan's Daily Companion on the page where her story is(pg 292-From Skeptic To Vegan).
She wrote,
"Remember to always ask yourself-WWCPGD? You're awesome. Don't forget it. Erin Red xoxo"

I brought the tattoo magazine, Skin & Ink(April/May 2012) with her tattooed self, gracing the pages. She signed that, too.
"You are the reason I do what I do, thank you for your powerful activism! Much love! Erin Red xoxo"

We got photographs with Colleen Patrick-Goudreau and Erin Red. I felt like the luckiest woman alive.