Jeremy’s Story

On October 3, 2014, 1 week prior to my 41^st birthday, a disgruntled former employee of the condominium building I managed came inside and shot me point blank. I had fired the man two months prior and he returned with all intentions of killing me. The bullet went entirely through the right side of my brain and exited the rear of my head, then lodged in the wall behind me leaving fragments throughout my brain. I was then transported to the nearest trauma center in West Palm Beach, Florida where I was rushed into emergency surgery. I had a craniotomy and spent the following 22 days in a medically induced coma. Once I regained consciousness, I was taken to the Shephard Center in Atlanta, Georgia where I spent the next 6 months enduring very intense inpatient and outpatient physical, occupations, and speech therapies.

I left Georgia to live with my father in Virginia, but I was unaware of which doctors, therapists and specialists were available.  An internet search led me to BIAV.  Their support groups have   helped me meet and associate with others who have also suffered a brain injury.

I am thankful for those months in Georgia because it was just the beginning of the long road to the rest of my life of recovery.  I am also thankful for my mother, Terry Anne who has been my biggest supporter.   Eventually, I’d like to become more active within the community and participate in activities like going to church, mountain biking, traveling and driving.  I am even writing this story myself, which in itself says a lot about how great I have done in these first three years.