From Crash to Re-Creation
Navigating Life with a Traumatic Brain Injury
by Amanda Burt

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At sixteen years old, Amanda had a bright life ahead of her. She was an active teenager who loved to play hockey, and she was about to enter her final year of high school. One day, as she and her friends were driving home following an afternoon of shopping, her life changed forever. A truck T-boned her car, and that resulted in a traumatic brain injury. For over a year, Amanda lived in hospitals. She was in a coma for one month, in a wheelchair for six months, and then she spent the remaining six months relearning how to do things she had always taken for granted. She had to learn how to walk, talk, eat, and care for herself all over again. From Crash to Re-Creation is the story of one young woman’s journey from the edges of death to a life transformed. With sheer determination, Amanda methodically worked her way over, under, and through every obstacle that appeared, surprising and inspiring doctors, nurses, friends, and family along the way. While her physical milestones were reached with almost subconscious effort, her psychological and emotional challenges proved more difficult to overcome. Amanda tells her story with unflinching honesty, revealing the devastating effects her traumatic brain injury has had on the trajectory of her life. What she’s learned from the experience is immeasurable, however: Despite the difficulties, fears, and frustrations she faces, she must remember to embrace her new life and shower herself with patience, forgiveness, and most of all, love.

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Amanda doesn’t have any memories of her life prior to her car accident, so she lives in the present, appreciating the things that make her happy now. These things include walking with her dog, writing, and spending time with her loved ones. She lives on a hobby farm in Alberta with her family, and she continues to work on improving her quality of life. Amanda hopes her story will help other people who have experienced traumatic brain injuries know that there are still many things to look forward to. Life post-injury requires daily practices of acceptance, patience, and perseverance, but finding happiness through it all is very much within the realm of possibility.

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Contributors

Author

Amanda Burt

Contribution by

Connie Jensen

Cover Design by

Cil Cheung

FriesenPress Editions