In your own words, tell us anything else you like about your/their journey with TBI.: 

 

"Traumatic Brain Injury Survivor.... Stroke Survivor was never what I would have expected or even imagined for my life. On July 31, 2023, God had another plan for my life. I was involved in an ATV accident. I was thrown from a 4 wheeler and suffered from DAI Traumatic Brain Injury as well as five strokes. I was air lifted to a local hospital where my parents were told I would never walk or talk if I even survived the night. I spent six weeks in a coma. I was then transferred to Shepherd Center in Atlanta where I was in a semi-conscious state. There I went through intense therapy and adjusting to life. The strokes effected my entire right side of my body and I could not use my right arm or leg. At Shepherd I learned to walk again.

 

I learned to speak again. I am currently working on using my right arm again. Mentally I have come so far. I still have memory issues and some days are harder than others. But I am ALIVE by the Grace of God. My perspective on life has changed from self absorbed to one of gratefulness and happiness. God saw fit to not only keep me here but he also is using me to speak to others. I have a slogan I share with others "Not Finished". It simply means God's Not Finished with me. He has a job for me to do and it's to tell others that God is Not Finished with them either. That we all have a purpose to serve Him and share of His LOVE. I currently am going around speaking at local churches with help from my family and I am back to working at a local boutique (True Blue). Yes, I get tired easy and some days are exhausting but I am so happy with life and where I am now going.

 

If you would like to follow my story I have a facebook page called Jala's Journey. I would love to connect to others that are facing the same as me and let them know God's Not Finished. God’s not finished writing my story and I am not done living it out. I’m living the life God wanted for me even though it wasn’t the life I had planned or ever saw coming. There have been so many obstacles, but I’m so thankful for the trials as it has brought a new understanding of his grace and mercy.

 

My life forever changed in July 2023 when I was involved in an ATV accident that caused a TBI brain injury and I later suffered a stroke during my 6 week coma. There has been a great deal of suffering for my family and I, but Romans 8:18 reminds us “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Elizabeth Elliot once wrote, “Things to do in suffering: Recognize it. Accept it. Offer it to God as a sacrifice. Offer yourself with it.” And that is exactly what I plan to do. I AM NOT FINISHED. I really do believe that God put me on this path to reveal He’s the writer of my story and so that I could give Him the glory through it. I am confident HES NOT FINISHED with me— and He isn’t finished with you. His plan for my life was better than the one I tried to live on my own, and I plan to use the rest of it spreading the news of how good our God is."