we’re all stressed out get over it aren’t you feeling better yet you look
aren’t you feeling better yet you look
aren’t you feeling better yet you look perfectly fine you’re not really injured
perfectly fine you’re not really injured
perfectly fine you’re not really injured it’s all in your head those statements
it’s all in your head those statements
it’s all in your head those statements cut deep there are examples of what not
cut deep there are examples of what not
cut deep there are examples of what not to say to someone with invisible
to say to someone with invisible
to say to someone with invisible injuries the stigma around invisible
injuries the stigma around invisible
injuries the stigma around invisible injuries is a real and widespread
injuries is a real and widespread
injuries is a real and widespread problem according to the Department of
problem according to the Department of
problem according to the Department of Health and Human Services nearly 1 in 2
Health and Human Services nearly 1 in 2
Health and Human Services nearly 1 in 2 people have an invisible injury living
people have an invisible injury living
people have an invisible injury living with a chronic invisible illness is hard
with a chronic invisible illness is hard
with a chronic invisible illness is hard enough
enough
enough adding stigma makes a healing process
adding stigma makes a healing process
adding stigma makes a healing process even more difficult how do you explain
even more difficult how do you explain
even more difficult how do you explain this painful reality to your family
this painful reality to your family
this painful reality to your family friends employer doctors and insurance
friends employer doctors and insurance
friends employer doctors and insurance companies how do you say it in a way
companies how do you say it in a way
companies how do you say it in a way they would understand when you look fine
they would understand when you look fine
they would understand when you look fine on the outside the injured loses their
on the outside the injured loses their
on the outside the injured loses their sense of personal identity as they are
sense of personal identity as they are
sense of personal identity as they are defined or labeled this imbedded denial
defined or labeled this imbedded denial
defined or labeled this imbedded denial can lead to isolation depression
can lead to isolation depression
can lead to isolation depression financial strain and even suicide I
financial strain and even suicide I
financial strain and even suicide I would like to share with you my story
would like to share with you my story
would like to share with you my story and how it changed my life the day was
and how it changed my life the day was
and how it changed my life the day was February 9th 2010 it was also my son’s
February 9th 2010 it was also my son’s
February 9th 2010 it was also my son’s 16th birthday I was working as a
16th birthday I was working as a
16th birthday I was working as a supervisor in a sawmill three hours into
supervisor in a sawmill three hours into
supervisor in a sawmill three hours into my shift I had to unjam a giant log that
my shift I had to unjam a giant log that
my shift I had to unjam a giant log that got stuck the logs we were cutting are
got stuck the logs we were cutting are
got stuck the logs we were cutting are called cants they’re 14 inches thick 21
called cants they’re 14 inches thick 21
called cants they’re 14 inches thick 21 inches wide and each piece weighs a
inches wide and each piece weighs a
inches wide and each piece weighs a thousand pounds it was my job to keep
thousand pounds it was my job to keep
thousand pounds it was my job to keep production moving I made a decision to
production moving I made a decision to
production moving I made a decision to crawl into a tight confined space to
crawl into a tight confined space to
crawl into a tight confined space to manually free up the scan it was stuck
manually free up the scan it was stuck
manually free up the scan it was stuck on edge against a large steel beam in
on edge against a large steel beam in
on edge against a large steel beam in behind this stuck can’t was now a
behind this stuck can’t was now a
behind this stuck can’t was now a massive wall of wood as soon as this cat
massive wall of wood as soon as this cat
massive wall of wood as soon as this cat was free someone turned on the machine
was free someone turned on the machine
was free someone turned on the machine and I was immediately being crushed
and I was immediately being crushed
and I was immediately being crushed alive by 12,000 pounds of wood I could
alive by 12,000 pounds of wood I could
alive by 12,000 pounds of wood I could hear my body cracking gurgling and
hear my body cracking gurgling and
hear my body cracking gurgling and crunching it felt like my head was going
crunching it felt like my head was going
crunching it felt like my head was going to explode
to explode
to explode there was so much pressure I thought to
there was so much pressure I thought to
there was so much pressure I thought to myself if this doesn’t stop I’m gonna
myself if this doesn’t stop I’m gonna
myself if this doesn’t stop I’m gonna get ripped into two pieces and die I
get ripped into two pieces and die I
get ripped into two pieces and die I then blocked out my coworkers then
then blocked out my coworkers then
then blocked out my coworkers then perform miraculous feats of strength to
perform miraculous feats of strength to
perform miraculous feats of strength to rescue me from this machine by the time
rescue me from this machine by the time
rescue me from this machine by the time I was freed I was not breathing and they
I was freed I was not breathing and they
I was freed I was not breathing and they all thought I was dead
all thought I was dead
all thought I was dead I had now been unconscious for about 12
I had now been unconscious for about 12
I had now been unconscious for about 12 minutes right before they were about to
minutes right before they were about to
minutes right before they were about to perform CPR miraculously I started
perform CPR miraculously I started
perform CPR miraculously I started breathing the immense pain was
breathing the immense pain was
breathing the immense pain was overwhelming I was fighting for every
overwhelming I was fighting for every
overwhelming I was fighting for every breath I had to remind myself to breathe
breath I had to remind myself to breathe
breath I had to remind myself to breathe in and then breathe out I was rushed to
in and then breathe out I was rushed to
in and then breathe out I was rushed to the hospital I was in agony and the
the hospital I was in agony and the
the hospital I was in agony and the ambulance ride was horrific I could feel
ambulance ride was horrific I could feel
ambulance ride was horrific I could feel every vibration and bump throughout my
every vibration and bump throughout my
every vibration and bump throughout my spine when I arrived at the hospital I
spine when I arrived at the hospital I
spine when I arrived at the hospital I was told by paramedics and doctors that
was told by paramedics and doctors that
was told by paramedics and doctors that my organs were failing I also had an
my organs were failing I also had an
my organs were failing I also had an anoxic brain injury a punctured and
anoxic brain injury a punctured and
anoxic brain injury a punctured and collapsed lung multiple broken bones and
collapsed lung multiple broken bones and
collapsed lung multiple broken bones and severe soft tissue damage there was a
severe soft tissue damage there was a
severe soft tissue damage there was a lot of confusion and panic I was
lot of confusion and panic I was
lot of confusion and panic I was frightened I didn’t understand what was
frightened I didn’t understand what was
frightened I didn’t understand what was happening I felt weak and something had
happening I felt weak and something had
happening I felt weak and something had to change because I really thought I was
to change because I really thought I was
to change because I really thought I was going to die but then I was touched by
going to die but then I was touched by
going to die but then I was touched by an angel it was my wife she is my best
an angel it was my wife she is my best
an angel it was my wife she is my best friend and biggest support were deeply
friend and biggest support were deeply
friend and biggest support were deeply in love she makes me want to be better
in love she makes me want to be better
in love she makes me want to be better I was unrecognizable to Jen at first
I was unrecognizable to Jen at first
I was unrecognizable to Jen at first because I had been bleeding out of my
because I had been bleeding out of my
because I had been bleeding out of my eyes ears nose and mouth I also had
eyes ears nose and mouth I also had
eyes ears nose and mouth I also had severe and deep bruising my injuries
severe and deep bruising my injuries
severe and deep bruising my injuries were critical but I now had hope because
were critical but I now had hope because
were critical but I now had hope because I wasn’t alone my accident has left me
I wasn’t alone my accident has left me
I wasn’t alone my accident has left me with numerous invisible injuries I have
with numerous invisible injuries I have
with numerous invisible injuries I have a permanent brain injury and cognitive
a permanent brain injury and cognitive
a permanent brain injury and cognitive disorder just imagine having a
disorder just imagine having a
disorder just imagine having a concussion that never goes away I have
concussion that never goes away I have
concussion that never goes away I have severe spine lung shoulder and nerve
severe spine lung shoulder and nerve
severe spine lung shoulder and nerve damage I also get between 72
damage I also get between 72
damage I also get between 72 90 painful injections in my head spine
90 painful injections in my head spine
90 painful injections in my head spine and shoulder every four months to help
and shoulder every four months to help
and shoulder every four months to help me
me
me now going through all this revealed to
now going through all this revealed to
now going through all this revealed to me who my true friends are growing up I
me who my true friends are growing up I
me who my true friends are growing up I knew a caring family the Dunc Lee’s
knew a caring family the Dunc Lee’s
knew a caring family the Dunc Lee’s their house was my home away from home
their house was my home away from home
their house was my home away from home their son Ron their son Ron was like a
their son Ron their son Ron was like a
their son Ron their son Ron was like a brother to me and my best friend after
brother to me and my best friend after
brother to me and my best friend after my accident Ron would drive all the way
my accident Ron would drive all the way
my accident Ron would drive all the way to abbotsford and then take me into
to abbotsford and then take me into
to abbotsford and then take me into vancouver for some sporting events after
vancouver for some sporting events after
vancouver for some sporting events after one of those trips i apologized because
one of those trips i apologized because
one of those trips i apologized because i thought i wasn’t as much fun anymore
i thought i wasn’t as much fun anymore
i thought i wasn’t as much fun anymore ron told me Hensel don’t be ridiculous
ron told me Hensel don’t be ridiculous
ron told me Hensel don’t be ridiculous it was one of the funnest nights I’ve
it was one of the funnest nights I’ve
it was one of the funnest nights I’ve ever had I’ll always be here for you bro
ever had I’ll always be here for you bro
ever had I’ll always be here for you bro that meant the world to me knowing I
that meant the world to me knowing I
that meant the world to me knowing I could always count on him unfortunately
could always count on him unfortunately
could always count on him unfortunately a few months later that would all change
a few months later that would all change
a few months later that would all change ron was a fireman and avid football fan
ron was a fireman and avid football fan
ron was a fireman and avid football fan he traveled to almost every pro sports
he traveled to almost every pro sports
he traveled to almost every pro sports stadium in North America he was in
stadium in North America he was in
stadium in North America he was in Seattle when he got into the most
Seattle when he got into the most
Seattle when he got into the most horrific accident he was hit and dragged
horrific accident he was hit and dragged
horrific accident he was hit and dragged by a train ripping his lower body to
by a train ripping his lower body to
by a train ripping his lower body to shreds he went through over 40 surgeries
shreds he went through over 40 surgeries
shreds he went through over 40 surgeries before infection finally took over his
before infection finally took over his
before infection finally took over his body
body
body I saw him take his last breath now on
I saw him take his last breath now on
I saw him take his last breath now on top of everything else I was dealing
top of everything else I was dealing
top of everything else I was dealing with I had to deal with the death of my
with I had to deal with the death of my
with I had to deal with the death of my best friend just 11 months after my
best friend just 11 months after my
best friend just 11 months after my accident
Ron had over 1700 people at his funeral
Ron had over 1700 people at his funeral he lived life to the fullest and he
he lived life to the fullest and he
he lived life to the fullest and he would have wanted me to do the same
would have wanted me to do the same
would have wanted me to do the same Vince Lombardi said the greatest
Vince Lombardi said the greatest
Vince Lombardi said the greatest accomplishment is not in never falling
accomplishment is not in never falling
accomplishment is not in never falling but in rising again after you fall I am
but in rising again after you fall I am
but in rising again after you fall I am here today because I got back up in
here today because I got back up in
here today because I got back up in addition to all my other injuries I also
addition to all my other injuries I also
addition to all my other injuries I also suffer from severe post-traumatic stress
suffer from severe post-traumatic stress
suffer from severe post-traumatic stress disorder one of the most frustrating
disorder one of the most frustrating
disorder one of the most frustrating conditions I have to deal with one of
conditions I have to deal with one of
conditions I have to deal with one of the symptoms of PTSD is exaggerated
the symptoms of PTSD is exaggerated
the symptoms of PTSD is exaggerated startle reflex so let me explain one day
startle reflex so let me explain one day
startle reflex so let me explain one day I’m having a really difficult time my
I’m having a really difficult time my
I’m having a really difficult time my mind and body were on edge so I went to
mind and body were on edge so I went to
mind and body were on edge so I went to pick up my favorite smoothie to cheer me
pick up my favorite smoothie to cheer me
pick up my favorite smoothie to cheer me up
up
up the mighty kale the last thing I wanted
the mighty kale the last thing I wanted
the mighty kale the last thing I wanted to do was see or talk to anybody so I
to do was see or talk to anybody so I
to do was see or talk to anybody so I sat at the table at the far corner with
sat at the table at the far corner with
sat at the table at the far corner with my back turned to the door little did I
my back turned to the door little did I
my back turned to the door little did I know a group of people had quietly
know a group of people had quietly
know a group of people had quietly opened the door and we’re now standing
opened the door and we’re now standing
opened the door and we’re now standing right behind me what happened next
Dada Dada Dada Dada Dada Dada
Dada Dada Dada Dada Dada Dada but other than out of it uh yes that
but other than out of it uh yes that
but other than out of it uh yes that actually happened
actually happened
actually happened a loud mariachi band in Abbotsford
now most people would be startled by
now most people would be startled by that but I was having a full-on panic
that but I was having a full-on panic
that but I was having a full-on panic attack I couldn’t breathe I was covered
attack I couldn’t breathe I was covered
attack I couldn’t breathe I was covered in sweat and I was shaking not feeling
in sweat and I was shaking not feeling
in sweat and I was shaking not feeling lasted for hours so that is how I
lasted for hours so that is how I
lasted for hours so that is how I explained to people what having PTSD is
explained to people what having PTSD is
explained to people what having PTSD is like a mariachi band hiding around every
like a mariachi band hiding around every
like a mariachi band hiding around every corner now my invisible injuries have
corner now my invisible injuries have
corner now my invisible injuries have given me my biggest challenges I had to
given me my biggest challenges I had to
given me my biggest challenges I had to fight every day through my tragedies to
fight every day through my tragedies to
fight every day through my tragedies to not slide into a deep depression I had
not slide into a deep depression I had
not slide into a deep depression I had to rely on my support to not isolate
to rely on my support to not isolate
to rely on my support to not isolate myself further I lost my identity my
myself further I lost my identity my
myself further I lost my identity my sense of control and any meaningful
sense of control and any meaningful
sense of control and any meaningful activity this made me feel like less of
activity this made me feel like less of
activity this made me feel like less of a person I fought through the darkest
a person I fought through the darkest
a person I fought through the darkest days of my life not to mention the
days of my life not to mention the
days of my life not to mention the financial strain is put on my family
financial strain is put on my family
financial strain is put on my family you had Stiga stigma on top of that and
you had Stiga stigma on top of that and
you had Stiga stigma on top of that and I felt like giving up this made it hard
I felt like giving up this made it hard
I felt like giving up this made it hard to get the help I needed prolonging my
to get the help I needed prolonging my
to get the help I needed prolonging my already difficult recovery we need to
already difficult recovery we need to
already difficult recovery we need to tear down the barriers of stigma that
tear down the barriers of stigma that
tear down the barriers of stigma that block access to services and recovery
block access to services and recovery
block access to services and recovery there does not need to be insult added
there does not need to be insult added
there does not need to be insult added to injury I would like to share what can
to injury I would like to share what can
to injury I would like to share what can help silence this stigma one of the most
help silence this stigma one of the most
help silence this stigma one of the most powerful strategies I used was telling
powerful strategies I used was telling
powerful strategies I used was telling my story now sharing my story was
my story now sharing my story was
my story now sharing my story was difficult at first but it gave me a
difficult at first but it gave me a
difficult at first but it gave me a voice and this was emotionally healing
voice and this was emotionally healing
voice and this was emotionally healing for me my story helped restore my
for me my story helped restore my
for me my story helped restore my identity and self-worth because of the
identity and self-worth because of the
identity and self-worth because of the effect it had on others it created
effect it had on others it created
effect it had on others it created understanding and compassion instead of
understanding and compassion instead of
understanding and compassion instead of denial in 2006 a study was published in
denial in 2006 a study was published in
denial in 2006 a study was published in the journal neural image researchers in
the journal neural image researchers in
the journal neural image researchers in Spain determined that when it comes to
Spain determined that when it comes to
Spain determined that when it comes to inspiring people to understand a new
inspiring people to understand a new
inspiring people to understand a new change in themselves storytelling is the
change in themselves storytelling is the
change in themselves storytelling is the only thing that works storytelling is
only thing that works storytelling is
only thing that works storytelling is one of the most powerful ways we have to
one of the most powerful ways we have to
one of the most powerful ways we have to communicate and motivate stories make
communicate and motivate stories make
communicate and motivate stories make the invisible visible here are three
the invisible visible here are three
the invisible visible here are three things we can all do first living with
things we can all do first living with
things we can all do first living with invisible injuries can be very isolating
invisible injuries can be very isolating
invisible injuries can be very isolating personally and socially so if you have
personally and socially so if you have
personally and socially so if you have an invisible injury I encourage you to
an invisible injury I encourage you to
an invisible injury I encourage you to reach out to others find support and
reach out to others find support and
reach out to others find support and share your story you’re not alone the
share your story you’re not alone the
share your story you’re not alone the stories of struggles and challenges are
stories of struggles and challenges are
stories of struggles and challenges are the best stories be honest about your
the best stories be honest about your
the best stories be honest about your obstacles and how you overcame adversity
obstacles and how you overcame adversity
obstacles and how you overcame adversity you can inspire and help people to help
you can inspire and help people to help
you can inspire and help people to help others reach their full potential people
others reach their full potential people
others reach their full potential people will tell themselves if they can do it
will tell themselves if they can do it
will tell themselves if they can do it so can I second if you know or encounter
so can I second if you know or encounter
so can I second if you know or encounter someone with an invisible injury listen
someone with an invisible injury listen
someone with an invisible injury listen to what they are going through you can
to what they are going through you can
to what they are going through you can always learn more encourage those with
always learn more encourage those with
always learn more encourage those with invisible injuries to tell their own
invisible injuries to tell their own
invisible injuries to tell their own story I would not be where I am today if
story I would not be where I am today if
story I would not be where I am today if I didn’t have people believing in me
I didn’t have people believing in me
I didn’t have people believing in me encouragement Foster’s confidence you
encouragement Foster’s confidence you
encouragement Foster’s confidence you can make a positive difference in
can make a positive difference in
can make a positive difference in someone’s life reach out and give the
someone’s life reach out and give the
someone’s life reach out and give the injured their voice back finally as a
injured their voice back finally as a
injured their voice back finally as a society there is an increased need for
society there is an increased need for
society there is an increased need for creating awareness and changing
creating awareness and changing
creating awareness and changing attitudes around invisible injuries
attitudes around invisible injuries
attitudes around invisible injuries often these changes simply start with
often these changes simply start with
often these changes simply start with conversations that help educate and
conversations that help educate and
conversations that help educate and encourage understanding public
encourage understanding public
encourage understanding public information and community participation
information and community participation
information and community participation can benefit everyone spreading awareness
can benefit everyone spreading awareness
can benefit everyone spreading awareness will build bridges not walls and
will build bridges not walls and
will build bridges not walls and improved medical and social validation
improved medical and social validation
improved medical and social validation can create a more accepting and
can create a more accepting and
can create a more accepting and understanding world stories can be
understanding world stories can be
understanding world stories can be silenced stigma can be silenced through
silenced stigma can be silenced through
silenced stigma can be silenced through stories that celebrate what we can do
stories that celebrate what we can do
stories that celebrate what we can do not what we can’t do those statements
not what we can’t do those statements
not what we can’t do those statements that were told to me reminded me of
that were told to me reminded me of
that were told to me reminded me of everything I can’t do do you remember
everything I can’t do do you remember
everything I can’t do do you remember the wood I was crushed by our call
the wood I was crushed by our call
the wood I was crushed by our call can’ts the stigma I felt was also
can’ts the stigma I felt was also
can’ts the stigma I felt was also crushing let me explain I would tell
crushing let me explain I would tell
crushing let me explain I would tell myself I can’t just feel better I can’t
myself I can’t just feel better I can’t
myself I can’t just feel better I can’t just get over this I can’t get the help
just get over this I can’t get the help
just get over this I can’t get the help I need
I need
I need I was crushed by cants literally and
I was crushed by cants literally and
I was crushed by cants literally and figuratively but now I’m crushing my
figuratively but now I’m crushing my
figuratively but now I’m crushing my cats you can crush your cats too
”
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