I saw the accident coming and I took evasive maneuvers to try to avoid the accident. I was unable to avoid the accident. I remember thinking that I was going to be dead as I saw my car accelerating into the house. I remember being surprised that I was still alive. I remember hitting my head numerous times on the ceiling of my old car. I remember hearing someone shout that the other driver didn’t even stop. I remember the pain. I remember trying not to allow the panic I was feeling to overtake me.
The accident happened on a Friday. I thought that I would be able to return to work on Monday.
Before the accident I was able to work as much as I wanted to. I had a career that I had worked hard at to have. I have not worked since the accident. With vocational assistance, I hope that eventually I will be able to work part-time at something which will take my new limitations into account.
I had vortex headaches and occipital headaches constantly after the accident. I had to get three sets of occipital nerve blocks to alleviate the headaches so that I could function day to day. I also received repeated trigger point injections for the pain in my neck and my back.
I have documental spinal injuries from this accident. I am presently undergoing treatment and pain management for these injuries.
I have other neurological difficulties due to the accident. At times when lying down, my body jerks around without my permission. Medication has not alleviated this symptom. These involuntary movements impact the quality of my sleep.
Today I know that I have a traumatic brain injury. Many well-intentioned people have said to me over the past year that my brain will heal or rewire. That is an over-simplification. The brain—my brain DID NOT heal or rewire itself to the level of pre-accident efficiency. There are skills I had, that I depended on in my past career, which I no longer can access today. I experience bouts of fatigue from my brain now having to work harder.
My vision was directly impacted by this accident. By vision I mean the process of seeing and interpreting what I see. Vision originates in the brain. I will always experience some double vision, visual distortions, peripheral vertigo, photophobia, and ocular motor dysfunction due to the accident. Even after months of vision therapy, my vision is also never going to be what it used to be.
I am stuck with having to deal with these things for the rest of my life.
I count myself fortunate to be alive and that the medical profession continues to come to my aid so that I can have some kind of a life. My life is different because of the accident, but it is still life.
I am also grateful to have the support of my husband, family and friends. I have some new friends now who are involved with cross- disability work and systems advocacy.
I hope that I never hurt another human being as much as the defendant has hurt me.
I believe that the American Justice System is the best that we’ve got. I trust that the defendant will be sentenced fairly in accordance with the laws of New York State.
Thank-you,