Mask Photos & Descriptions
Project by Marg
Brain Injury Association of Sarnia-Lambton
Cause of Injury
Brain Aneurysm and a shunt insertion about six weeks later causing short-term memory loss.
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Coming from a time of anger and sadness, my mask represents a time of growth to the present day: 1) happiness, 2) being able to plan for future improvements, and 3) control of my life with on-going hopes for future goals.
Project by Marie
Brain Injury Association of Sarnia-Lambton
Cause of Injury
Caregiver for Beverly
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This has all been a new experience and we have learned a lot on our journey. Most interesting and surprising.
Project by Beverly
Brain Injury Association of Sarnia-Lambton
Cause of Injury
Brain tumour
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Better days ahead.
Project by Carolyn
Brain Injury Association of Sarnia-Lambton
Cause of Injury
Family members: 1) brother – child, motorcycle accident, 2) husband – died after a fall onto his head, causing a severe ABI; 3) brother-in-law – motor vehicle accident.
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The numerous brain injuries in our family have been devastating, hence the lines across the mask. They represent the hurt, pain, anger and frustration over the years of being impacted by brain injury. The tears are heartbreak and sadness of losing family members and having to find a new normal for my sons and I. The threaded buttons are representing me stitching my life back together. The flowers and butterfly represent starting my life over and finding happiness.
Project by Dennis
Brain Injury Association of Sarnia-Lambton
Cause of Injury
Small motorcycle accident, October 19, 1975. I loved riding on trails and through fields. I was 11 at the time.
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My mask on the left hand side is dark in colour, which represents the weakness I have on my left side. I also have short-term memory loss. This can be very challenging. It is a journey through life.
Blue represents my “good side” – happy and functional. In May 2002, I married my very understanding wife – together we found the Brain Injury Association. The butterfly and smiley faces remind me of how I felt as a child, no care in the world. Never did I believe my life would change so quickly.
Project by Fred
Brain Injury Association of Sarnia-Lambton
Cause of Injury
Car accident
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I went through a lot of different phases after my accident. Darkness at the top, concussion. A mix of blue and black describes my battle.
Recovery – The red brightness was when I was coming through to the more positive side of my journey.
Project by Jana
Brain Injury Association of Sarnia-Lambton
Cause of Injury
A motorcycle hit me while I was walking on the sidewalk in Thailand, during my vacation.
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This mask explains exactly how I feel after my accident. It is important for people to know that I am still a person with feelings, but my injury has left me with so many questions.
Project by Janet
Brain Injury Association of Sarnia-Lambton
Cause of Injury
Automobile accident in October 1990 (Caregiver)
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Pink side is our life before my son’s accident and left side is after.
Project by Jessie
Brain Injury Association of Sarnia-Lambton
Cause of Injury
I was a caregiver to my ex-partner who has a brain injury.
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My ex-partner was very abusive. The puzzle pieces represent how I was trying to determine if it was his brain injury telling him to hurt me. Half of the mask is painted in bright colours, which represent the okay days – peace at last and family was my support. The darker side of the mask reminds me of the horrible days…why me?
I wish this wasn’t happening. Look out means it’s his bad day, so look out. The zipper down the centre of the mask represents how he changed from a perfect person to the unzippered horrible person.
Project by Linda
Brain Injury Association of Sarnia-Lambton
Cause of Injury
Car accident, eight months in a coma, coming home from my son’s home in Toronto.
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Relaxing, happiness, calming.
Project by Martin
Brain Injury Association of Sarnia-Lambton
Cause of Injury
Car accident…woke up four days later.
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Warrior, over-achiever, under-achiever, broken paths, new paths, old paths, new beginnings, road traveled, dead ends, run out of road, see new, review old, transformation, solipsism.
Project by Michael
Brain Injury Association of Sarnia-Lambton
Cause of Injury
Epidural Hematoma from an assault
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Brain injuries can be a big thing that no one notices, that’s why I painted the shape of an elephant. There are so many feelings associated with life after Brain injury that explains all the emotions on my mask. There is a tree because there is growth after trauma. Brain injury can leave you exposed and your brain in open to the world. The spiral represents confusion and changes that happen after an injury. The yellow colour is both sickness and health and loving yourself through it all. It is a confrontation with the world of the mind.
Project by Pam
Brain Injury Association of Sarnia-Lambton
Cause of Injury
Loving caregiver
Project by Paul
Brain Injury Association of Sarnia-Lambton
Cause of Injury
Motor vehicle accident in 1973
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Goalie mask for Mike Palmateer, back in the early 1980’s playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Project by Ron
Brain Injury Association of Sarnia-Lambton
Cause of Injury
Workplace accident in July 2014. Diagnosed with PTSD in September 2014.
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Red means the sadness the injury causes me. Blue means a calming feeling. Green symbolizes a strong tree that keeps growing. Yellow is always in the moment and the sun is all around me.
Project by Sherry
Brain Injury Association of Sarnia-Lambton
Cause of Injury
My dad has a brain injury.
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Having a parent with a brain injury is about teamwork. You need to work together in order to get things done. You also need to be careful how you word things, as it can be taken in a completely different context.
Regardless of how difficult it gets, there is always unconditional love flowing in our relationship.
Project by Tracy
Brain Injury Association of Sarnia-Lambton
Cause of Injury
In 1981, September, I was hit by a car in Wyoming, Ontario. I was in a coma for three months in the London hospital.
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My mask shows how they shaved my head and put in a left v-p shunt in to drain fluid from my head. I was home for Christmas that year and each day I became better. I guess you could say that was my parents’ Christmas gift that year. I went to the Rotary Children’s Place following my accident and received speech therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. All of my therapists were great and today I am a much-improved individual.
Project by Wendy
Brain Injury Association of Sarnia-Lambton
Cause of Injury
Caregiver to husband who has had a brain injury
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As a caregiver, my mask represents the journey I have traveled along side my husband. The colour pink is a favourite colour of mine and it represents the positive roads we travel…happy trails. The blue is smaller in size on my mask and it represents the not so positive moments. It is only a small part of our overall journey. On each side I have included warm feelings and not so warm feelings. I am honest…it is not always easy. The dragonfly represents the beauty of life and how we can use our minds to fly anywhere. Our spirit will carry us on.