Brain Injury Association of Sarnia Lambton

Explanation of Mask

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.

Explanation of Mask

This has all been a new experience and we have learned a lot on our journey. Most interesting and surprising.

Explanation of Mask

Better days ahead.

Explanation of Mask

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.

Explanation of Mask

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.

Explanation of Mask

 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.

Explanation of Mask

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.

Explanation of Mask

Pink side is our life before my son’s accident and left side is after.

Explanation of Mask

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.

Explanation of Mask

 Relaxing, happiness, calming.

Explanation of Mask

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.

Explanation of Mask

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.

Explanation of Mask

Goalie mask for Mike Palmateer, back in the early 1980’s playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Explanation of Mask

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.

Explanation of Mask

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.

Explanation of Mask

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.

Explanation of Mask

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.