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Brain Injury

She lay on the hospital bed like a grotesque monster barely recognisable ... head swollen face battered with vivid bruising hair matted with crusty coagulated blood the scans revealed two bleeds on her brain After nine years Her short term memory is Her short memory is Her memory is f a d i n g She’ll always be my amazing mum But sadly with just a little bit missing Brain Injury Contest My mum had a fall in the street on 6th November 2009; our lives have never been the same since 12/27/18

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Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 1/5/2019 7:27:00 PM

Oh my Jan, I am sorry to know this is true. Congratulations on your win with this sad poem. Blessings for your mom. xxoo

Jan Allison
Date: 1/5/2019 7:33:00 PM

Yes Connie our lives changed so much in November 2009, mum is remarkable I am amazed she pulled though she is a very strong lady in so many aspects of her life:-) hugs jan xx

Anisha Dutta

Date: 1/4/2019 9:52:00 PM

Life is hard. So many shocks we have to bear. Love. Congrats to win.

Jan Allison
Date: 1/5/2019 8:52:00 AM

Thanks Anisha:-) hugs Jan xx

Line Gauthier

Date: 1/3/2019 7:43:00 PM

Congrats! Superb construction, Jan. Love your poem. Sad of course.

Jan Allison
Date: 1/4/2019 2:25:00 AM

Thanks Line I am so delighted i made it onto the winners list:-) hugs Jan xx

Bobby May

Date: 1/3/2019 1:19:00 PM

That's pretty cool the way you did the F a d i n g Line, Hay JAN you me and Eve are in a row we all three won, my first two friends on soup!! Sorry about your mom very sad my friend!

Jan Allison
Date: 1/3/2019 2:58:00 PM

Thanks Bobby, to be honest with contests I don't care where I place and I enter fewer and fewer I just use it as a way of getting more exposure to a poem if I'm lucky enough to be on the list:-) hugs jan xxi

John Lawless

Date: 1/3/2019 10:35:00 AM

A well written poem written about an horrific event and its aftermath.

Jan Allison
Date: 1/3/2019 11:09:00 AM

Thanks John:-) hugs jan xx

Maureen Mcgreavy

Date: 1/3/2019 9:28:00 AM

Too familiar with never the same since ;) wonderful heart tugging write Jan, thank you and congratulations on your win in my contest! <3 xomo

Jan Allison
Date: 1/3/2019 11:08:00 AM

It will be ten years In November how I wish it had never happened but we can't turn back time. the win in the contest means so much to me Mo:-) hugs Jan xx

Tom Cunningham

Date: 12/29/2018 2:59:00 AM

Such a shame for your mom Jan, a knock to the head can be devastating. When I go out on my bike I am surprised at how many cyclists do not wear a helmet. Tom. Good luck in the contest. Tom.

Jan Allison
Date: 1/3/2019 11:07:00 AM

my previous reply to you has gone awol Tom, I think it should be compulsory for cyclists to wear helmets and high vis clothing, would save a lt of accidents:-) hugs Jan x

Eve Roper

Date: 12/28/2018 9:16:00 PM

Jan, great poem, but very disturbing poem. Good luck in the contest. Happy New Year. Hugs Eve ~`*

Jan Allison
Date: 12/29/2018 2:38:00 AM

Thanks Eve it was a very sad day when mum fell life has never been the same since. Hugs Jan xx

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 12/28/2018 7:36:00 PM

oh jan, I did not know it was quite this bad. It's the saddest thing in the world when people lose memory. Very well done, my friend.

Jan Allison
Date: 12/29/2018 2:38:00 AM

Thanks Andrea, It was the most horrendous time ever and as far as I recall my sister didn't even bother to come over to visit :-( hugs Jan xx

Matthew Anish

Date: 12/28/2018 7:14:00 PM

After seeing Cats on Broadway with my mother I turned around and saw her lying ins a pool of blood on the ground. Fortunately she recovered and at age 83 she works 4 days a week. I couldn't walk a few years ago but a complete stranger came to my rescue and got me a ride to the doctor. Best of health to you and your mother! I am going to see the show "Man for All Seasons" with my mother next month. My father died soon after seeing a great show! Peace & Love Matthew Anish

Jan Allison
Date: 12/28/2018 7:18:00 PM

wow Matthew your mum sounds a very amazing lady and quite inspirational to be working when many have given up and retired. So glad you have both over come health issues. Very best wishes for 2019:-) hugs Jan xx

Caycay Jennings

Date: 12/28/2018 9:05:00 AM

Jan - I didn't know this about your Mom and was deeply touched by your poem. The wit is clever while still managing to convey the sad. Hang in there, as I know you do. Had my Mom 12/24 - 12/27 and she was loving, sweet - my prayers answered! Again, sorry your Mom had to endure what I have personally gone thru. Bless you both ... CayCay

Jan Allison
Date: 12/28/2018 9:10:00 AM

Hi my friend, so glad you had a good time with your mum over the festive period:-) seeing mum in hospital was one of the hardest things ever, dad had made light of her fall so I wasn't expecting her to look like she did, I can still picture it so vividly. I'm so sorry you have endured this injury, your determination to overcome issues shines out and you inspire me:-) hugs Jan xx

Caren Krutsinger

Date: 12/27/2018 9:47:00 PM

So sorry to read this poem about your mother. I was thinking as I read that you had gone through it because it was crystal, as if written through a personal experience. I guess it is. Your empathy shines through Jan.

Jan Allison
Date: 12/28/2018 3:47:00 AM

Totally true Caren. I wish my father had been more honest with me when he rang me from the hospital, i thought she'd just taken a small tumble and was not prepared for the sight I saw when I got to the ward - it just didn't look like mum it was horriffic:-( hugs Jan xx

Arthur Vaso

Date: 12/27/2018 9:17:00 PM

So sad, I often wish we could just freeze time. :(

Jan Allison
Date: 12/28/2018 3:45:00 AM

Oh so true Art, how different our lives could be but sadly life isn't that easy:-( hugs Jan xx

Carolyn Devonshire

Date: 12/27/2018 7:33:00 PM

This is a terrible tragedy, Jan, but at least she is still part of your life. After my father's stroke, we were told the blood on his brain meant he would never recover, so we reluctantly followed the instructions in his living will. It's hard to see those you love transformed, Jan. My heart goes out to you. Best wishes in the contest. Love, Carolyn

Jan Allison
Date: 12/27/2018 7:45:00 PM

I'm so sorry to learn of your dad:-( mum is amazing Carolyn her short term memory is not as good as it was and she has limited sight and hearing but she is very determined, still walks without a zimmer and is far more active than many of the residents, I am sure she would have helped at the charity shop for many more years if it hadn't been for the fall which knocked her so badly in so many ways:-) hugs jan xx

Heidi Sands

Date: 12/27/2018 6:51:00 PM

I can totally relate to this. I had a fall with a concussion and brain bleed. Lost balance too, had to learn to walk again. Much was a challenge. I wish the best for your mom! Well written :)

Jan Allison
Date: 12/27/2018 6:57:00 PM

Oh Heidi I am so sorry you can relate on a personal level:-( It was nearly 10 years ago since mum fell , our lives have never been the same since. she is an elderly lady but so tough i am so lucky to still have her:-) hugs Jan xx

Sunlite Wanter

Date: 12/27/2018 6:28:00 PM

So tender, Jan.

Jan Allison
Date: 12/27/2018 6:53:00 PM

I wish my dad had been honest with me from the start, seeing her for the first time was so shocking I just wasn't prepared for the way she looked, many people just wouldn't have survived, she is remarkable in so many ways:-) hugs jan xx

Michelle Faulkner

Date: 12/27/2018 5:20:00 PM

Those last lines so eloquent, makes me misty-

Jan Allison
Date: 12/27/2018 5:28:00 PM

Thanks Michelle, it was very cathartic to write:-) hugs Jan xx

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 12/27/2018 4:54:00 PM

Oh, that is so sad, Jan. One day can change everything. Best for a win...great work.

Jan Allison
Date: 12/27/2018 5:03:00 PM

you are so right Kim, just one event can change our lives so dramatically. hugs Jan xx

Lin Lane

Date: 12/27/2018 4:33:00 PM

I know your Mum's injury has been such a nightmare for both of you, but I also know that you take care of her in every possible way you can. At least she can count on one of her daughters to be at her side. Your words are so sorrowful, Jan. I know that feeling of helplessness with a parent.

Jan Allison
Date: 12/27/2018 5:02:00 PM

aww Lin, so sorry you can relate, we think our parents are invincible and it is so tough when a life changing event happens:-( hugs Jan xx

Lin Lane
Date: 12/27/2018 4:47:00 PM

My mom had a similar experience but I was in Colorado and didn't get home in time. It's heartbreaking.

Jan Allison
Date: 12/27/2018 4:43:00 PM

I will never forget that day Lin, mum was on her way to help in a charity shop, she was found in the street, luckily a lady got medical help for her and someone else knew her and went to tell dad. when he called me he made light of the situation and said she would be back that night and they'd get a taxi home. We went up to the hospital and I wasn't expecting to see her how she really was drifting in and out of consciousness, it was heartbreaking:-( She stayed in hospital 3 months! Its been cathartic to write:-) hugs Jan xx