By Heather Marie Berault
This was penned a while ago, and thankfully, life has been steadily improving, day by day, and I am so grateful that I am still getting to enjoy one!
When we welcome God into our lives, it can bring a sense of peace, purpose, and joy. It’s the feeling of having an anchor in both good times and bad. Inner peace are two amazing words to put in a sentence and that’s a sentence that we all want to write!
People often say, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way” and I say, “where there is God, there is a way.”
I call this every second, of every minute, of every hour, of every day of every year of my life.
I have a story about a miracle, and that miracle is my life since 2013. I was hit by a vehicle while crossing the street and the driver was going less than 20 miles an hour. UCI Medical building was right around the corner and actually heard the accident. The ambulance came right over.
I seriously was dead for a few minutes but, they were able to resuscitate me and I stayed in a Coma for 6.5 weeks. When I eventually came through my brain was so damaged that I did not remember if I had a dog of all the crazy things. More importantly what happened to cause my body to be covered in bandages and a tube down my throat for the liquid meals.
Here’s a short list of how bad things were:
I had forgotten my alphabet. A+B=C, right? I could only use one hand because of the stroke and was not able operate more than two of my fingers to count on. Plus, I could and can only use my left hand for doing anything throughout my day and I am a right handed person.
I couldn’t see the closed captioning on the television, even though I was only five feet away.I had to turn up the volume on my television and the Alexa so loud that my Father, God rest his soul, would always complain.
I spoke gibberish. Need I say more? Because I will! (that was a gibberish joke)
When I came out of my Coma, I became more clear headed and realized that God brought me back down to earth where I belong instead of my drifting through life which was where I was before. Once I began thinking straight my mother told me straight up that I was not only a snob but, a snot. I love my Mom and consider her one of my closest friends. So by no means is this me complaining about Josephine or Mom. She was 100% correct and I will never disagree!
Now, I relish the fact that people are genuinely happy to see me, that I am for once interested in what they have to say and how my actions will affect them. Being actually liked feels much better than being someone that people think they are suppose to like.
For the first time in my life, I truly like being me. No, I love being me!
I spent over 10 years with major brain damage. So many days and nights of constantly scratched the palm of my hand. I would do this all day and into my sleep only to wake up the next morning and start scratching all over again. I was only able think the same five or six thoughts over and over again. Trying desperately to recall the directions back home from the grocery store that I was driven to several times a week.
When nobody was around, which was almost always once I went back to live with my Father, I would get out of my bed and crawl around the floor. Trying to stretch my limbs, and twist my body. Holding on to the end of the bed and doing as many squats as I could before my legs failed. Getting in the standing position so that I could hang on to the mattress and walk around the 3 sides that were not against the wall. I had to have speech therapy for years. It was very sad and embarrassing to find out that people would simply pretend that they could understand me when I found out years later that they couldn’t but, would just agree.
Because of the brain damage I had absolutely no balance and not be able to walk at more than 3 or 4 feet for 11 years. I had no muscles in my legs anymore or any strength in my core. It was so very frustrating, actually maddening!
That bulb that you see above a cartoon character’s head when the lightbulb finally turns back on happened to me. My brain had finally healed itself! I say itself because I was not really getting any special help from Doctor’s, Therapist’s or taking any medication. So, I woke up one morning and told my closest friend Joseph that I had this weird feeling that if I had a Walker to try, I probably would. To my surprise he had one in the back of his closet. He went right downstairs and brought it back and things were never the same after that!
Now I am motivated to walk anywhere and everywhere I can and by my side is the best partner anyone could ask for, Scrumptious my Terri-Poo.I adopted Scrumptious from the Animal Shelter and she is never done anything remotely wrong! She is another one of God‘s blessings.
I am 100% better thanks to Him!
I walk again with my Walker, and that alone is a miracle since my Neurologist was not sure if I would be able to in my future. Slowly but surely (I feel an Airplane movie joke coming on!).
Once, I said to my Mom that I could’ve been a contender, and she said, “You are”.
I love that lady!
I won’t go on and on but, I will say is that He can do anything! I’m walking, talking, thinking and breathing proof of that. No matter what you’re going through, trust me, He always has your back. You can survive absolutely anything just as I have done.
I know you’ve been hearing that forever, but as God is my witness (literally)…… He does!
I still have my electric wheelchair which I call my car. Scrumptious only likes potty time when I let her run next to me while I am on it. I call it our Walk and Roll time. She walks and I roll. Also, when I am running some errands far away from home. I’ll probably keep it for a long time because I never have to deal with traffic or parking problems. I can use the bike lanes, and it’s much faster than a bicycle.
I started a little while ago using other forms of transportation to take my Walker. I finally am able to walk into Ulta to see Stevie and get my hair done. Walking in the movie’s at Regal saying hi to the Manager Stasha, buying groceries and saying hey to Tina C. US Bank with Gorge at Von’s and Angie at Trader Joe’s.Every few weeks going with my friend Joseph for the wonderful food at Pier 76 and chatting with Carlos the owner. Saying hi to Suzanne and Kim while shopping for new digs at The Rack. Chilling with Henry, Norma, Miguel and —-at Marshall’s. Then although it’s off the beaten path, the Assistance League where all the ladies go gaga over Scrumptious!
I scream out multiple times a day how much I love my life. It sounds crazy, but I’m not lying to you, I seriously do!
When I was in my Coma they were not sure if it was go to come out of it and had an irrevocable Trust drawn up for the insurance company settlement.
There was a Trustee assigned which was a person they assumed I could trust.
As the old saying goes, assume is ass=you+me!
The Trustee embezzled the bulk of the Trust leaving me with years of worrying about my future living expenses and ability to covering my rent.
As much as I enjoy working with only being able to completely use one of my hands, and walking with a Walker finding work again has become impossible.
Since my accident I shake pretty bad and taking Primidone to help. I am so fortunate that it’s the only medication that I take. Believe me that putting on Mascara is not only a timely challenge but, messy and I am sure funny to see. Leaving me to decide to go without rather than looking silly with.
So I have created the a blog “Heather Marie and Scrumptious’s nap time” Blog for being a source of encouragement and positivity. I stay away from negative people as much as possible!
I am sharing things in my life that I have found to work, not work for me, interesting, fun and things that others might try and fill me in on the results(please). I hope to spend my time encouraging, promoting, uplifting, and listening to what others have to say.
My website- Boycott Ordinary
I have created merchandise for sale on this website, Printify, and TikTok for ordering goodies
If you see anything on my items for purchase that you are interested in and purchase through one of my links it will be much appreciated but, it is absolutely not necessary. If anything if you were to purchase something that would be icing on my cake!
In your purchasing this you will be providing funds towards my rent and living expenses.
I would truly appreciate your help and would love seeing people wearing Boycott Ordinary t-shirts when I am out and about!
Let me say, thank you in advance
Even if you don’t see anything that you would like, will you please share this with someone that you might feel will benefit from hearing what I have to say. If I was able to assist you at all I would love to know also!
This is hard for me to write because I always worked, owned multiple businesses and was financially secure and have been sadly put in a corner by my Trustee.
If this was mailed to you then I am addressing the envelope myself. Can I first say oops and sorry but, practice makes perfect (I will settle for good). Secondly, send me your feedback! Thank you
Printify
https://printify.com/app/store/products/1
I would truly appreciate your help and would love seeing people wearing Boycott Ordinary t-shirts when I am out and about!
Let me say, thank you in advance
Even if you don’t see anything that you would like to purchase at this time, will you please share this with someone that you might feel will benefit from hearing what I have to say. If I was able to assist you at all I would love to know also!
This is hard for me to write because I always worked, owned multiple businesses and was financially and have been sadly put in a corner by my Trustee.
If this was mailed to you I am addressing the envelope myself and I have been practicing writing with my left hand so I apologize the poor penmanship.
Pintrest
https://www.pinterest.com/boycottordinary/_profile
YouTube
YouTube channel where I post videos to help me with practicing my speech and my pronunciation