Hi, I'm Christa! If you ever knew me before 2021, you'd know I lived my life by moving through it. I danced, I biked, I ran, I frolicked, I experienced everything with movement, that is, until my life changed in September 2021- just like a lot of us, at Craig hospital. I experienced a life changing injury; a broken jaw resulting in a torn carotid artery, causing a severe ischemic stroke paralyzing the left side of my body. Doctors with horrible bedside manners told me I wouldn't see a full recovery, so naturally, that fueled my stubborn spirit. I wheeled into the PEAK center at Craig, listing out my goals of walking again- preferably without a cane- and not a single person doubted me, and they put me to work! Today, two years later, after a lot of hard work, I'm walking confidently without a cane- i even forgot how to use one!! I love biking so much, I have decided to ride 50k at Pedal for Possible, as a representative of the brain injury community- just as a reminder to myself and everyone in our BI community that the story does not ever end. we are not our injuries! We do not have to live forever trapped in this injured mindset. We can move forward and continue doing things that we love! :)
The people and resources at Craig save and change lives. As a brain injury survivor in the thick of recovery, all you really need is someone to believe in you, and give you the boost you need to achieve your goals.. one PT once told me "i'll never give you false hope, but i will also not make you do something you aren't capable of." <- That is why Craig is the best. I've been pushed to my limits and can proudly say I've proved everyone who doubted me wrong, thanks to everyone at Craig. I literally wouldn't be participating in this race without them... I wouldn't be nearly strong enough.
I am raising money for the Craig foundation, to give other survivors like myself the opportunity to have their lives back. please consider a donation to help support other survivors who sustained life changing injuries.
to my BI community, You are not your injury. this is not the end of your story... Impossible is nothing, that's why we Pedal for Possible!!
