When I was 27, my life was all that I dreamed it would be. I was working as a legal advocate for sexual assault survivors. I had nearly completed my master’s degree in counseling.
I was newly married with a beautiful 5-month-old son. Over the Christmas holiday I developed a sinus infection, much like the ones I’ve had my entire life. But this infection would be different.
This infection grew to infect my entire brain. It would nearly kill me. I was placed into a coma to give my brain time to fight, time to heal.
When I woke from the coma, I was deaf and I had no memory. I had to relearn how to walk and feed myself. I didn’t remember my family.
I couldn’t recognize my baby. I began every morning as if I was a blank slate. I constantly had to relearn my name, relearn that I had a family.
I had years of rehabilitation to teach my body how to walk and to teach my mind that I was a daughter, wife and mother. Looking back, I can see that I became completely disconnected from my emotions. It took me years to learn that being a mother meant wanting to take care of your child, that it meant putting the needs of your child ahead of your own.
The Seattle Times Mental Health Project features contributed essays from members of our community as part of our Mental Health Perspectives guest column. We invite individuals with personal stories related to mental health to share their experiences that reflect broader issues and concerns in the field. If you would like to inquire about su.