Emilee Prado
After a motorcycle accident left him with a traumatic brain injury, Southlake native James Durham realized how little people knew about TBIs. So he started TBI One Love, an organization that spreads awareness about traumatic brain injuries and supports survivors and caregivers. Back in Southlake after a brief stint in Florida, James is working hard to spread his message of positivity, grace and faith to everyone, not just those impacted.
I WAS GOING OVER AN OVERPASS... on a three-lane road. I was the only one on my side of the road. There was an individual ... coming up in the turning lane, so I thought they’re doing a U-turn. Being in those three lanes, I got in the far right so that way, if a car’s coming, they would have enough area to do a complete U-turn. Well, the problem was the individual was not doing a U-turn. They actually missed their exit, so they ran the light to go quickly back onto the service lane. And that’s just when we happened to connect, unfortunately.
BUT LUCKILY... there was a light pole, so that’s what caught me. I was wearing a helmet, and it flew off and went 200 yards away. Luckily that pole was there, because if not, I would have gone off the bridge into the oncoming traffic.
I WAS IN A COMA... for five weeks — a natural coma. I had 12 surgeries. Then when I woke up, I went through a different series of events during recovery.
WITH A BRAIN INJURY... recovery is long-term — forever. There is no finish line with a brain injury. Also, when you meet one brain injury survivor, he or she is unique because none are alike.
I WAS LIKE AN INFANT... I had to learn all over again. Mine was an S-TBI — severe traumatic brain injury. My left temporal lobe — that functioning [of] memorization, speaking, attention span and all that — was severely damaged. My summary, if you will, was, ‘OK, he’s going to have trouble understanding English. When you speak to him, it’s going to be like speaking Portuguese. He’s not going to know who you are every five seconds — you’re going to have to keep reintroducing yourself. He’ll be hospitalized and not able to function, but that’s great, he’s still here.’
I STARTED MY ORGANIZATION... December 12, 2014. That day is symbolic to me because that’s the day that I got released from [the hospital] after my craniectomy. My accident was September 22, 2011, so that is three years and three months.
THE ORGANIZATION SPREADS... hope, inspiration, education, awareness and, of course, prevention — not only to all those affected by a brain injury but also just for the general public because people need to understand.
WHEN I SUSTAINED MY BRAIN INJURY… I didn’t know that many people, besides the ones I met at the hospital or rehabilitation, that really knew about brain injuries. Some did, but I was, like, ‘Why isn’t there someone out there really educating not only the differences but also motivating survivors and/or caregivers that they’re not alone?’ When someone says, ‘Oh hey, I can relate to that,’ even if it’s not exact, but they understand, it makes you feel a little comfort, and you know you are not the only one.
I DO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH UNDERSTANDING… certain words, even if it’s a common word. I also have some other side effects — I can’t smell, I can’t taste, [I have] nerve damage... I definitely notice them, and I don’t try to hide them.
THE KIND OF FEEDBACK I’VE GOTTEN IS… ‘Thank you for the support [and] information that you share.’ It's really motivating to hear, ‘Keep it going, you’re helping more people than you know.’ And that comes from survivors, caregivers or people that have no relation to a brain injury at all.
MISSION IN THE MARKETPLACE... was my first speaking event in Southlake. But it is my third speaking event in DFW. I got involved with this Mission in the Marketplace event by being invited, thanks to the president of Texas Health of Southlake. It’s such an honor to get this Southlake involvement started after returning.