Miracles happen, even with us . In my early 40s, I returned to the martial arts training I'd begun in my 20s, but had to quit due to the medical problems caused by the TBI. After numerous false starts, I was finally able to stick it through for a two-year stretch and test for first-degree black belt, which I passed on the first attempt (in fact, I was top of the class). Soon after I was again forced to quit before I was even handed my personally-embroidered black belt (special order from Japan), but that didn't matter, as I was officially yudansha now regardless of the color of the belt I wore.

I still practice karate, but on my own, not it a dojo due to my health issues. I do not allow myself to feel discouraged; the little I can train is still better than none at all. So I give thanks every day.