I am a recovery traumatic brain injury survivor.... I obtained main at the age of 25 after working two jobs at a time, being the praise and worship leader for our children's church, volunteering there numerous hours and also training horses for a therapeutic riding center.

I was getting off of work one day and decided I deserved a ride. There was a new horse at the center and thinking she had already been assessed I took the director's advice and hopped on her. Following all standard procedures, I did where a helmet and use proper gear, but my number was called. The horse had other plans for me than a gentle ride and instead of me taking her through some easy training she decided to get a bit snippy. With horses, you must make them follow through or next time they know they have you. So, I proceeded to correct the horses behavior and upon doing so she took me down a hill bucking back and forth and then catapulting me off over it's right shoulder onto my head.

Right now, most days I can walk, talk, bathe, eat, drive, etc with minimal help...although people who know me well know there is a difference. Anyway, I love art and love tattoos. I did get a new tattoo finally and like the group here I was a bit nervous. Since my injury I have also suffered serious health problems, the physicians mainly think the cause lies in the medication therapy. I have tremors, dizzy spells, times when I fade out and have lost eighty pounds. I did have to take numerous breaks with the new tattoo and I did shake, at times uncontrollably. I started the tat in a sitting/straddle chair as it was a high back piece but upon having uncontrollable tremors I was moved to a comfortable table to lie on while cool rags were laid on me with a fan.

It is a matter of will power. I have ferocious pain in my head due to the accident and am unable to take any medication for it, due to the fact that it does nothing for the pain and only worsens the secondary symptoms,(slow motor skills etc). So, I meditate a lot....sometimes it is to worship music, sometimes it is concentrating on a fixed object, sometimes it is reciting scripture, whatever I can do... I have learned to block out the pain when it finally comes, because when I do finally feel it my body wants to shut down.......

We are survivors, we should be dead, but we are here... we can handle a tattoo....just bring someone to hold you down if you shake too much, water to hydrate, a blanket for the shakes, rags to cool you down, a snack for sugar and music to chill out to. Oh and please be kind to the artist and make them aware.... They are more than willing to help the disabled community Blessings!!!!