 |
Resources for the Journey to Recovery |
Search | Site Map | Privacy |
 |
||
 |
|
|
Email: |
SURVIVOR STORY - Steve Easterly Celebration of Life for Steve Easterly
Born on July 24, 1947, at Mercy Hospital, Steve grew up in and around La Mesa. He did a lot of things… he was an electrician, and sound technician, setting up sound systems in schools and hospitals in the area. But most fondly, he recalled his years as a lobster fisherman, and captain of a boat-delivery service for several years (through 1995). In 1995, Steve was run off the road by a drunk driver, and though he suffered no serious bone-breakage, he was comatose for nearly two months. He was not expected to live. His brain injury was that of coup-contracoup…which means, the moving brain hits one side of the skull and rebounds, hitting the other, causing massive bruising and shearing of brain tissue, internally. Steve was not expected to live: he spent many months in the hospital, and stayed with friends for the next two years. He stayed in a non-licensed halfway house for 7-8 months. “In 1996, it took me all day to get out of bed, and then I was dizzy all the time!” Steve recalls. He became mobile about then, able to wheel himself around the block in his chair once or twice a week. Steve recalls his half-way house experience “Horrible!” In 1998, he moved out and stayed with a friend, Ray, until his parents helped him move into an apartment in Pt. Loma, in 1998. Soon after Steve acquired a wonderful pal, a Springer Most important, though, he not only survived this devastating conglomeration of injuries, he became a true thriver! He started attending the San Diego Brain Injury classes at Mesa College in San Diego. It was during this time, Steve recognized the lack of attention given to survivors’ independence-socialization needs, and formed what he called the “Gleam Team”, a weekly get-together, during which survivors, hang out together, have dinner at some local eatery, and go to an occasional movie. The Gleam Team became the foundation of a genuine friendship circle for many survivors, as well as enabling many to initiate another step toward autonomy and self-care. “It’s kind of the varsity socialization squad for the ABI curriculum!” one student noted. Steve is a shining example of a Brain-injury survivor who was given no hope and was placed in a nursing home. It was through his own sheer determination that he became such an active and effective leader in the Brain Injury Community. Steve was the embodiment of recovery for many brain-injury survivors, demonstrating that friendship and fun are powerful medicines for recovery, not just from the head—down, but from the heart—up! He will be greatly missed. |
|
