Joanna From Kingston
My name is Joanna but people who know me call
me Jo. Some women don’t like to discuss their age, but I am proud to
share that I am 31 years old, a milestone made even more significant
due to the 12.5 years that I’ve lived with a traumatic brain injury
(TBI). My TBI was the result of a motor vehicle accident that left me
with 7 skull fractures and skull depression. Since then I have also
been diagnosed with PTSD, OCD, ADHD, depression, severe anxiety with
panic attacks, and most recently, autism spectrum disorder. I am sure
nobody envisions their life as a TBI survivor - I certainly didn’t -
but here I am navigating it every day.
At 31, I live with my mother, which, though
unexpected, I have been able to see it as a profound blessing. She is
not just my caregiver but my closest confidante, my unwavering
support, and the person who continually inspires me. Her selflessness,
having altered her own life vision to become my caregiver, is
something I will never be able to repay. Through her relentless search
for solutions to aid my ongoing recovery, she discovered K4Paws, which
began my journey toward having a service dog. From the moment we
learned about the impact a service dog could have, we were filled with
hope! A service dog offers me the possibility of regaining a degree of
independence that I grieved long ago. Simple tasks like filling up the
gas tank or picking up groceries can be overwhelming and exhausting
for me and cause blackout panic and days of recovery. A service dog
could empower me to engage in life more fully, whether travelling
without fear or participating in family events with greater ease.
It was suggested that I couldn’t work full
time, but with my genes having my late father’s determination, my
mother’s relentless commitment, and my own stubborn resolve, I now
work full time remotely. This occupies the majority of my time and
bulk of my energy, leaving little room for anything else. Pair this
with medical appointments and trying to “keep up” leaves me with
little ability to enjoy life. This reality, where 80% is spent at home
and 20% attending appointments, reflects the harsh truth faced by many
TBI survivors. We may look “normal” but we face a never ending battle.
While it’s true I survived my injuries, I am still, in many ways,
merely surviving. It is because of K4Paws that I now see the
possibility of truly living again.
Despite the challenges my family and I have
faced, and the understanding that I will never fully “get better,” I
remain resolute. I am deeply proud to say that I will never give up on
my journey to be well, for the chance to truly live, and for the
opportunities that will come my way through the help of K4Paws. I will
FURever cherish the support and opportunities that lie ahead.
Thank you K4Paws for enabling me to start down
this exciting path by approving me for a K4Paws Service Dog. To those
who have taken the time to read my story I thank you immensely and I
would be so grateful if you would consider donating to my campaign to
raise money for this incredible organization.
