Broken Beginnings, A Journey of Hope and Healing
I’ve been advised by many to share my story since it directly shaped my artistic endeavor, it’s a long and winding story, but here it goes:
Broken Beginnings emerged from a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and decades of severe medical issues that dominated my life. A bike accident at age five caused both TBI and PTSD, leading to twenty years of chronic pain, repeated concussions, and over forty surgeries. In 2015, my life fell apart, and I underwent six more surgeries and had two neurostimulators implanted to manage the constant pain. Though the pain improved, TBI, PTSD, narcolepsy, and other chronic issues continued to control my life. I was barely surviving.
Moving to Illinois from Colorado saved my life. That is no exaggeration. Thanks to Dr. Mike in Colorado, I finally saw a NeuroOptometry expert who connected my lifelong medical struggles to TBI and PTSD. This explained everything—from my difficulties with math and certain thought processes to sensory overload, overstimulation and my inability to read, which had been my favorite pastime.
With this understanding, the hard work began. Dr. Z used prescription glasses and precise calculations to change how my brain perceived the world. Each new prescription gradually improved my condition, making me feel anchored and grounded.
Next, I began intensive cognitive rehab with a neuropsychologist, tackling puzzles and hundreds of challenging worksheets to create new neural pathways. It was exhausting but necessary. Amy and Kerry joined my journey alongside Donalee, and guided me through neuromuscular rehab and restoring proper reflexes. Neuromuscular rehab is a fancy way of saying “beating your body into submission in a strategic, yet very uncomfortable way”. Lucky for me, when I started, my body didn’t process pain appropriately, so it took a few months before I started screaming with appropriate pain responses, much to everyone’s glee, save for me!
Every two weeks, we spent two days in Northbrook, Illinois, working to restore my body’s functionality. Throughout this challenging process, my faithful service dog, Iris, provided essential support, helping me through the darkest times in Colorado and the demanding rehabilitation period in Illinois.
After a year and a half of help from specialists, as Christmas approached, I wanted to thank those who saved my life and gave me hope and healing. Determined to create something meaningful, I found mosaic kits on Etsy. Despite hating the process at first, I persevered. Each piece of glass was a struggle, reflecting my perfectionist tendencies and difficulty with shape recognition. By the end of the second piece, I realized that the mosaics represented my life's puzzle, each piece symbolizing the hard work in rehab and daily life.
Grouting those first two mosaics showed me how the grout held together imperfect pieces, making them stronger, much like my own journey. Polishing and sealing the mosaics mirrored my healing process. These birds became symbols of hope and healing, and I gifted them to those who supported me through my biggest challenges. Creating mosaics became a crucial part of my continued healing and strengthening.
Eventually, I ran out of people to gift my creations to, so I signed up for an event to sell my "art." Though I struggle with calling myself an artist, creating these mosaics has become an essential part of my recovery and self-acceptance.
Broken Beginnings officially launched in 2023 with successful events in the fall. I added another event in 2024 and plan to continue. I've received several custom orders for larger pieces like trays and an end table, as well as many smaller items. I especially enjoy making monogrammed trays, often given as unique wedding or bridal gifts. Creating remains challenging, and my perfectionist tendencies cause significant frustration, as that aspect of my brain has not changed despite everything.
So now you know about Broken Beginnings, but my life today is much more than those beginnings! My service dog, Iris, retired at age seven thanks to my progress. She’s adjusting to life as a “real dog,” and we’re both glad to leave the “broken” parts behind.
In July 2023, I opened a Little Free Library in my front yard, the first project I completed start to finish in over twenty years. Copper Creek’s Little Free Library is a labor of love, providing a service to my community and reigniting my passion for reading.
After twenty years, I had both neurostimulators removed in February 2024. Recovery was tough but worth it. The loss of Kerry, who played a key role in my recovery, almost made me stop mosaic making. Recognizing PTSD's resurgence, I sought help at the Stella Center, repeated the Stellate Ganglion Block, grieved Kerry, and tackled life again.
I'm planning my first event with a committee in over a decade, looking forward to participating in Barn Bash this summer and two more events this fall. My weight loss journey continues, and I’m making new friends and driving again. Seeing new possibilities is liberating.
This life wouldn’t be possible without my family's love and support. Broken Beginnings wouldn’t exist without them. I’m incredibly thankful for each of them. I don’t know what the future holds, but I know I have one, and that’s the greatest feeling I’ve had in a long time. The journey of Hope and Healing continues every day, piece by piece.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. If you think this is long, you should see what I left out! As my uncle once said, brevity has never been our strong suit. I appreciate your interest in Broken Beginnings and hope you enjoy my work.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or if you're interested in ordering a piece for yourself or someone else. I'm happy to take custom orders too.