Kathleen Pritchard has spent 13 years adapting to life with an acquired case of mild traumatic brain injury. Her experiences are captured in her book Worthy In His Eyes published in 2012 by Word Alive Press.
Kathie’s book describes the mental and spiritual journey that followed a car accident on November 7, 2001, that changed the course of her life, and the steps she has made in accepting her diagnosis. She writes about how this change has affected her relationship with God and the friends and family she holds close.
“My life is an open book,” Kathie said. Mild traumatic brain injury slows down mental processing power of the human brain making it so that the person affected can not think as quickly. She becomes exhausted when there is an excess of stimuli such as constant background interference or loud noises. Kathie often finds it difficult to concentrate on multiple tasks at once, her mind going blank when too much is happening around her.
Over the years, Kathie said, her injury has made her life a little different. However “Different isn’t bad, just slow.” As she has travelled through her challenges, she has come to terms with limitations and continues to learn how to pass on the lessons she has been taught to others.
The book took six years to write and although it was difficult at times she was determined to see it through. Kathie’s personal motto, “I don’t believe in the words ‘I can’t,’” has allowed her to rise to the very personal challenge in putting her journey into words.
The book approaches her journey from her spiritual side as a Christian, and how it has affected her faith, as well as how it has impacted her and the community. Her life in the two years since the book was published has involved a great amount of support finding a new network of people where she can be both the mentor and student for those with similar disabilities.
Her initial experiences with her friends and family and in particular her interactions with her best friend and husband Ken have helped her greatly in coming to terms with her new found disability. In the aftermath of her accident the strength of her loving husband has been invaluable to her. “He is my ultimate cheerleader, for sure.”
Ken’s supportive role has been crucial to Kathie’s success, as he has been able to speak on her behalf and approach people during times when she was too overwhelmed. “We’ve always been a team. We don’t try at it that hard, it’s just who we are.”
Kathie has also spent her time working on making and maintaining her website and blog which she described as her child project. She has learned all of the unique coding and skills needed to keep her site up and running. She writes an encouragement journal meant to try and inspire and uplift people. Her blog adds to the resumé of work she continues to do for the community of people with invisible brain-related illnesses and injuries. “We want to make a difference in the world,” she said. “Everyone can be an encourager.”
Kathie has become a novice photographer, enjoying the act of capturing artistic scenes and adding inspirational captions to her images before putting them online or on canvas. She has worked hard to make her home a safe place to encourage others and help them relax because in her words, “Life is to be lived right where you are.”
Kathie’s book is available from amazon.com, Coles The Book People, Breakwater Books and Fudge, and Christian bookstores across Canada.
