I never thought a single moment could change my entire life. But that’s exactly what happened on November 14, 2014, when I was thrown from a horse and landed on my back, head to heel. I was alone and unconscious for an unknown amount of time. When I finally came to, my world had already shifted in ways I couldn’t yet understand.
My injuries were extensive—head trauma, two blown discs in my neck, and a broken lower back. Over the next ten months, my life revolved around specialists, rehabilitation, and surgeries. I had a neck fusion, retrained my eyes to track, and even had to relearn how to talk. Yet, despite everything, the only visible sign of my trauma is a two-inch scar on my throat—a scar most people assume is from a thyroid procedure. But the real damage? The real battle? That was happening inside my brain.
Why I’m Speaking Up Now
For years, I hid my injury. I pushed through the confusion, the frustration, the exhaustion—pretending I was okay when I wasn’t. But the truth is, TBI doesn’t just heal and go away. It lingers. It reshapes your life in ways that no one can see. My memory falters. Words escape me. Light and noise overwhelm me. Balance is unreliable. Emotions flare without warning. And the more tired I am, the worse it all gets.
The hardest part? It’s invisible. No scars, no crutches, no cast—just an internal battle that few understand.
And through it all, my husband stood by me. He had to learn how to support a completely different person because the wife he knew before the accident was gone. I recovered, but I have never been the same person I was before that day.
Coffee, Healing, and Purpose
I started Grim Bean Coffee Company with my husband in 2016, long before I was ready to open up about my injury. But now, coffee has become more than just a business—it’s part of my healing. The routine of brewing a cup, the familiar warmth, the small moment of focus in a foggy day—it all helps. And through our company, we’re able to give back, supporting the Brain Trauma Foundation in their mission to pioneer treatments for TBIs.
The Journey Ahead
This blog isn’t just about my story. It’s about raising awareness, offering hope, and creating a community. Whether you have a TBI, know someone who does, or just want to understand, you’re welcome here.
So let’s start a conversation—over coffee, over shared experiences, over the understanding that while TBIs may be invisible, we don’t have to go through them unseen.
If you’ve ever felt alone in your struggles, just know: you’re not. And if you need a moment of comfort, grab a cup of Grim Bean Coffee and take it one sip at a time.
Join me on this journey. Let’s brew resilience together.
Love,
Sandra Joy