The Mill House Member Team

The Mill House members below chose to share their stories online and only represent a sampling of the full Mill House membership.

My name is Bob H. I was born on 2-25-61. I was a chemist before I got hit by a train. It backed up on me & put me in a coma for 2 ½ months. I sang for my church for 2 ½ years. Now I cut trees down for a living. It is not easy but it has to be done. The Mill House has helped me get to life a little bit easier so I don’t blow up as often as I used to.

My name is Ronald J. The last job I can remember was working as a mechanic changing oil. I was 41 years old and was doing something I would rather not discuss. I was driving home at 100 miles per hour and ran a stop sign and hit a car. My BMW flipped four times and the paramedics gave me one hour to live. I went into a coma and stayed in one for 8 weeks. Did I mention that it was 2001 when all this took place? Then I came out of the coma and stayed in the hospital in a wheelchair for one year. Then I started at the Mill house and got tired of the wheelchair and got a cane and started to walk a little just to come to the Mill House. Mill House staff helped me a great deal. They helped me get two apartments and I have lived on my own for seven years now. I am 48 years old and I have accomplished a lot of goals here at the Mill House, I mean a lot! My current goals are to get stronger and have a better attitude.

My name is Robert P. In 1975 I had a job doing construction work. I was in a car accident and spent one year in MCV in a coma. In 1999, I was one of the first members at the Mill House, where I learn basic computer skills and learn strategies to help me cope with my brain injury for five days a week. I enjoy being with other people at the Mill House so we can share our experiences.

First of all, my name is Larry S. I had to go to MCV for a Traumatic Brain Injury in 2005. I thank all the doctors for the care they gave me. From there I moved to Independence House where I live with some other people with Brain Injury. The Mill House has helped me very much. They helped me move, helped me get along better with others and taught me to use computers.

My name is Jack H, I had a car accident in ’88. I was working as an electrician. At the time of my accident I was working a lot of hours and the Richmond Braves were having a good year. My brother and I decided to go to a game, drank some beer and never made it home. The Mill house has helped me fill my day with computer tasks that will help me find employment.

Good Afternoon. I’m Nelson M. It’s September 2, 2009 and I’m writing this biography to tell about myself. I’m 42 years old and have an acquired brain injury from 1967. I’ve come a long way with my life, and I’m proud of myself. I volunteer at the VA hospital here in Richmond. I made a big step in my life when I moved into an independent home and I love it. I heard about it through the Mill House, a place for People with Brain Injuries. It’s helped me a lot and gave me the confidence to move forward with my life.

My name is Alphonso H. I am forty-one years old. I was a heavy equipment operator forklift driver for Richfood Company. When the accident occurred, I was 25 years old. It was 1995. One day when I left the job, I was paused at a red light when all of a sudden a drunk lady came through her light & ran into the passenger side of the car. I was in the hospital for 4 1/2 months in a coma. When I woke up I was paralyzed & had amnesia & had busted my lungs. I was in the hospital for 4 months. I was released from the hospital & then at home with a nurse. I was in a wheelchair for 8 years & started coming to The Mill House in 1999 in a wheelchair, pushing myself in the wheelchair & tyring to walk against the wall with a cane, practicing until it became possible to do what I do now. I overcame my body problems a little bit & am still practicing my walking on balance & steps I take. Some things I have to work on for the rest of my life. The amnesia is gone, but now I have short-term memory problems, & it is crazy. The best thing I do is jot down things in a book I carry everywhere, but it is still a hard accident to handle because it totally changed my life. Now things are getting better with my intellect & body. My goals are to get back into the opportunities of life work. For instance, The Mill House gave me a lot of courage to maintain my walking & how to work on a lot of things. It is a good place to get confidence & learn how to do things in the future, such as working, cooking, cleaning, computers, & so forth. I thank The Mill House for making me strong again.