Restored

Brian Allen had an accident at 10 years old. It injured his brain and took away everything he knew how to do. He had to relearn everything. He wasn't fully restored, and he learned to live with paralysis on much of his right side and other issues.

Last year, Brian came to our SmallTown event as a student volunteer on the video crew. He heard my friend Laura Girty tell about her son's brain injury. Brian decided he could tell his own story. 

This year, he took the stage as a speaker. He charmed us with his humor and personality. When he got to the part of telling the story of his accident, we could see it wasn't easy for him. He drew a deep breath, and he whispered mostly to himself, "I can do this." The audience responded with calls of, "you can do it!" and "yes, you can!" He did. And he did a great job. 

At that moment, Brian and the audience restored me, restored my faith in people. 

Brian tells his story as a speaker here: 

Heartwarming experience at State of NOW #SmallTown2012 reflects as a speaker and attendee