The #TreadmillLife® movement began in a place immersed in fear, confusion and pain. To this day I don’t know what really happened, I can’t remember.

Surrounded by patients in wheelchairs, not capable of performing basic activities. Not being able to talk, eat or communicate was an empty feeling. Not being able to walk or feed myself. Having nurses tie my shoes. Not knowing how I got there or what had happened, filled with confusion. I was so scared.

Having to re-learn everything, moving my limbs, chewing, talking, standing, counting. I can recall re-learning the alphabet. At 25 years old. It was exhausting.  Embarrassed of the fact, I even had to relearn how to go to the bathroom. Everything that I had taken for granted was lost and I had no idea what was going on. A Traumatic Brain Injury was what I had suffered.

Painfully, I think of the day that my parents and my therapist took me into what I thought was another rehabilitation session.  This was about 3 weeks after the accident and I still had no idea what had happened or why I was there.  They sat me down in the Doctor’s office, the three of them focused on me like no one ever had before.

My father told me about the one car accident.  Detectives presumed that the vehicle lost control exiting the interstate and flipped an unknown amount of times. They described, how I was ejected from the vehicle and was fortunate to have survived. Vividly, I can remember my father’s tear-filled eyes and soft voice as he tells me ‘Venus,’ my girlfriend, was in the car also. Venus passed away.

Remembering the day that I could finally stand steady enough to walk on the device that would change everything, the treadmill.  It filled me with strength, courage and empowerment that helped develop a unique and necessary hope that I needed to recover. #TreadmillLife® is about encouraging hope and supporting people working hard to overcome challenges.

During my stay, I knew so many people that were not as fortunate as I was. These people were going through similar ordeals all by themselves.  No visitors. Alone. Scared and lost. A genuine support system was necessary for my recovery and it started within my heart. Nobody could show it to me, I had to find it.

The goal of #TreadmillLife® is to encourage a feeling of hope within people that are working hard at overcoming challenges in their lives. To ignite a motivation in each person that reads this. It was a courage born in my recovery from a Traumatic Brain Injury but we need inspiration within us to overcome any type of challenge. Your story is worth telling too, it could help someone. Please share her hash tag #TreadmillLife on social media. A treadmill is not required.

TBI Survivor Elliot Hare