By Tom Flanigan
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-885951.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – More than 200-thousand Floridians suffer from traumatic brain injury. It's what happened to Alec Harmes ten years ago when he was nearly killed in a motorcycle accident in Tallahassee, even though he was wearing a helmet.
"You can't shower by yourself, you can't brush your teeth, you can't walk obviously. The left side of my body was paralyzed, so I couldn't move my left hand for two months almost. It's a very humbling experience going from sixteen, on top of the world, to being a toddler again basically."
"I was 16-years-old, and I was on Mahan (Drive) going to a friend's house. A car stopped in front of me to let another car turn left in front of them. I didn't realize it at the time, passed them in the bicycle lane, T-boned the car, coma for four days, intensive care for twelve "
After many months of painful and frustrating therapy at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, Harmes recovered. Today, he's a project manager for Culpepper Construction.
Harmes was among dozens of traumatic brain injury survivors rallying at the Florida Capitol Tuesday. They were lobbying lawmakers to continue support for the Brain Injury Association of Florida, which receives state funding through the Florida Department of Health.