Out of the Rabbit Hole: How a Concussion Changed My Life: A Story of Hope

Sharon Royers was a high energy elementary school principal known for buzzing about the building in her suits and running shoes. Her nickname was “Flash” because she typically walked and spoke quickly. Her whole world changed with a simple head bump on an old cabinet door, causing a concussion. Sharon pushed through the head pain and symptoms for a week before seeking medical attention. Although a concussion is classified as a mild traumatic brain injury, it is often debilitating both for the injured and their families. Most people recover from concussions in about two weeks; however, approximately 30% of concussion patients still have symptoms after three months. And about 15% experience symptoms for a year or longer. Furthermore, research suggests that female concussions differ from their male counterparts and that the female brain generally takes longer to recover.Out of the Rabbit Hole chronicles Sharon’s more than three-year recovery journey from post-concussion syndrome. Peppered with humor, her story details the two-steps forward, one step back (cha-cha) recovery process. Ultimately, her concussion and subsequent healing process transformed her in ways she had not expected. This is her story.