Since you’re here, I should probably go ahead and introduce myself! My name is Chantelle, I’m 25, and I live outside of Boston. Once upon a time, I graduated college with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and History, focusing on Historical Archaeology. Before you ask, no, that doesn’t mean I studied dinosaurs. I was a member of multiple honor societies and worked a couple of jobs during my time in school despite struggling with chronic illness. As a graduation gift to myself before pursuing my PhD, I bought a one-way ticket out of the United States and that went really well, for about 5 weeks. It turns out my lust for running away and the survival skills I acquired during a difficult childhood trained me for the biggest day of my life: the day I was taken. At 22 years old, I ran away to Europe with a backpack, and 5 weeks later I ran away from the two men who made me a survivor of attempted homicide. Maybe you know my story and that’s what brought you here. Maybe you are curious. Maybe I’ll share that here one day. For the time being, here’s what you ought to know about how September 2016 changed my identity: I am a sexual assault survivor, an attempted homicide survivor, and the brutality of the attack has left me a traumatic brain injury survivor.
After I escaped and was safely returned to the states for medical treatment, I was put on bed rest for a year. I needed assistance to walk, and talking was difficult; listening and processing were damn near impossible. Reading and writing? HA. That didn’t come along until I was nearly two years deep in recovery. I’ve spent the last year with an incredible rehabilitation team between speech therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. Who’d have thought traumatic brain injuries were no joke, eh? Anyway, now I can write, see? I’m doing it! So, as a part of my continued recovery, I’d like to invite you along for my healing journey. Fighting a lust for running away when I couldn’t run at all has left me with an appreciation for finding local adventures. I’d like you to see my backyard, and how it feels magical now that I can explore it again. I’d like to share with you the books I’m finally getting my hands on as I rehab my cognitive function, and maybe the movies that got me through (once I was finally permitted screen time). More than anything, I’d like to show you where I am in this, how I’m doing, and really, how not alone you are.
Meet me back here soon, until then, sending gratitude.
Getting Good at Running Away 