An Interview with Joe Zamora: Tears of a Lost Cowboy

Michael F. Shaughnessy - May 26, 2009
Senior Columnist EducationNews.org
Eastern New Mexico University
Portales, New Mexico
 

1)  Joe, I understand that you have just finished a book about your recent head injury. How did this come about?

That is true Michael, and I hope my next statement might give you an idea as to the answer to the question, "how did this come about". I couldn't help but notice, then "obsess" on the part of your question that states, "recent head injury".

You see, Saturday at my most recent book signing, another EP (Experiencing Person) who came in to purchase a copy of my book, asked me how long it had been since my injury. I told him it will be five years on May 20th.

His eyes opened wide, he has the same left weak eye problem that I do, and said "You’re Just a BABY!". His wife is also an EP, and they both said that I am an "Inspiration". We talked for at least 30 minutes, perhaps an hour, we will never know, as all three of us are EP's and often have no sense of "time", especially if we are "emotional". They both have signed up to assist me in organizing a TBI Support Group here in Silver City, New Mexico, ASAP.

I have gotten that response or reaction from almost every EP I have met since finding my "Purpose", of which, this book is simply the next step to achieving that purpose. Just because I'm Brain Injured doesn't mean I'm telling you my purpose, you have to read the book!  

As individual as our injuries are, so may be our purpose. But one thing I have noticed. When an EP finds their purpose, they also find they "retained" or can, despite the injury, still "learn" whatever skill, knowledge, talent, etc. they need to complete their purpose. Much to the annoyance and frustration to my family and friends, prior to my injury I had always had the "Gift of Gab". I also seemed to retain my ability to articulate that gift reasonably well, at least in my "cognitively deficient" mind. I just seemed to be able to explain what others were feeling, but did not know how to describe it.

When I first got out of Rehab, I began a journal so that "I" could read it and see what I had done the day before, or a week ago. To my wife's dismay, that was just not enough for me. I also decided that due to my "now term" memory problem, I would get a tape recorder and record all my thoughts throughout the day so I could just "play the tape for her" when she got home, "after" I told her all about my day.

I found my "Purpose" when I was walking a 360 mile Pilgrimage from Deming, New Mexico  to Chimayo, New Mexico to answer my Moms' promise to God that if I lived , she would go there. That entire pilgrimage is described in detail in chapter 4. That walk also began the walk I am now on to increase Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Awareness, Advocacy, and Services.

But I also came to realize that in order for people not affected directly by TBI, and even those who are (i.e. loved ones and caretakers), to truly "Understand" TBI, they have to hear the "Truth" about what it does to a person’s life and the lives of those they love, however painful it may be to tell it.

So, I one day I put all I have stated together and realized, "I have to write a book". I have since realized I have to write another one, remember, this injury is for life.

Well, that's pretty much it, sure hope you meant how did the "book" come about, and not how did the "injury" come about!

2) Where did the title come from?

Everywhere! I was crying the whole time I wrote it. I cry every time I read it. I cry when I think about the things in it. And I cry when I think about all those in my condition out there who are still lost. You see, when I was writing it, I was still searching for the man "I used to be". I have since found as much of him as was left and have accepted that I must now search for the man "I will become".

3) Tell us a bit about your head injury- how did it affect you and your family?

I was thrown from a horse on 05/20/2004. I was in a coma for 8 days and when they woke me up  I was completely different. There are WAY too many answers to how it affected my family. That would take a book to answer.

4) Joe, how do you FEEL when people ask you “How are you now?”

 When I first got home from Rehab and became coherent enough to understand that question, it really angered me because of the "honest" answer. "Fine, how are you" no longer applied. Although my "condition" has not improved as much as people "assume" from looking at me, my "outlook" has, and this has allowed me to handle that question in a much more "socially appropriate" manner.

5) I understand you were featured in a movie- what was the movie about?

It was a Documentary titled "Every 21 Seconds (or why I scream at the refrigerator)" written and Directed by Laura Napier and Doug Claybourne.

Laura suffered a TBI in a car accident and has since found her purpose. She decided to do a Documentary on 8 Brain Injured Individual in New Mexico and selected me as one of them. I have a section on this part of my life in the book as well. "Every 21 Seconds" was narrated by Woody Harrelson and is an incredibly moving film, but don't take my word for it, you can get one free by contacting the Brain Injury Association of New Mexico  www.braininurynm.org) or www.biacnm.org

6) Tell us about the walk that you did to raise awareness of head injury and brain trauma.

While I was in a coma, my mother made a promise to God that if I lived she would go to the Santuario De Chimyo.

 A couple of months before the first anniversary of my injury, my parents were over for dinner and my Mom said she needed to go to Chimayo, and told me about her promise. Shortly after, I saw the Terry Shivo story, and I "lost It!". I decided I had to do something to raise awareness to this injury. I put that and my mom’s promise together, along with my own need to get help. At that point, I knew God was the only one who could give it to me, just as he had given me a chance again. So, I decided to pay my Moms promise for her, but I would "walk" it so I could raise awareness and prove "my" commitment to God.

Chapter 4 describes my pilgrimage day by day.

7) Now, who publishes the book and how can people get a copy?

The publishing company is Author House. You can get a copy directly from them at Authorhouse.com. They are also available from Barnes and Noble, as well as Amazon. I contacted Wal-Mart this morning to try to get it in their stores, but was advised that they do not accept "self published" submissions. I'll keep trying, maybe public demand would help? You can also contact me directly at Keynnahaze@peopelpc.com for an autographed copy.

8) Could you tell our readers a bit about the work you do for the brain injured community?

 Currently, I am Vice Chair of the Brain Injury Advisory Council of NM and a member of the Brain Injury Association of NM. I also do presentations on TBI awareness, prevention and Helmet safety anytime the opportunity arises. Basically, I do anything I can, anytime I can, it's my purpose.

9) What have I neglected to ask?

You neglected to ask about my wife, my life, my EVERYTHING, Margie! I would just like to state for the record, that despite what you will read in this book regarding our relationship, like any Good story, love wins. We are currently happier than we've been since the bottom fell out from under our lives that day, and our future looks bright as it possibly could in the darkness of this injury.