“Even though I regained most of my strength back, I am still weaker than the other kids in high school.”

Yarelli Baez

My brother Bryan Baez and I after talking about the interview.

interview audio

Bryan Baez was 14 years old when a critical brain cell damaged his brain and sent him straight to the hospital for surgery. He could not move any body part that day.

 

When he was released after two months of being in the hospital, he started to act differently from which he used to be. He started to be more serious and didn’t fool around anymore.

 

Me and the rest of my family were also starting to realize that he was not the same person, and that he had changed. Later on, he started going to therapies in order for us to find out what changed. We then realized that he was not telling the truth about anything.

 

I, Yarelli Baez, decided to interview my brother in order to find out what was wrong with him and see if I can get any reasons why he doesn’t say the truth.

 

Transcript:

Yarelli Baez: Umm..What type of surgery have you had this recently?
Bryan Baez: I have had brain surgery…
YB: How did this surgery affect you?
BB: Badly.
YB: Why would you say that?
BB:Because I am now paralyzed from the right side, and even though I regained most of my strength back, I am still pretty weaker than the other kids in high school.
YB:Do you think this surgery had more positive outcomes or negative outcomes?
BB:I would like to say more positive outcomes, but personally I think there was more negative to when I came.
YB:Can you explain?
BB: I walk with a limp, I am more slower than the others, I sometimes have trouble keeping up with other tasks, it takes me longer to process emotions.
YB:Do you think your life would have changed if the surgery hadn’t have come? Or would you have been the same person?
BB:I would have mostly been the same, but except tiny details.
YB:Did you like how the doctors treated you?
BB:The doctors treated me with respect, but I had a certain fear for the surgeon.
YB:Do you think that the surgery had to do with something with your health in general?
BB:No because the doctor found a cell that couldn’t be stopped no matter how I kept myself healthy.
YB:Do you like taking all the medicines that the doctor has given you?
BB:I do not like it, but it is necessary.
YB:Do you think that your therapies actually help you finally explain your thoughts?
BB:Somewhat yes.
YB:Why would you say somewhat yes?
BB:Because even though it is helping, it is doing it at a very slow rate.
YB:Do you think they actually impact you?
BB:Yes.
YB:Do you answer with honesty?
BB:Yes.
YB;What type of emotions do you feel now after the surgery?
BB:Frustration and depression.
YB:And why do you feel this?
BB: Because I have no control over what I do now and any simple task I do is somewhat challenging for me now. 
YB: Do you think the surgery helped you become a better person? Or kind of a disadvantage.
BB:In being a friendly person, I would say yes, but in being a more useful person, I would say no.
YB: Why would you say that?
BB:Because I am more kinder to my friends, but I am very slow and very weak to help.
YB:Why do you think this surgery affected you, besides any other surgery you have had?
BB:In the other surgeries, I have fully recovered, but in this surgery, it hasn’t fully recovered.
YB:Do you think this surgery has impacted you more in your life, more than other surgeries?
BB:Yes I do think that.
YB:And why do you think that?
BB:Because it has affected me most of my life now.
YB:Do you think that the surgery hadn’t have happened, would you would have changed like you are now ( More Serious)
BB:Yes.
YB:Why do you say that?
BB:Because if it hadn’t have happened, I probably would have been acting the same, but with slight improvement.
 YB:How did you feel when you were in the hospital?
 BB:It felt normal.
YB:Did you not feel pain?
BB:Not as much.
YB:Or embarrassed?
BB:I felt embarrassed that this is the 7th time to get hospitalized and nervous for it to happen again.
YB:How long do you think your surgery lasted?
BB:The doctor said it lasted more than two months.
YB:Do you like the fact that people know you have had brain surgery or no?`
BB: In certain situations yes, but in others no.
YB: Why do you think that?
BB:Because if I were to tell a doctor, he would have been a little concerned about my health, but if I told any friends, they would have been acceptive.
YB:And why do you think that you can’t tell anybody about this?
BB:Because…
YB:When the doctors are trying to help you, why don’t you want to answer them honestly?
BB:Because I fear that I will be pulled again into the hospital.
YB: Are you afraid of the hospital?
BB:No but it is swearing.
YB:Are you afraid of going through the same thing again?
BB:No.
YB:Why do you not want to answer honestly to the doctors if they are trying to help you?
BB:Because sometimes I feel like I shouldn’t be helping them.
YB:Do you think you are perfectly fine or do you need more help?
BB:I feel like I need more help, but I also feel like I shouldn’t depend on others.
YB:Does this surgery make you work harder?
BB:Yes.
YB:Ok, thank you.