National Adult Literacy Database

June 6, 2005

The following story was written by Kylan Hunter, from Calgary, Alberta. His tutor, Fiona Fisher, has known Kylan for about eight years, since Fiona was already a volunteer at ARBI (The Association for the Rehabilitation of the Brain Injured) in Calgary. Kylan had suffered serious injuries in a car crash, and when he began with his tutor, he could speak, but with difficulty. Although he was in a wheelchair, he could do little for himself except keep a determination to work to the best of his ability and restore as much as possible, his former well-being. Kylan and his tutor have worked together through those years on his physiotherapy, along with many professionals and volunteers who worked on other aspects of his recovery, such as cognitive skills, music therapy, art therapy, speech and occupational therapy, etc. Now a young man has emerged with more skills than we would have dared imagine, and a sense of humour that sustained everyone at ARBI.

After the years at ARBI, Kylan then secured a place at Bow Valley College in Calgary and is now re-learning long unused computer skills at a very steady pace. He had been a student of political science when misfortune struck, and his language skills are strong so he is always able to clearly articulate whatever he is feeling or thinking. Friends and strangers alike are charmed by his lovely caring personality. He has said that he wants to be involved in this project as an encouragement to other people, not only people who have suffered a brain injury but all people who think they have met an impossible challenge. He also feels it will help him to organize his thoughts properly and perhaps meet new friends. Kylan still needs his wheelchair, thrives in the company of others, adores children and has been able to turn his life into a life of being interested in the world around him and wanting to make that world smile. He has succeeded, and what an accomplishment.

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Kylan's Story

by Kylan Hunter

My name is Kylan Hunter. I used to write for my high school. I used to write about politics and music and I also used to really enjoy listening to music. 'Some say love it's like a river that drowns the tender reed' from 'The Rose' is one of my favourite lines from a song because it explains the feeling between human beings that love. Mostly because I am a drummer I like jazz but emotionally when it comes to emotions my favourite song is The Rose. My favourite restaurant to take a woman to would be Chianti's on 4th Street an excellent restaurant to take a date to. It's not the grub it's the Aura (ambience). Just you and your companion, they take excellent care of you. One excellent dish would be escargots with tortellini on the side and as well white Italian wine. After you eat you can always indulge in some heartfelt dancing in a tropical jungle setting right by the ocean in Tahiti in the South Pacific with waves crashing upon the white sandy beaches also surrounded by palm trees that tower up in the sky with pink flamingos standing on one leg up at the top of the trees. The water colour could be a combination of blue and green essence crashing on the rocks.

Then it's time to go inside so I wish to be at home and I call for my date and hold on to her and instantly get scooped up by a cloud of mist and suddenly we appear back in the back yard. We went inside and had a glass of warm milk and went into the room with the entertainment centre and watched a bit of the tube. The most exciting thing in the room is the entertainment centre and the TV and looking at excellent comedy without swearing and that would be Three's Company with John Ritter, Renee Bonet and Chrissie Snow. All the elemental rocks like obsidian and other dark coloured rocks like coal excited me and can be found in Drumheller. When you are entering D you drive through passes between ridges of cliffs also with hoodoos to the left and right. Boy was Drumheller ever invigorating. I strongly enjoyed writing this story because it made me gather up and splurge it out on to a few pieces of paper.