More Than Just A Pageant

April 18, 2013



 

Arriving at the pageant, I wasn't sure what to expect, but found so much more than I could have hoped for at the Mrs. California United States Pageant April 11-13, 2013.  I met some of the most amazing women I have ever met.  Those I got to know were selfless servants who cared about way more than themselves.  They were fun and down-to-earth.  I had never experienced so many beautiful women in one place being sweeter.  



Mrs. Monterey Bay ~ The beginning of weekend filled with fun & adventure!
(Photographer - Todd Sipes)




Arriving At Mrs. California US
(Photographer - Joe Pier)

I wish there were words to describe how absolutely amazing this experience was.  What impressed me the most was how happy for me they all were when I won the People's Choice Award for Mrs. California United States...

their congratulations were sincere and sweet!  These women were helpful, encouraging, courageous, and strong...truly unforgettable. 

Pajama Party and Gift Exchange Thursday Evenging
(Photographer - Joe Pier)

Award Banquet Friday Night Before the Show
(Photographer - Joe Pier)

Nor Cal Girls Snapping a Pic Before the Show Begins

  

 In reality, I shouldn't have even been able to enter this type of pageant and suddenly became overwhelmed by the gratefulness I felt at being able to participate in something so amazing.  You see, my face had been crushed in 2008 to the point that on the flight to another state with medical assistance, everyone openly stared  at me.  I knew I looked deformed.  My brain and body were too injured for me to be concerned yet about my face, my eye that was bleeding, or my jaw that I couldn't chew with.  However, when it came time to have emergency facial reconstruction surgery and I had to sign on the dotted line that I was psychologically sound enough to be deformed for the rest of my life, the reality settled in.  For me walking across that stage was a much bigger event that just entering a pageant...it meant that I had been the grateful subject of a miracle.




On Stage with Mrs. California 2012
(Photographer - Joe Pier)

Mr. and Mrs. Monterey Bay
(Photographer - Joe Pier)

  I walked away from this amazing event with my heart soaring.  You would have really thought I had won the crown because I could not stop smiling and glowing!  I just didn't want it all to end.  After the commotion died down and everyone went their ways, I felt like Cinderella at midnight after the ball...it had been magical and now we were all headed back to life as usual...other than the fact that, for me, life is never usual.  I had spent three days savoring every moment.

Roses from my beloved husband and a picture with some of my amazing new friends.
(Photographer - Todd Sipes)

 

 Thank you.  Thank you had been tattooed on my heart since the day I was so graciously reconstructed to, not only to look normal, but to look like I used to...

Thank you, Dr. Burt Fabisoff, for spending time at the hospital with me for hours working on my face!  There are just no words to describe the impact you've made on my life, my livelihood, and, as a result, the lives of others.  I will always be indebted to you and will never forget your compassion. 

In at least a hundred ways...you are my hero!

Posted to Facebook...

While I didn't take the crown this weekend at Mrs. California United States, I met so many very amazing people and had the time of my life doing so! I also felt incredibly honored that the state of California and many of you across the nation voted for me to be the

People's Choice for Mrs. California United States.

I am very happy to be the queen of people's hearts and so excited to give my charity of choice, BrainSong - The Micah Jones Foundation, the funds that were raised through the voting!
You're vote is now helping women with traumatic brain injuries learn to live "life with new lyrics".

From the bottom of my heart, Thank you!!

~ Rachel Martinez, Mrs. Monterey Bay United States

 

On The Radio

April 10, 2013

 

My sponsor and friend, Nancy Erfan of Beautiful Spa in Monterey, CA, and I began talking while she gave me my first professional facial.  Not only did she revolutionize my entire skin care regimen, she became a good friend.  Every time I saw her, I was surprised to find just how many talents she had up her sleeve.  As she heard my story about how I began the journey to where I was as a spokesperson, advocate, and title holder as Mrs. Monterey Bay, she let me know that I needed to share my story more publicly.   I sent her my bio and out it went to all the local media and onto every social network.  As soon as the biography of part of my story went out, I received a phone call from the local radio station...could I go on the air for 10 minutes?  Absolutely.  The radio host began asking me more about my story and decided that maybe I should go on for 15 minutes and then started thinking that maybe...hmm.  I told him I was available for the hour. 

The next morning I got a call at 8:35am and began the interview.  At 9:05 I was off the air and totally amazed that I had just been able to share so much with my fellow Californians.  How exciting to be a part of something much bigger than myself.  Here is the interview...

A Little About Me

April 5, 2013

When I joined the United States Army in 2005 as a Soldier, I was given the jobs Interrogator and Linguist and began studying Arabic in Military Intelligence.  By the time I left the military in 2008, I had a partially paralyzed left leg,  a traumatic brain injury, heart failure, and a brain tumor.  Just days after leaving the military while planning my wedding, the left side of my face was completely crushed and had to be reconstructed in emergency surgery after the internal bleeding was under control.  My left eye was barely salvaged.  Pins plates, and hundreds of stitches later, the journey to recovery had just begun.  I had to relearn many things and the doctors told me there were many more things I would never do again, but I now have a sky diving video...(http://tinyurl.com/l8uf76n) and just learned that my left vocal chord has started working again March 26, 2013, after being damaged in surgery in March 2008.  I will sing again! 

 By the time I experienced my third traumatic brain injury, I finally began to share my story.  I thought that sharing my story would give me negative labels that I'd rather do without and was stunned to find the opposite...my story encouraged people whether or not they had experienced a traumatic brain injury.   Events I once thought would keep me from my dreams, instead became the exact events that led me to a destiny beyond my wildest dreams of telling my story to people across the United States of America...a story of tragedy conquered by a refusal to give up.  Though I have partnered with many charities, I now speak on behalf of people who have survived traumatic brain injuries to bring awareness to our invisible injuries by speaking at events throughout the state of California and across the United States of America.  I do not have enough words for how honored and humbled I feel to even be able to do this.

I am also collaborating with Stanford University and The Department of Veterans Affairs to educate medical staff, encourage fellow women veterans who have experienced traumatic brain injuries, and raise public awareness about the effects traumatic brain injuries have on female veterans by telling my story.  The digital version of part of my story is also going into the National Smithsonian Archives and is viewable below as well as on You Tube at the link below the video...

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlfrBSjNv4k

My personal journey to recovery has been long and difficult at best, but I have learned so many things along that way that have allowed me to empathize with people, especially women who have been through or are going through difficult life experiences.  I have also learned about many holistic ways to facilitate healing from traumatic brain injuries such as nutrition, brain remapping, natural therapy, and music.  While complete healing is always the hope we harbor, knowing that some of the effects of my three traumatic brain injuries have lingered for longer than I would like, I understand that healing is not always possible, complete, or immediate, but by raising public awareness, those who come to understand it better can help a traumatic brain injury survivor live life to the fullest, press the boundaries, and have hope for tomorrow.
 

As Mrs. Monterey Bay, I am encouraging survivors and raising awareness, not only in California where I live, but across the United States by sharing a story of triumph...my story of over coming incredible odds and finding hope in the dark.

If you would like to contact me to speak at an event, please e-mail me at holographique@live.com. 


Sincerely and with lots of love,

Rachel Chapin Martinez
Mrs. Monterey Bay