Surviving Traumatic Brain Injury

SPEAK OUT! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Faces of Brain Injury

Brain Injury is Not Discriminating

It can happen to anyone, anytime, . . . and anywhere.

The Brain Trauma Foundation states that there are 5.3 million people in the United States living with some form of brain injury.

On “Faces of Brain Injury,” you will meet survivors living with brain injury. I hope that their stories will help you to understand the serious implications and complications of brain injury.

The stories on SPEAK OUT! Faces of Brain Injury are published with the permission of the survivor or designated caregiver.

If you would like your story to be published, please send a short account and two photos to me at neelyf@aol.com. I’d love to publish your story and raise awareness for Brain Injury – one view at a time.

Cam Compton (survivor)

On March 21^st, I celebrated my “strokaversary.” Three years ago, I suffered a stroke. It has changed my life dramatically. I am still “me” – still Cam – but at the same time, I am not. I have learned to live and to love this new me. I have had fun. Whatever I was before (like fun or nerdy), I am still that, but three times more so now. I have met many new friends. I have done things that I would never have done if I had not had my stroke: my billboards, the talks, facilitating a stroke support-group, the stroke walk (mark April 18^th on your calendar), and my newest – Brain Injury Radio host. I will be hosting my own show on the second Friday of every month. I’m happy to be here alive and on this side of the dirt.

Lindsey Dunn (survivor)

Yesterday was two years ago that I fell about sixty feet on a spiral staircase in Valencia, Spain. I hit my head on the way down (on one of the metal spindles), causing me to get a traumatic brain injury. I am actually very happy that this happened to me. I’m lucky that people have stuck by my side through this trial. Maybe my story will give hope to people and God can use it to help others.

Marcel’s moms (caregivers)

When our son, Marcel, was eleven months old, he suffered a severe TBI. The doctors told us that he would never eat, walk, see, or talk – basically that he would be a vegetable. It’s been eight months, and his vision is starting to come back, he’s smiling and laughing, and he’s getting neck strength back. His limbs are getting stronger and starting to move a lot. He’s learning how to eat again. And he babbles like a baby. Marcel has come so far, but he still has a long way to go. Obviously, God has plans for Marcel because he is a fighter. He was so close to dying, but he fought to stay here. A lot of people, doctors, and nurses told us all the things that our son would never do. Our boy will continue to fight and prove to everyone that he can. He’s doing many of them already.

Daniel Wondercheck (survivor)

On July 23, 1991, I was involved in a construction accident that was serious enough to smash my hardhat, crack my skull, and knock me out for six days. I spent 85 days in the hospital, 95 days as an inpatient in a rehabilitation hospital, and another 186 days in rehabilitation as an outpatient. Now – twenty-three years and nearly eight months later, I still use a wheelchair, I talk funny, I have involuntary movements in my extremities, my left eye moistens itself approximately half as much as it should, and my right eye does not moisten itself at all. For 26.5 hours per week, I have a personal assistant who helps me with daily-living activities. (My personal assistant is also my best friend and “guardian angel.”) But, I do have enough mental ability to be a top-rated Power Seller on eBay and to be an administrator for an online support-group for traumatic brain injury survivors (Traumatic Brain Injury – TBI – Terrific Beyond Injury).

(Clip art compliments of Bing.)

(Photos compliments of contributors.)