SPEAK OUT! . . . . . . . . . . . . . Itty-Bitty Giant Steps
SPEAK OUT! Itty-Bitty Giant Steps
presented by
Donna O’Donnell Figurski
SPEAK OUT! Itty-Bitty Giant Steps will provide a venue for brain-injury survivors and caregivers to shout out their accomplishments of the week.
If you have an Itty-Bitty Giant Step and you would like to share it, just send an email to me at neelyf@aol.com.
If you are on Facebook, you can simply send a Private Message to me. It need only be a sentence or two. I’ll gather the accomplishments and post them with your name on my blog approximately once a week. (If you do not want your last name to be posted, please tell me in your email or Private Message.)
I hope we have millions of Itty-Bitty Giant Steps.

David Smith – Brain Injury Survivor
David Smith (survivor) … Today’s Itty-Bitty Giant Step is going to be to just get out of bed and to stay up.


Bonni Villarreal – Caregiver for Husband
Bonni Villarreal (caregiver) … My husband had a stroke in 2012, so he has an acquired brain injury (ABI). It has been a long, hard road as is most of what you post about. But, I do have wonderful news to report. After almost five years of having a G-Tube (gastrostomy
tube), Mike is now able to drink fluids! (He’s been eating for a long time, but we didn’t think he would ever get back the ability to swallow liquids.) So, DON’T EVER GIVE UP! It’s almost five years later, and Mike is proving doctors wrong every day. He is going for a swallow test, so the tube can come out for good … best present ever!
YOU did it!
Congratulations to contributors!
(Clip Art compliments of Bing.)
(Photos compliments of contributors.)
Please leave a comment by clicking the blue words “Leave a Comment” below this post.
Feel free to follow my blog. Click on “Follow” on the upper right sidebar.
If you like my blog, share it intact with your friends. It’s easy! Click the “Share” buttons below.
If you don’t like my blog, “Share” it intact with your enemies. I don’t care!
Feel free to “Like” my post.



the entire house, etc. Yesterday, I began painting a bedroom, and I plan to finish this morning. I went to a TBI (traumatic brain injury) workshop – an art-therapy group. I also went to a “celebrate-recovery” group – I’ve been trying to help a friend.
I have difficulty staying focused on these accomplishments and others, since I woke out of a coma eight months ago. I’m glad that I can do these things.





day, I was able to push down and move it! I know I’m being so emotional over something so small, but it’s HUGE TO ME! Maybe I am getting better. Maybe.







GeorgeAnna Bell (survivor) …
I was looking forward to a walk-in shower, so I could place my walker into the shower and use it as a chair, but my room had a tub. I was extremely cautious, but I did it! I am so happy!
Cat Brubaker (survivor) … 
Sallie Stewart (survivor) …
And several snacks in between. I can chew – on BOTH sides of my jaw. It’s a giant win in life for me! I feel strong. It’s been a true challenge to try to find the majority of my nutrition in a blender. It was so nice to really be able to chow-down food. These braces come off soon. And for that, I am happy. But I’m not nearly as grateful for that as I am for being able to chew pain-free. My heart is full! A strong full!
Annie Ricketts has it posted (with my permission) on her site, 
This same young man was actually the KEYNOTE speaker at the Brain Injury conference in Ottawa, which is supported by the federal government! So, if you think you cannot achieve, cannot fight, or cannot rise up to be at a higher level than the one on which you are at, you should put on your “big boy” or “big girl” underpants and work hard. You WILL rise up to be at a level higher than the one you are at now. It will not be easy; it will not be fun; but you will improve your life. If you need, I can always “kick your ass” to achieve more, as I did for my son! I am so excited; I am so proud of him! He has worked so hard for so long. My son is my HERO!
who can’t walk or stand and only has the use of his right arm and hand … For consecutive weeks, I have independently showered, and that includes completing all necessary transfers.


Recent Comments