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Survivors SPEAK OUT! Lessia Malloy

Survivors SPEAK OUT! Lessia Malloy

Donna O’Donnell Figurski

Lessia Malloy – Survivor – Pre-Brain Injury

1. What is your name? (last name optional)

Lessia Malloy

2. Where do you live? (city and/or state and/or country) Email (optional)

Doyline, Louisiana, USA

3. When did you have your TBI? At what age?

Age 51

4. How did your TBI occur?

My TBI resulted from a motorcycle accident. I wasn’t wearing a helmet.

5. When did you (or someone) first realize you had a problem?

I don’t know. I was knocked unconscious upon impact.

6. What kind of emergency treatment, if any, did you have?

I had a tracheotomy. I was given CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). Then I had surgery to remove my skull plate.

7. Were you in a coma? If so, how long?

Yes. I was in a coma thirty days.

8. Did you do rehab? What kind of rehab (i.e., inpatient or outpatient and occupational and/or physical and/or speech and/or other)? How long were you in rehab?

I had thirty days of rehab – both in- and outpatient.

9. What problems or disabilities, if any, resulted from your TBI (e.g., balance, perception, personality, etc.)?

I have short-term memory issues.

10. How has your life changed? Is it better? Is it worse?

I’m no longer totally independent.

11. What do you miss the most from your pre-TBI life?

I miss being independent and working.

12. What do you enjoy most in your post-TBI life?

I have less stress, since I don’t take on more than I can handle.

13. What do you like least about your TBI?

I dislike that my TBI makes me second-guess myself.

14. Has anything helped you to accept your TBI?

I came to accept my TBI because I had to rebuild my life in every way.

15. Has your injury affected your home life and relationships and, if so, how?

My TBI put an end to an already rocky marriage. But, I came out a winner on that.

16. Has your social life been altered or changed and, if so, how?

My injury has made me very wary of people. I’m not as outgoing, and I watch and listen more.

17. Who is your main caregiver? Do you understand what it takes to be a caregiver?

My husband helps me.

18. What are your future plans? What do you expect/hope to be doing ten years from now?

Maybe I’ll be working in something that fulfills me.

19. Are you able to provide a helpful hint that may have taken you a long time to learn, but which you wished you had known earlier? If so, please state what it is to potentially help other TBI survivors with your specific kind of TBI.

Don’t push it. Let yourself heal. Accept what you went through. Then tackle the world. Learning stuff all over again is good for the soul in so many ways. Have fun.

Lessia Malloy – Survivor – Post-Brain Injury

20. What advice would you offer to other TBI survivors? Do you have any other comments that you would like to add?

Take it one day at a time. Do what you can with what you have. Work with that and build on it.

Thank you, Lessia, for taking part in this interview. I hope that your experience will offer some hope, comfort, and inspiration to my readers.

(Disclaimer: The views or opinions in this post are solely that of the interviewee.)

If you would like to be a part of the SPEAK OUT! project, please go to TBI Survivor Interview Questionnaire for a copy of the questions and the release form.

(Photos compliments of Lessia.)

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Survivors SPEAK OUT! Justin Phillips

Survivors SPEAK OUT! Justin Phillips

Donna O’Donnell Figurski

Justin Phillips – TBI Survivor

1. What is your name? (last name optional)

Justin Phillips

2. Where do you live? (city and/or state and/or country) Email (optional)

Annapolis, Maryland, USA

3. When did you have your TBI? At what age?

My TBI happened on November 11, 2010. I was 30 years old.

4. How did your TBI occur?

My TBI occurred because I was in a bad car accident on my way to work one morning.

5. When did you (or someone) first realize you had a problem?

Immediately

6. What kind of emergency treatment, if any, did you have?

I was given a tracheotomy. I had a feeding tube. A DVT (deep vein thrombosis) filter was put into my vena cava.

7. Were you in a coma? If so, how long?

Yes. I was in a coma ten days.

8. Did you do rehab? What kind of rehab (i.e., inpatient or outpatient and occupational and/or physical and/or speech and/or other)? How long were you in rehab?

Yes. I was given five months of therapy as an inpatient and another five months as an outpatient. I had physical, occupational, and speech therapies.

9. What problems or disabilities, if any, resulted from your TBI (e.g., balance, perception, personality, etc.)?

My balance/equilibrium was thrown off for two to three years. My temper is worse. I lost my sense of smell. I also make poor decisions.

10. How has your life changed? Is it better? Is it worse?

My life is better than it was immediately post accident. I appreciate family and life much more. Small, insignificant issues don’t bother me or my family as much. What my family went through was awful. When something stressful is bothering us, we like to say, “We’ve been through worse.” Life is different now. I wouldn’t say “worse” because I’m still alive, but it’s definitely been changed.

11. What do you miss the most from your pre-TBI life?

Before my TBI, I felt young. I feel a lot older now. I miss not questioning EVERY activity I do to see if I can handle it.

12. What do you enjoy most in your post-TBI life?

I like how much more I appreciate everything.

13. What do you like least about your TBI?

I dislike questioning almost every activity I do to see if I can handle it or if it’s dangerous.

14. Has anything helped you to accept your TBI?

Time has helped me. It took almost two years before the injury wasn’t my first thought after waking up and wasn’t constantly in my thoughts until I went to bed. It’s nice not living in the past.

15. Has your injury affected your home life and relationships and, if so, how?

My son was only seven when the accident happened, so it was really tough on him. But, he handled it all like a champion. I’m married, and my wife had to be my caregiver after I moved home for five months, as I couldn’t drive and was still “off.” We pushed through it all and are still together.

16. Has your social life been altered or changed and, if so, how?

I still have friends, but I don’t go out much to visit or anything. I had social anxiety for about a year. I would rather just spend my time with my family.

17. Who is your main caregiver? Do you understand what it takes to be a caregiver?

I am my caregiver now, but I still need my wife for lots of things. For example, I make poor decisions. My wife was my caregiver for about five months after I moved home. It was hard on her. Rehab was two hours from home. She and my son would come up to visit every weekend. My accident was in November, so my wife spent all winter driving through snow to come visit.

18. What are your future plans? What do you expect/hope to be doing ten years from now?

I plan on opening a kitchen-remodeling company within the next few months. I would like for that to be successful, and in ten years, to be well established.

Time is your friend. A lot of my issues took a long time to heal. Brain injuries are terrible to overcome. You might choose to apply the adjective “blessed,” “lucky,” or “fortunate.” I’m actually all of them.

20. What advice would you offer to other TBI survivors? Do you have any other comments that you would like to add?

TBI is the hardest thing I’ve ever been through. Having my son to focus on was a HUGE motivator for my recovery. Time was essential for me, as many of the issues took a long time to heal. I’m blessed, lucky, and fortunate that everything turned out so well. Positive thoughts are also a great help. Being down emotionally makes everything seem more difficult. Take breaks; get plenty of sleep; and eat well.

Justin Phillips – 6 months pre-TBI

Thank you, Justin, for taking part in this interview. I hope that your experience will offer some hope, comfort, and inspiration to my readers.

(Disclaimer: The views or opinions in this post are solely that of the interviewee.)

If you would like to be a part of the SPEAK OUT! project, please go to TBI Survivor Interview Questionnaire for a copy of the questions and the release form.

(Photos compliments of Justin.)

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Survivors SPEAK OUT . . . . . John May

Survivors SPEAK OUT! … John May

Donna O’Donnell Figurski

John May TBI Survivor since 2007

1. What is your name? (last name optional)

John May

2. Where do you live? (city and/or state and/or country) Email (optional)

Boston, Massachusetts, USA johnmay@mindless.com

3. When did you have your brain injury? At what age?

My brain injury occurred in 2007. I was 49.

4. How did your TBI occur?

This is a question that confuses me. My brain injury was not due to an accident, but to an infection.

5. When did you (or someone) first realize you had a problem?

I lived in Ft. Lauderdale at the time; I owned a house; I was a decorative painter; and I owned a tattoo shop. I, with the help of a partner (a world famous tattooist), did all the bookwork and the management of our employees. This was all possible due to my having ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) because I needed only three or so hours of sleep a night. I got lost driving to the supermarket less than a mile from my home. That night, I went to sleep and never woke up.

6. What kind of emergency treatment, if any, did you have?

I was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. After a few days, my skull was opened. Most of my left temporal lobe and other areas on the left side of my brain had disintegrated. They cut out areas of my brain that were infected. My friends and family were told that probably I would never regain consciousness and that, if I did, I would never walk or talk again.

7. Were you in a coma? If so, how long?

Yes. My coma was for a few months. I was kept alive only because my family and my friends were fighting a legal battle over who had the authority to make the decision to end life-support. One court had given my family the authority to disconnect me, but my friends appealed this ruling because my business stated that I had given them the authority to make that decision, until there was a second option. While they waited for a new court date, I woke up with no past memory and with the intelligence of a three-year-old.

8. Did you do rehab? What kind of rehab (i.e., inpatient or outpatient and occupational and/or physical and/or speech and/or other)? How long were you in rehab?

Once out of my coma, I drove the hospital crazy due to my constant curiosity and the fact that I laughed at everything. I was put into a rehab hospital for about nine months. There I was taught the basics of life. I’m proud that, although I didn’t even know how to shave or brush my teeth, I never dirtied my diaper.

9. What problems or disabilities, if any, resulted from your brain injury (e.g., balance, perception, personality, etc.)?

My mostly always being happy was thought to be a symptom of brain damage, but it was eventually discovered that I’d been that way since birth. It was as though I was mentally challenged as a baby because I never cried.

10. How has your life changed? Is it better? Is it worse?

The struggle over me and my property went on. At the same time, the value of my real estate crumbled with the recession. I’m lucky enough not to remember my life before my injury. I have no clue as to what I owned, but it was battled away. I no longer speak with my family. They sucked me dry of my money and then put me into a homeless shelter. I have learned much in only seven or eight years. It’s not clear whether I have relearned things or whether I have simply remembered what I know now. As long as I have a hat on to cover the huge dent in my head, people wouldn’t know I had brain injury.

11. What do you miss the most from your pre-brain-injury life?

I don’t know my pre-brain-injury life.

12. What do you enjoy most in your post-brain-injury life?

I enjoy knowing I have people in my life like Ali.

13. What do you like least about your brain injury?

I wouldn’t know.

14. Has your injury affected your home life and relationships and, if so, how?

My true friends stuck by my side, but I kept a distance for a time while I relearned the basics of life. I now live in Boston and have a group of friends that never knew the old John May.

15. Has your social life been altered or changed and, if so, how?

I don’t have many people to interact with. As such, I spend a lot of my time alone.

16. Who is your main caregiver? Do you understand what it takes to be a caregiver?

I am proud to state that I am my main caregiver.

17. What are your future plans? What do you expect/hope to be doing ten years from now?

One effect of my brain injury is that I have no conception of time. I might think that it is the 4th of July one minute and Christmas, the next.

18. Are you able to provide a helpful hint that may have taken you a long time to learn, but which you wished you had known earlier? If so, please state what it is to potentially help other brain-injury survivors with your specific kind of brain injury.

I read all the brain injury sites and communicate with some.

John May – TBI Survivor (since 2007)

19. What advice would you offer to other brain-injury survivors? Do you have any other comments that you would like to add?

Don’t get angry with those who love you. They are having a hard time understanding brain injury. They need as much help as we do!

Thank you, John, for taking part in this interview. I hope that your experience will offer some hope, comfort, and inspiration to my readers.

(Disclaimer: The views or opinions in this post are solely that of the interviewee.)

If you would like to be a part of the SPEAK OUT! project, please go to TBI Survivor Interview Questionnaire for a copy of the questions and the release form.

(Photos compliments of John.)

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Survivors SPEAK OUT! . . . . Michelle

Survivors SPEAK OUT! . . . . . Michelle

Donna O’Donnell Figurski

1. What is your name? (last name optional)

Michelle

2. Where do you live? (city and/or state and/or country) Email (optional)

Goldsboro, North Carolina, USA

3. When did you have your TBI? At what age?

A stroke occurred on March 31, 2011. I was 39 years old.

4. How did your TBI occur?

I had a stroke from a ruptured brain aneurysm on the right internal carotid artery.

5. When did you (or someone) first realize you had a problem?

I had been battling a persistent migraine for days. I knew that something wasn’t right that morning. I woke up with a stiff neck that I attributed to tension. I later learned that this is actually a symptom of a ruptured aneurysm. At any rate, I was taken to the hospital when I felt something “pop” in my head. This was just prior to lunchtime that day.

6. What kind of emergency treatment, if any, did you have?

After a CAT scan (CT scan, computerized tomography), I was transferred by ambulance to the larger hospital at the University of North Carolina. In total, while I was hospitalized, I had two arteriograms; the aneurysm was treated by endovascular coiling; a drainage tube was placed in my head; and I was given various IVs.

7. Were you in a coma? If so, how long?

8. Did you do rehab? What kind of rehab (i.e., inpatient or outpatient and occupational and/or physical and/or speech and/or other)? How long were you in rehab?

I had three weeks of inpatient rehab, consisting of physical, occupational, speech, and recreational therapies. I also had three weeks of occupational, physical, and speech therapies as an outpatient.

9. What problems or disabilities, if any, resulted from your TBI (e.g., balance, perception, personality, etc.)?

I have several issues – balance, personality changes, extreme short-term memory loss, weakness in my right arm, weakness in both legs, mood swings, insomnia, anxiety (especially socially), chronic fatigue, and an increased frequency of headaches and migraines. I have also lost my verbal filter. I say whatever comes to my mind – good, bad, or indifferent.

10. How has your life changed? Is it better? Is it worse?

I hesitate to call my life better or worse. It’s different. My judgment depends on my mood. I would say worse, but there’s a part of me that feels and believes genuine goodness will come from this struggle. My station in life is worse. I’ve lost my job, my home, and a number of my friends, and I ended up selling everything I own to live with family in another city. At the same time, I have developed such a genuine appreciation for the things in life that really matter. I have a level of compassion that was totally absent before. This is better than old me.

11. What do you miss the most from your pre-TBI life?

I miss being able to socialize or to join in with a crowd and have no problems. In my pre-TBI life, I was in a position of authority and respect in my company. I worked directly with the VP and department heads. I was respected and well-liked. I felt a great sense of pride in the work I did and in supporting the mission of my company. I miss that feeling of importance and respect.

12. What do you enjoy most in your post-TBI life?

I enjoy sharing my story with others. Many people tell me that I inspire them, which I always find surprising, as all I did was manage to live. But knowing that others are inspired because of something I said or did – that is my joy now.

13. What do you like least about your TBI?

I hate how dumb I feel sometimes – like when I just had something in my hand, set it down, and then can’t find it. I hate the short-term memory problems and the fatigue. The fatigue interrupts my ability to live a rewarding life on a large scale.

14. Has anything helped you to accept your TBI?

Going back to the early days of my recovery, I remember that thousands of people were praying for me even though I, myself, had lost my faith years earlier. Knowing in my heart that it was the intercessory prayers of all those believers that pulled me through – that is what has helped me accept the TBI.

15. Has your injury affected your home life and relationships and, if so, how?

The romantic relationship I was in at the time of the incident ended shortly after by his choice. I have dated since then, but I find it challenging – probably mostly because I’m self-conscious. Also, if the person didn’t know me before, then I appear to be pretty air-headed. I sometimes found myself becoming irritated with the person in general and needing a lot more alone-time. I am not living with family for the first time in over twenty years. My relationship with my oldest daughter is strained, due to conflicts we had early on in which I told her, “I should have just died,” and she screamed, “Fuck you!” at me. So I kicked her out of my house at 18 years old. We are still not on regular speaking terms.

16. Has your social life been altered or changed and, if so, how?

My social life has been altered in a big way. I lost probably half of the friends I socialized with. They kind of just bowed out because I wasn’t too much fun anymore. When I do socialize now, it’s with a few close friends, usually at someone’s home for dinner. I’m almost always the first one to leave because I can only stand so much socializing before I have to shut down.

17. Who is your main caregiver? Do you understand what it takes to be a caregiver?

I am my own caregiver. In the initial days, my caregiver was a sister. However, she lives in a different state. She stayed with me for six weeks, and then she headed home. It seemed all was fine for a few months with me as my own caregiver. But slowly, over time, I began to realize that I was flailing (for lack of a better term). Today I live with my mom and dad, and we take care of each other. Mom is aging, so she can’t do a lot, but she does try. And it’s helpful just to have someone else writing the checks to pay the bills.

18. What are your future plans? What do you expect/hope to be doing ten years from now?

In the future, I would really like to be a patient advocate. I don’t even know how to go about getting into that type of field, but I found that I NEEDED that, and it wasn’t available to me. Nobody should have to navigate the quagmire of doctor appointments, insurance claims, insurance denials, applying for charity to help pay for long hospital stays, etc. without an advocate – especially not someone with brain damage.

Be kind to yourself. Resist the urge to make everything go back to normal. “Normal” is wherever you are at right now. Give time a chance to work its magic, and it will.

20. What advice would you offer to other TBI survivors? Do you have any other comments that you would like to add?

See above. And get a smartphone if you can. =)

Thank you, Michelle, for taking part in this interview. I hope that your experience will offer some

hope, comfort, and inspiration to my readers.

(Disclaimer: The views or opinions in this post are solely that of the interviewee.)

If you would like to be a part of the SPEAK OUT! project, please go to TBI Survivor Interview Questionnaire for a copy of the questions and the release form.

(Clip Art compliments of Bing.)

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Survivors SPEAK OUT! Lee Staniland

Survivors SPEAK OUT! . . . . . Lee Staniland

Donna O’Donnell Figurski

Lee Staniland –
TBI Survivor

1. What is your name? (last name optional)

Lee (Liana) Staniland

2. Where do you live? (city and/or state and/or country) Email (optional)

Oxnard, California, USA leechar101@gmail.com

3. When did you have your TBI? At what age?

Age 25

4. How did your TBI occur?

A horse took me under a tree.

5. When did you (or someone) first realize you had a problem?

My husband came home and found me unconscious under the tree in our pasture.

6. What kind of emergency treatment, if any, did you have?

My husband took me to the Emergency Room. They sent me to another hospital.

7. Were you in a coma?

Yes

If so, how long?

I was in a coma six weeks.

8. Did you do rehab?

Yes. I did rehab for a while.

What kind of rehab (i.e., inpatient or outpatient and occupational and/or physical and/or speech and/or other)?

I did rehab both as an inpatient and an outpatient.

How long were you in rehab?

I had rehab for a month. Then I got impatient with the drive to get there, so I quit and did my own rehab.

9. What problems or disabilities, if any, resulted from your TBI (e.g., balance, perception, personality, etc.)?

I have issues with balance and memory.

10. How has your life changed? Is it better? Is it worse?

I think my life mostly changed for the better. I’m a better and nicer person.

11. What do you miss the most from your pre-TBI life?

Nothing

12. What do you enjoy most in your post-TBI life?

I got back most of my old self, so I can do most everything.

13. What do you like least about your TBI?

The fatigue

14. Has anything helped you to accept your TBI?

I was blessed that my mind just let me accept the new me.

15. Has your injury affected your home life and relationships and, if so, how?

I don’t let people push me around. I divorced my husband whom I was married to when the accident happened, and I married a more accepting man.

16. Has your social life been altered or changed and, if so, how?

I am a morning person, so when it starts getting dark, I fade.

17. Who is your main caregiver?

I am my own caregiver.

Do you understand what it takes to be a caregiver?

Yes

18. What are your future plans? What do you expect/hope to be doing ten years from now?

I’m 62 now, and I am just going to take life easy.

NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP!

20. What advice would you offer to other TBI survivors? Do you have any other comments that you would like to add?

I’m adding my story to this so that you can understand better. Over 20 years ago, six other couples started the Brain Injury Support Group. It is now a non-profit organization called The Brain Injury Center of Ventura County. I was even the president for a while. I drew our logo, and I have taken many photos for them. My message is to get involved. Thanks!

You can learn more about Lee in her Guest Blog article called, “What I Remember” on my blog, Surviving Traumatic Brain Injury.

Thank you, Lee, for taking part in this interview. I hope that your experience will offer some

Lee Staniland
TBI Survivor

hope, comfort, and inspiration to my readers.

(Disclaimer: The views or opinions in this post are solely that of the interviewee.)

If you would like to be a part of the SPEAK OUT! project, please go to TBI Survivor Interview Questionnaire for a copy of the questions and the release form.

(Photos compliments of Lee.)

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Survivors SPEAK OUT! Murray

Survivors SPEAK OUT! . . . . . Murray

Donna O’Donnell Figurski

Murray
Brain Injury Survivor

1. What is your name? (last name optional)

Murray M.

2. Where do you live? (city and/or state and/or country) Email (optional)

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada murcast@hotmail.com

3. When did you have your TBI? At what age?

April 14, 2006 I was 28.

4. How did your TBI occur?

It was caused by a viral infection that resulted in encephalitis.

5. When did you (or someone) first realize you had a problem?

I started having a seizure-like symptom, which I had never had before. Thankfully, I was at home, and it happened in front of my family. They called 9-1-1.

6. What kind of emergency treatment, if any, did you have?

I spent almost three months in the hospital.

7. Were you in a coma? If so, how long?

Yes, I was. I had no control or understanding of what I was doing, so they put me into a drug-induced coma for a month.

8. Did you do rehab? What kind of rehab (i.e., inpatient or outpatient and occupational and/or physical and/or speech and/or other)?

Yes. I had inpatient rehab for two months. The therapists helped me relearn how to walk, eat, read, and get dressed. Then I did, and still do, a type of outpatient rehab by volunteering at my local Brain Injury Association.

How long were you in rehab?

Inpatient rehab was about two months. Outpatient rehab, including my volunteering, has been about six years.

9. What problems or disabilities, if any, resulted from your TBI (e.g., balance, perception, personality, etc.)?

The way my brain had swollen from the viral infection caused the retina of my right eye to detach. This left me blind in one eye, and it has taken some time to get used to it. I also had a hard time getting used to my lack of memory, and I have had two seizures since the brain injury. I’ve found that I can get stressed and semi-lose myself VERY EASILY.

10. How has your life changed? Is it better? Is it worse?

It is a little bit of both. If the injury hadn’t happened, I would’ve finished college and been working in the tourism industry. But I have found out who my true friends are. They are the ones who stayed friends no matter what. Also, I have found a new hobby since my volunteering. I have fallen for “embroidery on paper,” which I had never heard of until the arts program with my local Brain Injury Association.

11. What do you miss the most from your pre-TBI life?

I miss not having to live off my family. Before my injury, I worked and was in college. Yes, money was tight. But at least I could make it, whereas now I am not able to.

12. What do you enjoy most in your post-TBI life?

The new friends I’ve made have been great. I also love losing myself to some of my favorite tunes while I’m on a walk or out on my bike. I’ve also found a new love, thanks to the arts program with The Brain Injury Association. We made Christmas cards one year by stitching Santa into the cards, and that started my love for embroidery on paper. I also find that it is a huge help for relieving stress and feeling a bit more self-confident.

13. What do you like least about your TBI?

I dislike my lack of memory. It can make everyday things – things that most people take for granted – a chore for me to remember how to do them or what to do. Also, I find that I can get disorientated and basically lost really easily.

14. Has anything helped you to accept your TBI?

For me, volunteering at my local Brain Injury Association has been a HUGE help, along with having family and friends accept you.

15. Has your injury affected your home life and relationships and, if so, how?

My injury has added more stress to my family. I have to rely on them to pay all of my bills, as I have a zero income.

16. Has your social life been altered or changed and, if so, how?

Yes. Due to my having sight in only one eye, I stay away from a lot of crowds.

17. Who is your main caregiver?

My husband and my mother are my main caregivers.

Do you understand what it takes to be a caregiver?

It’s someone who helps with everyday activities. Both my husband and my mother helped me relearn how to walk and to cut my food.

18. What are your future plans? What do you expect/hope to be doing ten years from now?

I am hoping to get back into a paid job, even part-time, to have some spending money and to rely a little less on my family.

Personally, a major struggle for me was accepting the severity of my symptoms. It took a lot of pushing from my family and from friends to accept my limits. I urge you to focus on what you can do and on what you’ve achieved.

20. What advice would you offer to other TBI survivors? Do you have any other comments that you would like to add?

I believe accepting yourself and acceptance from the people around you are very important to aiding in your recovery from a brain injury. Volunteering somewhere that understands brain injury, like a local Brain Injury Association or an Assisted Living retirement residence, can be good for you. Showing your strong points by assisting someone or just being able to talk and discuss things with others can be a HUGE help.

Murray
Brain Injury Survivor

Thank you, Murray, for taking part in this interview. I hope that your experience will offer some hope, comfort, and inspiration to my readers.

(Disclaimer: The views or opinions in this post are solely that of the interviewee.)

If you would like to be a part of the SPEAK OUT! project, please go to TBI Survivor Interview Questionnaire for a copy of the questions and the release form.

(Photos compliments of Murray.)

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Survivors SPEAK OUT! . . . . . DeWayne Banner

Survivors SPEAK OUT! . . . . . DeWayne Banner

Donna O’Donnell Figurski

DeWayne Banner
TBI Survivor

1. What is your name? (last name optional)

DeWayne Banner

2. Where do you live? (city and/or state and/or country) Email (optional)

Morganton, Georgia, USA

3. When did you have your TBI? At what age?

Age 42

4. How did your TBI occur?

My head was crushed between the rear of a tractor-trailer and a concrete wall.

5. When did you (or someone) first realize you had a problem?

Immediately

6. What kind of emergency treatment, if any, did you have?

I was life-flighted to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, where I was placed on life-support. I cannot really give a great number of details about these days because my mind was in another place. After I was declared stable, I was moved to The Shepherd Center to begin rehab, which continued for about four years.

7. Were you in a coma? If so, how long?

I was in a coma for two weeks.

8. Did you do rehab? What kind of rehab (i.e., inpatient or outpatient and occupational and/or physical and/or speech and/or other)? How long were you in rehab?

I did every kind of rehab in the books. In the beginning, I dealt with a lot of problems, and I worked with a whole team of therapists. Also, I had a counselor, and I participated in a group-therapy session.

9. What problems or disabilities, if any, resulted from your TBI (e.g., balance, perception, personality, etc.)?

I am almost blind in my right eye. I am deaf in my right ear. My left side is partially paralyzed. I have completely lost sensation on the right side of my face. My balance was bad in the beginning, but it has gotten better over time. My short-term memory is poor; my long-term memory is like Swiss cheese (i.e., full of holes). I also have fatigue and sleep issues.

10. How has your life changed? Is it better? Is it worse?

Tough question. I cannot say that my life is better or worse – just much different. My life is not what I had planned, but I have adapted to create the best life I possibly can.

11. What do you miss the most from your pre-TBI life?

I miss my friends. It’s no secret that, in most cases, friends, and sometimes family, disappear from your life. I believe that after a catastrophic injury, such as a TBI, a person has to face his or her own mortality. (This may have happened to me!) It is very scary, and most people pull away from this constant reminder.

12. What do you enjoy most in your post-TBI life?

I like that I get to decide what my days will be. I get to choose my direction.

13. What do you like least about your TBI?

I dislike the things that have become difficult for me to do alone. I was once very independent and loved the great outdoors.

14. Has anything helped you to accept your TBI?

I did not die! I will never give up!

15. Has your injury affected your home life and relationships and, if so, how?

I have lost friends, but I feel fortunate that my wife and I still have a great relationship. So many families that are faced with TBI end up broken and divorced.

16. Has your social life been altered or changed and, if so, how?

I still like to spend time with friends and family, but it is a little difficult to do long stretches. I have many, many new friends.

17. Who is your main caregiver? Do you understand what it takes to be a caregiver?

My wife is my main caregiver, but I do my best to take good care of her too!

18. What are your future plans? What do you expect/hope to be doing ten years from now?

It is hard to say. I plan to travel a little. I help others like myself when I can. I hope to continue to improve my quality of life.

I want people to know that time does heal. Also, TBI is a journey that we have to travel one step at a time.

20. What advice would you offer to other TBI survivors? Do you have any other comments that you would like to add?

NEVER GIVE UP!! Get out of bed every day, put your feet on the ground, and take a step down the path to a better life. IT can happen if you want it to.

DeWayne Banner
TBI Survivor

Thank you, DeWayne, for taking part in this interview. I hope that your experience will offer some hope, comfort, and inspiration to my readers.

(Disclaimer: The views or opinions in this post are solely that of the interviewee.)

If you would like to be a part of the SPEAK OUT! project, please go to TBI Survivor Interview Questionnaire for a copy of the questions and the release form.

(Photos compliments of DeWayne.)

Category:

Survivors SPEAK OUT!

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Survivors SPEAK OUT! . . . . . Joshua Puckett

Survivors SPEAK OUT! . . . . . Joshua Puckett

Donna O’Donnell Figurski

Joshua Puckett
TBI Survivor – 2013

1. What is your name? (last name optional)

Joshua Puckett

2. Where do you live? (city and/or state and/or country) Email (optional)

Los Angeles, California, USA

3. When did you have your TBI? At what age?

April 1, 2013 I was 31 years old.

4. How did your TBI occur?

At 2:00 am, I went outside to have a cigarette to calm a Tourette’s attack. Apparently I offended a random drunk person because he then beat what should have been the last drop of life out of me.

5. When did you (or someone) first realize you had a problem?

My wife got up wondering where I was. I was face down in the grass with the sprinklers on.

6. What kind of emergency treatment, if any, did you have?

I was in an induced coma for a few days; I had my periorbita (the area around the eye socket) replaced; and I spent a lot of time at Rancho Los Amigos, a rehab center here.

7. Were you in a coma? If so, how long?

I was in a medically induced coma for three days.

8. Did you do rehab? What kind of rehab (i.e., inpatient or outpatient and occupational and/or physical and/or speech and/or other)? How long were you in rehab?

I had physical therapy and speech therapy.

9. What problems or disabilities, if any, resulted from your TBI (e.g., balance, perception, personality, etc.)?

Artwork by Joshua Puckett
TBI Survivor – 2013

My balance is bad – I use a cane now for that. I can’t seem to eat no matter how hungry I am. I can exhibit confusion or anger. I have the memory of a fish!

10. How has your life changed? Is it better? Is it worse?

I changed every aspect of my life. Only very recently have I started seeing the gifts that came with my TBI. I have become so much more understanding to the struggles of all people. At the same time, I also feel more isolated and alone than ever.

11. What do you miss the most from your pre-TBI life?

I miss everything and, simultaneously, nothing. I was and am now an even more complex person. But, eating without my TBI would be like getting a tooth pulled.

12. What do you enjoy most in your post-TBI life?

Artwork by Joshua Pucket TBI Survivor - 2013

Artwork by Joshua Puckett
TBI Survivor – 2013

I love that my TBI gave me the clarity to know what is actually important in life.

13. What do you like least about your TBI?

Food is still the biggest culprit.

14. Has anything helped you to accept your TBI?

I did a lot of talking in the mirror. Also I became an alcoholic. Once I stopped that stupid show, things really started to open up for me.

15. Has your injury affected your home life and relationships and, if so, how?

At first, it was very tough. Two of my sons are severely autistic, and I was their full-time caregiver and nurse. Raising them was no longer in my hands. But recently, I have gotten insight about them that I wouldn’t have had before, and we are closer than ever. My marriage is trying. We are getting to a place where we are ready to part ways. Too much is different now – as much as we do not want it to be.

16. Has your social life been altered or changed and, if so, how?

I was as social a butterfly as you could be. Now people and crowds terrify me. I was a night owl, which sucks now because I am afraid of the night too. PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) simply sucks.

17. Who is your main caregiver? Do you understand what it takes to be a caregiver?

I am able to care for myself, but I require some help – specifically with memory, eating, emotional swings, and childcare.

18. What are your future plans? What do you expect/hope to be doing ten years from now?

Honestly? I would like to change the world, helping everyone who wants or needs it.

Best hint? Be honest with yourself. Other people are important, but the one you have to spend your life talking to all the time is you. I also choose not to judge myself anymore.

I judged and hated myself for so long because of my TBI. But at the same time, I wanted to be there and to understand myself. Other people can’t. And that is good. I don’t want others to feel like this. But I can be honest with myself.

20. What advice would you offer to other TBI survivors? Do you have any other comments that you would like to add?

TBI sucks. But let’s be honest, was your brain a well oiled machine before? This is a hurdle, but it can also be an opportunity to become the strongest, the happiest, and the most potential-fulfilling self you can – in ways that you can only do now with this wisdom, albeit possibly with a cane and some other assistance. 🙂

To learn more about Joshua Puckett, a very talented musician and artist, check out his You Tube videos. Here are some to get you started.

Viary: TBI

Viary: TBI and I (my “accident”)

TBI and I: The documentary

Joshua Puckett
TBI Survivor – 2013

Thank you, Joshua, for taking part in this interview. I hope that your experience will offer some hope, comfort, and inspiration to my readers.

(Disclaimer: The views or opinions in this post are solely that of the interviewee.)

If you would like to be a part of the SPEAK OUT! project, please go to TBI Survivor Interview Questionnaire for a copy of the questions and the release form.

(Photos compliments of Joshua.)

Category:

Survivors SPEAK OUT!

Tagged with:

Survivors SPEAK OUT! . . . Doris

Survivors SPEAK OUT! . . . . . Doris

Donna O’Donnell Figurski

Doris 1 year after TBI 2007

1. What is your name? (last name optional)

Doris F.

2. Where do you live? (city and/or state and/or country) Email (optional)

Tampa, Florida, USA

3. When did you have your TBI? At what age?

October 31, 2006 Age 46

4. How did your TBI occur?

I was parking my vehicle in the post office parking lot, and I passed out.

5. When did you (or someone) first realize you had a problem?

Post office employees found me unconscious behind the steering wheel.

6. What kind of emergency treatment, if any, did you have?

Doris – 1 day after the craniotomy – 2006

Craniotomy; clipping and coiling of a ruptured brain aneurysm

7. Were you in a coma? If so, how long?

Yes. 5 days

8. Did you do rehab? What kind of rehab (i.e., inpatient or outpatient and occupational and/or physical and/or speech and/or other)? How long were you in rehab?

I did not do rehab, but I saw a neuropsychologist after a few months of recovery.

9. What problems or disabilities, if any, resulted from your TBI (e.g., balance, perception, personality, etc.)?

I am afflicted with anxiety, a severely bad memory, dizziness, and headaches, but I mostly have psychological problems (e.g., balance, perception, personality, etc.).

10. How has your life changed? Is it better? Is it worse?

It’s worse. I lost my job as a veterinary manager; I lost my home; I lost my husband of 26 years (he wanted a divorce); and I lost many friends. My daughter has turned her back on me and does not associate with me – because, according to her, I am “weird” and “boring.”

11. What do you miss the most from your pre-TBI life?

I miss the ability to be productive and to socialize. I miss feeling healthy and strong.

12. What do you enjoy most in your post-TBI life?

I enjoy my pets – it seems like they understand. I feel close to them. I’ve also learned to play the guitar and sing. It brings me great pleasure and a feeling of accomplishment, especially when I practice a new song and it sounds good. (At least my animals think so! LOL.)

13. What do you like least about your TBI?

I hate what my brain injury has done to my life.

14. Has anything helped you to accept your TBI?

My friend, a neuropsychologist, has helped a great deal. He talked to me twice a week for almost a year. I am also grateful to my two long-time girlfriends. They were there through it all and still love me today.

15. Has your injury affected your home life and relationships and, if so, how?

Basically I lost all the people I thought were closest to me.

16. Has your social life been altered or changed and, if so, how?

I don’t really feel comfortable socializing. I feel like most people are fake.

17. Who is your main caregiver? Do you understand what it takes to be a caregiver?

I’m my own caregiver. Being a caregiver takes a lot of effort and discipline.

18. What are your future plans? What do you expect/hope to be doing ten years from now?

I would like to be married again. I miss a man in my life. I’ve always enjoyed taking care of him, keeping a lovely home, cooking, and having a close relationship.

I wish it would not have taken years for me to accept my TBI and my altered abilities. I wasted a lot of time being angry and depressed.

20. What advice would you offer to other TBI survivors? Do you have any other comments that you would like to add?

My advice to other survivors follows. 1. Take it easy – one step at a time. 2. Don’t disconnect from the world – you are not alone. Find a support group. 3. Do something that you feel passionate about (e.g., helping others, animal activism, crafting, volunteering, performing or visual arts, etc.). 4. Find a fun activity that requires repetition (e.g., learning to play an instrument, knitting, gardening, etc.). This will help in the recovery process and will improve the brain. 5. Be kind to yourself, and be a little selfish. You have survived a major trauma. There is a reason you are still here on this earth. God bless you all!

Thank you, Doris, for taking part in this interview. I hope that your experience will offer some hope, comfort, and inspiration to my readers.

(Disclaimer: The views or opinions in this post are solely that of the interviewee.)

If you would like to be a part of the SPEAK OUT! project, please go to TBI Survivor Interview Questionnaire for a copy of the questions and the release form.

(Photos compliments of Doris.)

(Clip Art compliments of Bing.)

Category:

Survivors SPEAK OUT!

Tagged with:

Survivors SPEAK OUT! . . . . . Rainbow Artist, Orlando L. . . . (Kevin Orlando Lau)

SPEAK OUT! – Rainbow Artist, Orlando L.

(Kevin Orlando Lau)

Donna O’Donnell Figurski

Rainbow Artist Orlando L. (Kevin Orlando Lau)
Brain Injury Survivor

1. What is your name? (last name optional)

My name is Kevin Orlando Lau.

(I’m also known as the Rainbow Artist, Orlando L., in the art community.)

2. Where do you live? (city and/or state and/or country) Email (optional)

Currently I live in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, as a Canadian.

I was born and raised in Hong Kong, China, as a Chinese.

My art website is http://rainbowartistorlando-l.pixels.com

My art page on Facebook is https://www.facebook.com/RainbowArtistOrlando.

3. When did you have your brain injury? At what age?

I had my brain injury back in 1996 when I was age 24. I don’t think my injury is a TBI. I am guessing it is an ABI (acquired brain injury). The doctor at the ICU (intensive care unit) mentioned a medical term to me, but I couldn’t understand it back then, nor do I remember it now. She translated it to me as “partial brain damage.”

4. How did your brain injury occur?

My injury was caused by severe poisoning. I was committing suicide by swallowing a whole jar of an extra-strength painkiller. I wanted to end my hellish life on earth once and for all. I was a heavily abused child – physical, verbal, sexual/molestation, emotional, and psychological. I observed lots of chaos with my relatives, like gang relations, violence, prostitution, excessive gambling, sex addition, and hardcore drug addiction. I had watched my mother’s brother sexually molest my sister and all my female cousins, individually and multiple times. They were only 2-6 years old. I was around 10. I was raped in 1993 by a trusted man twice my age. I attracted a possessive and abusive boyfriend in 1996. He constantly threatened to kill me and my cats if I left him. I worked in the family business of my parents seven days per week, 10+ hours each day, for many months in a row without a break. (All day-off requests were denied.) I was completely stressed out and exhausted!! Death was the only way out….

5. When did you (or someone) first realize you had a problem?

I first realized I had a problem when I started vomiting neon-green liquid non-stop after I had those pills. I vomited at least eighteen times within a 24-hour period. Then when I woke up in the ICU, the doctor told me that I suffered a brain injury. She said she didn’t expect that I would have any memory. She hadn’t expected me to wake up and to be talking to her. She hadn’t expected that I would survive at all, due to the overwhelming amount of poison I had consumed. She explained that 99% of the people who had the same experience as me did not survive and that 99% of the 1% who survived stayed in a coma for the rest of their lives. So, she found it a miracle that I was alive and talking. She said I must have an important mission in life that I have not yet fulfilled – that I was not ready to go.

6. What kind of emergency treatment, if any, did you have?

Kevin Orlando Lau
Brain Injury Survivor
Rainbow Artist Orlando L.

I honestly have no idea. I think I never asked, and they never told me.

7. Were you in a coma? If so, how long?

I am assuming I wasn’t in a coma. Even if I had been, it must have been a very short one. I never asked, and I don’t recall anyone ever saying that I had been in one. I only remember being brought to the hospital unwillingly. The next thing I remember was waking up in ICU, thinking to myself Is this what heaven looks like? – because I was so sure I would be dead.

8. Did you do rehab? What kind of rehab (i.e., inpatient or outpatient and occupational and/or physical and/or speech and/or other)? How long were you in rehab?

Although the brain doctor at the ICU suggested to me that I see her at least three times per week, I never had the luxury of seeing her again. I also didn’t have any kind of treatment or rehab after I got out of the hospital. I WISH I had had some rehab because it would have made my life so much easier. But, rehab of any kind was forbidden. My family said my injury was a disgrace to them and would create negative publicity for their social status/circle. (My mom was the district president of a major charity organization that same year.) I was strictly instructed to just act “normal” in public. I was not allowed to see any doctors, nor have any treatment or rehab. I was also not allowed to ever talk to anyone about my brain injury because I only had “food poisoning” and nothing more. They put me back to work ten days after I got out of the hospital! All these years, I have dealt with my brain injury by myself – in the dark and with endless confusion. I never talked about it until after my mom retired in 2012. I am planning to seek help now. I just need to figure out how.

9. What problems or disabilities, if any, resulted from your brain injury (e.g., balance, perception, personality, etc.)?

Oh, there are so many problems…. Here are a few. My personality and self-image changed. (I don’t recognize myself. When I look in the mirror, I might ask, “Is that me?” – as if I am just meeting that person in the reflection for the first time.) I can’t tell the difference between reality or imagination or dreams. Time, space, people, and dates – nothing makes sense. My short-term and long-term memories are affected. I have a huge problem with faces, names, locations, passwords, spellings, and numbers. I have difficulties translating thoughts into verbal words, which are often spoken with a delay. I lost body awareness. I have a low energy level. I am very underweight (5 ft. 10 in. and 110 lbs.). Time always seems to be “missing,” and I have no idea what I do during the “missing” hours. Being late and missing appointments is the norm. Plus, I have other stuff, like depression, a mood disorder, a food disorder, insomnia, allergies of all kinds (from food to smell to chemicals), and many new fears and strange phobias of all types (e.g., fears of small flying objects; of oceans, lakes, and rivers; of doorbells; of telephone rings; etc.)…SIGH!

10. How has your life changed? Is it better? Is it worse?

I guess the answer depends on one’s perspective and point of view. My life is both worse and better!

My life is worse because I feel like I am a stupid, walking zombie – incapable of paying for and supporting my own life. I am forever stuck in my own invisible jail, being misunderstood by society.

My life is better because I got the chance to know my true self so much deeper and to live a brand new life with more kindness and compassion to myself and to others. I can appreciate everything in this universe in a whole new light. I have learned to see good in the bad and to see beauty in everything. I have learned how not to take life and ordinary things for granted. I feel more connected with nature and all lives in creation. Having the time and opportunity to learn who I really am as a soul is truly the greatest gift of my injury. It makes all my life changes worthwhile.

11. What do you miss the most from your pre-brain-injury life?

Actually I miss several things. I miss being self-sufficient and independent. I miss life without debts. I miss the ability to learn new things without forgetting them. (I mean I still can learn, but the knowledge simply won’t stay for long. I can watch the same movie or read the same book or email repeatedly, and the content will still feel new.) I miss the freedom of travelling around without panic and stress. I used to love taking flights and driving cars, but now I don’t enjoy them anymore. I miss tasting the rich flavours of good food too. Nowadays everything tastes like cardboard – kind of boring.

12. What do you enjoy most in your post-brain-injury life?

Artwork by Rainbow Artist Orlando L.

Creating art!! I never knew I could paint at all. I suddenly started watercolour-painting in 2012 during a 16-week neurofeedback brain treatment. As a gift, I got a used brush and some watercolours from my therapists. The next thing I know, I just picked up that brush and started painting! It was the first time in my life. Watercolour-painting quickly became a new hobby, and now it’s part of who I am. I have no training in painting at all. I still don’t have any today. I don’t know how I paint my own art because I cannot remember how the paintings were created. I just keep creating them to make myself feel happy. Art became my new life! I enjoyed very much the discovery of this new side of me and of this new artistic experience. It’s a most pleasant surprise!

13. What do you like least about your brain injury?

I dislike seeing me as being slow, indecisive, forgetful, withdrawn, over-sensitive, and super-dependent. I really dislike being so dependent on my loved ones. It’s my heart’s desire to give financial support to them (particularly to my parents and relatives as they get older) and to make sure they all have a good life. But now, I rely and depend on them. I can’t function without them. It makes me feel horrible and useless – as if I am human garbage and a burden forced upon them. It breaks my heart because I am the one who committed the “crime” of turning me into a brain-injured person. Only I should be in “prison,” not them!! It’s not fair.

14. Has anything helped you to accept your brain injury?

Spirituality, meditation, and my cats have helped me to accept my brain injury big time! My cats are my best friends and my life-support. They stayed with me regardless of what condition I had. Their unconditional love, company, and loyalty to me gave me lots of strength, support, comfort, and growth. They taught me to be myself and to accept myself exactly the way I am. Spirituality changed my outlook towards life positively, helped me to realize life has bigger and deeper meanings, and showed me that my injury is only a spiritual learning experience to expand my consciousness. Meditation gave me inner peace, higher knowledge, and the wisdom to accept what happened, instead of victimizing me with guilt, shame, and resentment.

15. Has your injury affected your home life and relationships and, if so, how?

My brain injury changed everything immediately. My life was like living in a painful hell. Everyone took advantage of me. I became easily used, controlled, and manipulated because I lost the ability and the willingness to confront or to fight back. I was like a living puppet, like a slave. People were free to toy with my emotions and to undress me anytime without concern for my feelings. I was lied to all the time because people knew I would accept all information without the ability to judge them. All relationships at all levels fell apart. No one cared about my injury, except me! It took me another twelve years after my injury before I could move out of my parents’ house and to be strong enough to end the abusive relationship with my boyfriend. He had stalked and harassed me for years after our breakup in 2008. I ended up moving to another city in 2012.

16. Has your social life been altered or changed and, if so, how?

Gradually all my friends stayed away from me (literally no more contact) when they realized I was “different,” and I do mean ALL, including my best friends! I suddenly had many social anxieties that I never had before. I became very afraid of human beings – I developed a phobia of mankind. The anxieties made me feel very uncomfortable in public, crowded, or noisy places. Interacting with people face-to-face (including one-on-one, even in private) or on phones gave me intense panic. In fact, seeing people is enough to trigger me. I feel as if I am an alien creature living among the human race and everyone out there is trying to hurt me in some way. I avoid social interactions as much as I can. I stopped trying to fit into the world.

17. Who is your main caregiver? Do you understand what it takes to be a caregiver?

My answer depends on the definition of “caregiver.” If it means financially, like giving me shelter, food, rides, etc., then my “caregiver” is my family and relatives. If it means giving me brain health and assisting me in my life physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, then my “caregiver” is me and my spirit-guides. Ever since my injury, I can clearly get telepathic directions from invisible entities to help me cope with my daily life and activities – much like a 24-hour nurse – which I appreciate very much. No, I don’t fully understand what it takes to be a caregiver because I have no experience in that. I can only imagine that it might be similar to my caring for my cats with lots of unconditional love. I really only know what it means to be a brain-injury survivor.

18. What are your future plans? What do you expect/hope to be doing ten years from now?

I have no future plans really…because I can only handle one day at a time. So, I just do my best to stay in the present moment. I do fantasize that I will have my own art exhibition around the world one day – to share my stories and my art. I would like to teach people what brain-injury survivors can achieve and to let other survivors be proud, be inspired, and get motivated to excel and reach their potential. I guess I wish I could do something to give other survivors hope and fuel their inner fire for continuing on bravely to conquer their battle. I believe ALL survivors are warriors. They are still capable of doing great things for themselves and the world. Survivors are not lesser or weaker – we are simply more unique and special! Survivors are strong souls and great teachers. We understand our strengths and that peace comes from within.

My advice is to be kind to yourself and to stop comparing the post-injury you to the pre-injury you because you will never be that person again. Release the idea, and let it go. Instead, start loving, accepting, and embracing the “new” you like you have a brand new life in the same body. Relearn your boundaries, abilities, and potential. You are absolutely perfect the way you are now. Be open and receptive to all kinds of alternative non-medical healing-methods because they are excellent tools to help you and your new life. Neurofeedback is the best thing that happened to me. It completely flipped my life upside-down for the better. I am eternally grateful for that. You might want to do your own research on that. Always have faith in yourself and in your capability. Your body’s ability to heal itself is far greater than anyone has permitted you to believe. Your soul always knows what to do to heal itself. The challenge is to silence the mind. Meditation can help with quieting it.

20. What advice would you offer to other brain-injured survivors? Do you have any other comments that you would like to add?

Art has been very healing for me. If you have never tried art or using creativity as a form of home-based therapy, I highly encourage you to try it now! You don’t need to know how or to be good at it. You just need to do it. Let it be a fun game for your inner child to play! The point is to allow yourself to express and release “something” that needs to be out of your system – that needs to set you free! I gained a lot of self-worth, self-esteem, and confidence since I started painting. Nothing is impossible! Miracles happen to those who believe. Faith is the key to a universe full of blessings. You are way STRONGER than you can imagine. That’s why you have this life. Truly FORGIVE yourself for your injury. Blame will not bring you any healing – only unconditional love and inner peace will. Be the biggest supporter of yourself. You deserve it. Love, Light, and Strength to you all.

You can learn more about Kevin at Rainbow Artist Orlando L. You can also see more of Rainbow Artist Orlando l.’s work and an article by him in “Disabled Magazine,” titled, “Peace, Love, and Neurofeedback.”

Kevin Orland Lau Rainbow Artist 2013 after Brain Injury

Thank you, Kevin, for taking part in this interview. I know that it was a painful journey for you as you examined and faced the wounds of your brain injury. I am grateful to you for your courage and hopeful that by sharing your story you will be offering hope, comfort, and inspiration to my readers.

(Disclaimer: The views or opinions in this post are solely that of the interviewee.)

If you would like to be a part of the SPEAK OUT! project, please go to TBI Survivor Interview Questionnaire for a copy of the questions and the release form.

(Photos compliments of Kevin.)

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