Dan Zimmerman | Surviving Traumatic Brain Injury

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SPEAK OUT! Faces of Brain Injury Dan Zimmerman – the Trike Man

SPEAK OUT! Faces of Brain Injury Dan Zimmerman – the Trike Man

presented by

Donna O’Donnell Figurski

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.

I am 50 yrs. (Proud of it!) 6’-4” tall, 203-208 weight
I don’t drink, smoke.
I have 2 sons -14, almost 18. They live with their mother. I have them 25% time. Nice. Young man, well-mannered.
I am neat-freak.
I don’t procrastinate.
I hate: lazy, smokers, dirty, rude people.
I can’t stand being still. I am always planning trip, ride.
I am project-man around the house, trailer, trike – anything.
Every year, I leave June-September. Summertime too hot ride trike in AZ. I have 30-foot RV trailer. Nice one. Home away from home.

I like going to movies, coffee, cooking and grilling, talking to people and people-watching, traveling, concerts. I like all music!
I am touchy and feely person. Hold hand and cuddling.

My passion is riding trike 170-220 miles each week.
I love to ride triking! My trike Catrike 700. Last year my tour – 5380 miles – started June 29 at WA State, ended Key West, FL, Nov. 29, 2014.

I am on tour now – “Rails to Trails” started June 1 to Oct. 1.

www.spokesfightingstrokes.org

Watch my video, please. Filmed two years ago. I am talking much better now.

I had stroke 9 3/4 yrs ago. Dr told me that I’d be in wheelchair for life and no talking.
They were wrong. I am walking and talking. Although, my writing and spelling is affected a little, so patience would be appreciated in that area. I have taught myself how to spell again.
DanTrikeMan

To learn more about Dan, please click on the link.

On the Air: Brain Injury Radio Interview with Catherine (Cat) Brubaker and Dan Zimmerman Another Fork in the Road: Catherine and Dan’s Reflections – Triking Across America

Disclaimer: Any views and opinions of the Contributor are purely his/her own.

(Clip Art compliments of Bing.)

(Photos compliments of contributor.)

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Faces of Brain Injury

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Trike Treks

April 9, 2015 to June 6, 2015

David

Cumulative mileage for David 616.2 mi

Donna

Cumulative mileage for Donna 79.9 mi

Combined miles for Donna and David 696.1 mi

Miles to reach 5390* miles 4693.9 mi

*done by both Catherine Brubaker and Dan Zimmerman in their cross-country rides

As I say after each post: 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 with your friends. It’s easy! Click the “Share” buttons below.

If you don’t like my blog, “Share” it with your enemies. I don’t care!

Feel free to “Like” my post

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Trike Treks

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TBI Tales . . . Tracking Miles in Electric Blue and Shiny Mango

Tracking Miles in Electric Blue and Shiny Mango

Donna O’Donnell Figurski

Catherine (Cat) Brubaker (TBI survivor) got a black Catrike 700. Dan Zimmerman (Stroke survivor) got a black Catrike 700. They pedaled across America diagonally, 5,300 miles, and it changed each of their lives.

David Figurski (TBI survivor) got a trike, an electric blue Catrike 700, the same model as Cat and Dan’s, but a different color.

Donna O’Donnell Figurski (copycat) got a trike, too. Though to show her independence, she didn’t get a Catrike 700. She went for the Shiny Mango Pocket Trike. It’s cute!

Now David and Donna want to match Cat and Dan’s GOAL! We want to trike 5,300 miles in the desert. I wonder how long it will take us.

LET’S GO!

NAME DATE Total MILES since 4/9/15

David 1/24/16 1,570

NAME DATE Total MILES since 4/9/15

Donna 1/24/16 79

As I say after each post:

Please leave a comment by clicking the blue words “Leave a Comment” below this post.

Please follow my blog. Click on “Follow” on the top right sidebar. (It’s nice to know there are readers out there.)

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.

(Clip Art compliments of Bing.)

(Photos compliments of Me.)

Category:

TBI Tales

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SPEAK OUT! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Itty-Bitty GIANT Steps

Michelle Lee Bonnenfant (survivor)…With hubby’s help, I made it through a busy grocery store. Ken, my hubby, got me in and out in one piece! He even stood three feet behind me in the check out so that I would not get crowded by people. It was the first time in months that I went through a check out. I was plagued by a lot of sweat and chest pain, but I still did it. I hate my TBI and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), but Ken gave me a big hug and told me that he was proud of me. I’m exhausted, but pleased with myself!

Cara Lauderdale Eberle (caregiver)…The one-year anniversary of my husband’s accident was April 1st. While I was at work sitting at a table of four-year-olds trying to get them to do a project with me, I saw them all stop and look up. Standing next to me was my husband holding a beautiful bouquet of flowers. I was in complete shock! He hasn’t shown any concern for the feelings of others since the accident. He told me he thought that he should do something to thank me for helping him get through the last year. This was definitely a breakthrough moment for us. 🙂

David Figurski (survivor)…I am excited! I took delivery of a Catrike 700 recumbent trike. It’s the same model that was used by Catherine Brubaker (a two-time TBI survivor) and Dan Zimmerman (a stroke survivor) on their five-month, cross-country ride from Washington State to Florida. Cat and Dan espouse their new-found freedom, and their new physical capabilities are truly amazing. They both believe that riding a recumbent trike is great therapy. Also, my wife, Donna, just took delivery of the Catrike Pocket, a slightly smaller trike. Donna, Cat, Dan, and I plan to ride together.

Corina Mendoza (survivor)…I passed my teaching exam for Special Education! I passed both teaching exams I needed on the first try.

YOU did it!

Congratulations to all contributors!

(Clip Art compliments of Bing.)

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Itty-Bitty GIANT Step

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On the Air: Brain Injury Radio Another Fork in the Road: Catherine and Dan’s Reflections – Triking Across America

On the Air: Brain Injury Radio Interview with

Catherine (Cat) Brubaker and Dan Zimmerman

Another Fork in the Road:

Catherine and Dan’s Reflections – Triking Across America

IMPORTANT NOTE: Because of technical difficulties, the show cuts out at the 6:37-minute marking and returns at the 10:30-minute marking. When the air is dead, drag the cursor to 10:30 and happy listening.

It was a pleasure to spend the evening with Catherine (Cat) Brubaker and Dan Zimmerman on my show, “Another Fork in the Road.” They are my heroes! It was such fun to dig into the depths of their feelings to learn what it meant to them to travel across America for 5 months on recumbent trikes -a total of 5,300 miles.

If you missed the show, don’t fret. You can always listen to the archived show.

You can get to the interview by clicking the link at the bottom of this page. (Wait a few seconds for the audio to start.) Because of technical difficulties, the show cuts out at the 6:37-minute marking and returns at the 10:30-minute marking. When the air is dead, drag the cursor to 10:30 and start listening.

Cat Brubaker Crossing America – diagonally

Dan Zimmerman Pedaling to Margaritaville

I hope you’ll tune in to my show, “Another Fork in the Road,” which airs the 1st and 3rd Sunday evenings of every month. The show starts at 5:00p Pacific Time and runs for 90 minutes. On the fifth Sunday in a month, Julie Kintz, Host of “Quantum Leap,” and I team up to cohost a show called “Another Quantum Leap in the Road.”

REMEMBER: Read above for directions for the technical difficulties.

See you “On the Air!”

Another Fork in the Road: Catherine and Dan’s Reflections – Triking Across America

Click here for a list of all “Another Fork in the Road” shows on the Brain Injury Radio Network.

Category:

On the Air!

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“Another Fork in the Road” . . . Brain Injury Radio Network Catherine (Cat) Brubaker’s and Dan Zimmerman’s Reflections – Triking Across America

YOU ARE INVITED!

It took Catherine (Cat) Brubaker and Dan Zimmerman 5 months and 5,300 miles to cross the USA (diagonally) on recumbent trikes. Blowouts, tumbles, and close encounters with bears and wild turkeys still left plenty of time to meet folks at the heart of our country. It also left time to get lost in one’s own mind. Cat and Dan rode to raise awareness for TBI and for Stroke, but I wonder what awareness they discovered within themselves along their journey. And, I mean to find out. 🙂

Come One! Come ALL!

What: Interview with Catherine (Cat) Brubaker and Dan Zimmerman.

Why: Cat and Dan will look inward and share their innermost thoughts.

Dan Zimmerman & Cat Brubaker

Where: Brain Injury Radio Network

When: Sunday, December 21, 2014

Time: 5:00p PT (6:00p MT, 7:00p CT, and 8:00p ET) 90 minute show

How: Click: Brain Injury Radio Network

Call In: 424-243-9540

Call In: 855-473-3711 toll free in USA

Call In: 202-559-7907 free outside US

or SKYPE

If you miss the show, but would like to still hear the interview, you can access the archive on On Demand listening. The archived show will be available after the show both on the Brain Injury Radio Network site and on my blog in “On the Air.”

(Clip Art compliments of Bing.)

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Events Calendar

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Catherine Brubaker’s . . . . . . . . Photo Journal – (Part 1) Washington to Florida

Triking Across America – diagonally –

Photo Journal Part 1

Washington to Florida

On June 29, 2014, Catherine (Cat) Brubaker and Dan Zimmerman set off from Anacortes, Washington on their recumbent trikes to trike across America – diagonally. Their destination – Key West, Florida – a trip of 5,200 miles.

I can’t even wrap my head around driving 5,200 miles in a car, let alone covering that distance under pedal-power. (I made up that word.)

Here’s what 5,200 miles looks like.

01 Cat on Trike 10350428_10204753083335148_667202674095765199_n

Cat, who survived two brain injuries triked to raise awareness for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) on “Cat’s Ride for Life.”

02 Dan on Trike 1069184_441000132665517_2000066735_n

Dan, a stroke survivor, pedaled for awareness for stroke prevention with “Spokes Fighting Strokes.”

This is the van loaded down with equipment that will be traveling with Cat and Dan

This is the van loaded down with equipment, supplies, and food that will be traveling with Cat and Dan.

Oops! A blowout before the trip even begins

Cat is interviewed by AZCentral – 12 News – The Arizona Republic

Cat and Dan ride under “Spokes Fighting Strokes.”

Cat and Dan ride about 50 miles per day and their average speed is about 13mph. They’ve seen a wolf, wild turkeys, and even “giant” crickets in Washington. Here are some of the beautiful sites Cat has encountered along the way. (More to come.)

10420010_10204564402018233_4022721289719272020_n

Check out the Ascent and Elevation on this Garmin.

Cat and Bear sharing a little love.

Washington sites

M10338763_10204580536701590_2716290322768561350_n

Lake McDonald in National Glacier Park

Purple wild flowers along the highway

Hmm, wondering if this will be Cat’s new wheels for another Trip Across America.

Pure bliss

Category:

Catherine (Cat) Brubaker

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Catherine (Cat) Brubaker . . . Triking Across America

Pedaling Into the Future – Triking Across America (diagonally)

Donna O’Donnell Figurski

Catherine (Cat) Brubaker

Catherine (Cat) Brubaker, a 43-year-old perky, young woman, is on the ride of her life. She is getting a second – no – third chance at life.

Catherine’s life changed in an instant in 2010, when she was assaulted. The assault resulted in a traumatic brain injury and the implantation of a heart pacemaker. A year after her first TBI, Catherine was in a head-on collision, which caused her to have a second TBI. The result of both injuries took away Catherine’s freedom. She lost her independence in the world.

In an article, Catherine said, “ … I lost everything – my ability to work, drive, talk and function independently.” But what Catherine did not lose was her drive – her ambition to take back the reins of her life. But, it wasn’t easy, and it didn’t happen all at once.

Catherine not only lost her independence, she also lost her partner of 14 years when they parted ways. This, along with the increasingly difficult life she now faced as the result of her disabilities, sent Catherine into a deep slump. When her mother passed, Cat almost went over the edge. She found it difficult to understand why she was here on this earth. She contemplated ending her life. To Cat, it seemed that everything had been stripped away.

Catherine (Cat) Brubaker – Triking Across America (diagonally)

It was around that time that Cat bought a recumbent trike and found that the trike allowed her the freedom to get out of her house. Because Cat has issues with balance as the result of her brain injury, it was difficult for her to walk unassisted. Also, she was not able to drive a car because of the many issues related to her TBI. Her recumbent trike gave her the independence that she so missed and so greatly desired. It made her world bigger. Cat rode her trike in the parks near her home. There she met Dan Zimmerman, a stroke survivor, on his recumbent trike – the very same model that Cat was riding (Catrike 700). (Cat said she was attracted to that trike not only for its performance, but also because of its name.) Dan and Cat began to ride together, and Dan shared his plan of pedaling his recumbent trike across America to raise awareness for stroke survivors. He also hoped to spread the word of the benefits of cycling. Cat thought this a great idea, and soon she was in training to accompany Dan.

Initially Cat rode her trike to escape the four walls that seemed to hold her prisoner, but she soon realized that she was riding for others too – for those who can’t ride and those who may follow her lead and discover the joys and freedom of the recumbent trike. But most of all, Cat rides to offer hope to her fellow traumatic brain injury survivors.

From Anacortes, Washington to Key West, Florida (5,200 miles)

On June 29^th, the pair – with their riding team of Bill and Dana Brown (owners of Sign Me Up Tours,) and David Babcock (photo-journalist, driver, and all-around “chief cook and bottle washer”) – set off from the northwestern corner of the United States at Anacortes, Washington, on their way to Key West on the tip of Florida at the southeastern part of the USA. Cat and Dan will ride a total of 5,200 miles on their ocean-to-ocean trip. They plan to finish in late November.

Check back often to see photo updates of Cat’s (and Dan’s) progress.

(Photos compliments of Cat Brubaker.)

Category:

Catherine (Cat) Brubaker

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Survivors SPEAK OUT! . . . Catherine (Cat) Brubaker

SPEAK OUT! – Catherine (Cat) Brubaker

Donna O’Donnell Figurski

Catherine (Cat) Brubaker

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

Catherine Brubaker

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

Tempe, Arizona, USA  CatBrubaker@gmail.com

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

The first TBI was in 2010. I was 39. I had another TBI in 2011 at age 40.

4. How did your TBI occur?

1st TBI: assault 2nd TBI: car accident

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

I couldn’t get up without assistance.

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

1st TBI: After I went to see him, a doctor called 9-1-1. I was then treated in an Emergency Room. 2nd TBI: I was first treated in an Emergency Room. My treatment was then handled for a month by St. Joseph’s Neurological (Phoenix). That was followed by my living in a nursing home. I was then an outpatient.

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

No – both times.

8. Did you do rehab? What kind of rehab (i.e., Inpatient or Outpatient and Occupational, Physical, Speech, Other)?

Yes. I rehabbed as both an inpatient and an outpatient. I had all three therapies (occupational, physical, and speech). I highly recommend a recumbent tricycle.

How long were you in rehab?

I don’t remember.

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

Balance. Boundaries. Personality. Independence. Ability to function in everyday things

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

It’s taken everything – career and relationships. Walking was learned twice…But given everything, now I can ride my trike and paint…freedom.

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

Independence. Freedom. People saw me as capable. I felt I was dating material.

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

I got to ride my trike across the country.

13. What do you like least about your TBI?

It’s frustrating beyond belief. It is like a cage I can’t get out of. I sometimes can’t find words. I don’t like the headaches. I need to plan ahead. My thinking is sometimes not clear or engaged.

Catherine (Cat) Brubaker riding her recumbent tricycle on 5,200 mile diagonal crossing of USA - from Washinton (state) to Florida

Catherine (Cat) Brubaker riding her recumbent tricycle on 5,200 mile diagonal crossing of USA – from Anacortes, Washinton (state) to Key West, Florida (June/November 2014)

14. Has anything helped you to accept your TBI?

Triking with Dan Zimmerman. He deals with stroke every day.

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

Yes. I lost a 14-year relationship. I get angry and act out. I also have PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). It’s hard to maintain relationships – even new ones. I can’t say what I want to say. Miscommunication happens all the time.

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

Yes. I lost friends. I had been in a partnership. I stayed in my room for a year after I lost the partnership, my primary relationship.

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

I was in my mom’s care. One morning in November, I found her passed away. Now my caregiver is my brother. He and I live in my mom’s house.

Catherine (Cat) Brubaker – taking a break from riding in Glacier National Park in Montana (August 2014)

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

Ride my trike. Inspire others to get up off of the couch. I hope to stop people from being depressed and to find purpose.

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.

Let go of “mad.” Earlier. I wish I did. There is so much less to carry around, and it makes room for “happy.” It gives you real joy and purpose.

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

If you can, adapt. You will overcome. Get a trike. You can balance three wheels, and it gives you freedom. I cherish mine.

Catherine (Cat) Brubaker “Triking Acoss America”

(You’ll have to “peel it from my cold dead fingers.”) I have control, joy, and freedom. It allows me to explore the world and see new places.

If you want to learn more about Catherine’s adventures of Triking Across America go to Spokes Fighting Strokes Tour.

Thank you, Catherine, 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.)

(Photos compliments of Catherine.)

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.

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Survivors SPEAK OUT!

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Surviving Traumatic Brain Injury

TBI – Survivors, Caregivers, Family, and Friends

Posts tagged ‘Dan Zimmerman’

SPEAK OUT! Faces of Brain Injury Dan Zimmerman – the Trike Man

Trike Treks

TBI Tales . . . Tracking Miles in Electric Blue and Shiny Mango

SPEAK OUT! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Itty-Bitty GIANT Steps

On the Air: Brain Injury Radio Another Fork in the Road: Catherine and Dan’s Reflections – Triking Across America

“Another Fork in the Road” . . . Brain Injury Radio Network Catherine (Cat) Brubaker’s and Dan Zimmerman’s Reflections – Triking Across America

YOU ARE INVITED!

Catherine Brubaker’s . . . . . . . . Photo Journal – (Part 1) Washington to Florida

Catherine (Cat) Brubaker . . . Triking Across America

Survivors SPEAK OUT! . . . Catherine (Cat) Brubaker

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