SPEAK OUT! Itty-Bitty GIANT Steps
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 donnaodonnellfigurski@gmail.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.
Here are this week’s Itty-Bitty Giant Steps.
Bart Boughner (survivor)…I found my old horse this past month. I haven’t seen him since 2004. Today (yeah!) I remembered I can scan pictures to send to the new owner. Yesterday I tried the camera – not so good. I love days like today!
Bart Boughner, 2 months after TBI, poses with his horse.
Ever So Dirty, aka Hannah and Rightly Zipped, aka Bubba
The big one is my old mare, Ever So Dirty, aka Hannah. She had two babies for me. The one I just found is the little one, Rightly Zipped, aka Bubba. I still have the sister, and – funny thing – they were born on the same day, two years apart, and with the same parents.
Olivianjeana Collazo (caregiver)…Our biggest accomplishment has been finding fish oil and other things to help our son with his brain injury, which happened in July. All that the doctors could say was the worst. I can’t wait to show them our son now. He is doing half the things they said he wouldn’t! Thanks for reading.
Peter Cornfield (survivor)…Peter uses innovative measures to move a basket of firewood to the fireplace using only one hand. See his inspirational video on You Tube. Moving Wood With My Stick.
Jamie Fairles (survivor)…Hi, Donna. As of yesterday, I’m off for four weeks from my B SW (Bachelor of Social Work) field practicum placement until my second term begins in the new year. I have the rest of this practicum to finish, a second field placement, and only two more full courses until I’m a social worker!
Heather Sivori Floyd (caregiver)…BIG NEWS to share! Kinda nervous to share but really excited! Had a meeting with a few people from Brain Injury Alliance of Kentucky today. They have written something for bicycle helmet legislation for children. It will be called TJ’s law!! Very exciting! Now to get the right people involved to get this thing passed.
William Jarvis (survivor)…Donna, a big step for me was moving. Five months ago, I thought it would be impossible, due to my TBI and walking with a cane. However, I am now in my new home in Myrtle Beach. I got a lot of support from family and friends. You can do more than you think! Don’t be afraid to try things.
Debbie Madison (survivor)…I went to my first Christmas party, and I didn’t hide in the bathroom! It wasn’t so bad, and I had a nice time with my husband.
Debbie Madison (survivor)…I finished the shopping, and I sent out cards without losing addresses or the list.
Julie-Ann Manners (survivor)…It’s Wednesday here in Oz (Australia). I just got out of the hospital on Monday. [I was in due to my epilepsy from my ABI (acquired brain injury).] And this is HUGE FOR ME. I have finally been put on the list for rehab for fine motor control, speech, walking, reading, and writing!! Eventually I will be able to start being me again!! I’m so super excited!! My injury happened this year in February, and I have had no help, and now after Christmas, I am finally going to be able to get some! YAY!!!!
Michael Montepara (survivor)…Okay, here’s one of my Itty-Bitty Giant Steps: I am thankful that this week I did not have to sleep in my truck in the cold. AMEN.
Shanna Wolf Heart Powell (survivor)…I accomplished grocery shopping tonight with out a break down, except for the pig head they were selling at the store!!! I broke down and cried in Walmart!!!
YOU did it!
Congratulations to all contributors!
(Clip Art compliments of Bing.)
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It took two brain tumors to make a love story. What an appropriate interview for this Valentine’s Day weekend! It was unlikely that Jamie and Crystal would have met had they not each suffered a brain tumor. But they did have brain tumors and they did meet . . . with a little help from their friends. An email relationship began, which eventually led to their engagement and some years later Jamie and Crystal were married. They now share their love with their toddler as they walk the road of brain injury hand-in-hand.
Jamie was first diagnosed with a brain tumor in 1998. That surgery lasted 13 ½ hours. He had 3 more surgeries before he was released, but he was not able to walk or talk and had to relearn those skills again. By 2005 Jamie had undergone 7 brain surgeries.
Crystal’s brain tumor was diagnosed in 2008 when she suffered a gran mal seizure. After her brain surgery, she was released from the hospital with little direction and permission to return to work. But the stress of her job was the catalyst for additional seizures.
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