• Just proves that WE ARE NOT ALONE and that TBI DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE. Its an interesting read, and the last name (I purposely put there) was shoking since its personal to him and his family....read on
• Amy Davis – Miss Utah 2004
  (Cheerleading accident -2001) Frontal Lobe Damage; balance, coordination, depression, focus.
  Chosen brain injury education, prevention and support for her main goal as Miss Utah.
• Barbara Mandrell – Country Singer
  (Car Accident – 1984) Head trauma; confusion, agitation, rage.
• Bob Woodruff – ABC News Correspondent

10 Signs of Caregivers Stress:
 1. DENIAL-about the illness and its effects on the person who's been diagnosed.
 "I know Mom's going toget better."
 2. ANGER - at the person with the illness or at others who don't understand what's going on. "If he asks me that question again,I'll SCREAM!"
 3. SOCIAL WITHDRAWAL - from friends and activities that once brought pleasure. "I don't feel like visiting them again."
 4. ANXIETY - about facing another day and what the future holds.

 I'm sure people wonder the same thing so I have some research:

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a real and sometimes disabling condition that was first recognized and named by doctors of rheumatology, probably because it is characterized by widespread chronic pain and stiffness, numerous chronic tender points (more than 11 of 18) and chronic fatigue with exertion intolerance reminiscent of arthritis and autoimmune disease. Other typical symptoms include disordered or unrefreshing sleep patterns, headaches, mood or cognitive complaints (such as "brain fog"), irritable bowel syndrome, and other types of autonomic nervous system dysfunction.

Congressional Brain Injury Task Force

Approximately 1.4 million Americans experience Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) each year and an estimated 3.2 million Americans are living with long-term, severe disabilities as a result of brain injury. Another 360,000 men and women are estimated to have been inflicted by a TBI in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The national cost of TBI is estimated to be $60 billion annually. That is why I founded the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force in 2001. Co-Chaired by Rep.

Here is a video my family was a part of to help the hospital we are with. The first one is not a brain injury incident, but the middle story is, and ours is last.

Remember

 

I began writing this because it’s the easiest way I can express the way I feel. I started writing this to be a poem of some sort. Instead, I wanted it to just flow instead of being too thought out. I have thought of these things here and there over the past year and wrote them down. Now I want to share it with you. Especially tonight..

_______________________________________

 

People make mistakes their entire lives. I have and I know I have. I have made a number of mistakes. I am learning as a human being I will continue to make mistakes.

Hi! Im Melanie-

Im from Lufkin Texas. Well I really don't remember it and Im thinking that is pretty normal, and I'm glad I don't so I can tell you what the person who was also in the car accident told me.

I happened to be going through a seperation/divorce with my husband and have two children- Holly 11 and Hunter 17.

During this time we had moved and were living alone together in another house. I was dating another man whose name was Shane.

We happened to have went to a restaurant/bar the night of the accident and my children were at their Dads.

The Department of Labor (DOL) has proposed changes in federal labor rules that, although well-intentioned, will have a negative impact on people with disabilities and most seriously impact people who have the most significant disabilities who rely on Medicaid home and community based services to be independent. 

Labor advocates have urged people to support these rules which are intended to assure that attendants get paid minimum wage and are paid time-and-a-half for overtime work. The disability community recognizes the invaluable role that attendants play in supporting the independence of people with disabilities and has advocated for increased funding for attendant services to improve wages, however the way DOL is implementing this rule change will have a serious negative impact on people with disabilities and promote unwanted institutionalization.

Amendments Put Americans with Disabilities Act Back on Path of Tackling Discrimination

COVER STORY

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law in 1990 with the stated purposes “to provide a clear and comprehensive national mandate of the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities” and to “provide clear, strong, consistent,enforceable standards addressing discrimination against individuals with disabilities.” Employers were guilty of discrimination by, among other things, failing to make reasonable Accommodations to the known physical or mental limitations of applicants and employees.

6/19/2011    

      Traumatic brain injury affects millions of people worldwide and there should be a national educational campaign to raise awareness and knowledge. There is a need to receive proper education and the right way and wrong way to view brain injury. Misunderstandings of traumatic brain injury cause grief, ridicule, hinder proper medical treatment, and can ruin the lives of many innocent survivors and caregivers.

Identifying Negative Thoughts and Irrational Beliefs

Many of the thoughts that automatically enter our minds are negative, irrational, or unrealistic. Although they may seem completely valid as they are running through your head, automatic thoughts can be very deceptive.
Being able to identify these thoughts can help you learn how to control your emotions. To change negative thoughts, you first have to gain an understanding of your own specific thinking patterns.

Defining Optimism and Pessimism

Hello, 

I am Sue Root I am 45 years old single mom.  I have three children ages, 9, 10, and 17 and I live in Central Florida, south of Daytona Beach.  Amy is my second child and is 10 years old.  Currently my youngest, Noah, and Amy Sue live with me.  My oldest daughter is struggling with life at 17 years old and bouncing around ...making some bad d...ecisions, and desperately mourning her sister as she used to be!Our story began on January 24,2010 when my little girl, Amy Sue, was 8 years old.

I truly have a deep compassion for all of you, your accomplishments, and goals. I hope you all know where my heart is and I want to continue to help any of you, in all realms, any way I can to achieve those goals. I pray and perceive after dying 6 times in 2003, I was kept here to continue helping people and want to inspire you all. We are all here together and we should be very proud to still be alive. Thank you for making me honored to be in your lives.

Michael W. Idell

Almost dying 6 times on 10/12/03, it changed my life forever. I was in a automobile accident with a friend. My friend broke his leg in 5 places and left the hospital in a week or so. Luckily he ended up alive! I had fractured both wrists, both ankles, 8 ribs, and my skull. I was supposed to be in the hospital for 2 years but I recovered and I was out in 3 months. We were both totally blessed!

Since, I worked as Event Coordinator for the Council for the Head Injured Community (CHIC) through the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey and also worked at Hartwick at Oak Tree Extended-Care Unit of Johnson Institute in Edison, NJ as a Volunteer Recreational Therapist - providing treatment services and recreation activities for individuals with disabilities or illnesses.

Hate Crimes Against the Disabled

Michael Idell

Kaplan University

 Survey of Social Problems

8/13/2011

      Socially there is a lack of education and discrimination about people surviving, experiencing, or understanding of brain injuries causing hate crimes. Traumatic brain injury affects millions of people worldwide and there should be a national educational campaign to raise awareness and knowledge to avoid these crimes from happening. Misunderstandings of traumatic brain injury cause grief, ridicule, hinder proper medical treatment, and can ruin the lives of many innocent survivors.