TBI & Acquired Brain Injury Survivors-Rehab & Recovery Resources

The Survivor’s Path to Rehabilitation and Recovery

Congratulations for starting on your path to rehabilitation and recovery after brain injury. I know you have already put a lot of effort and courage into your progress so far. I hope our story and these resources give you and your family more ideas about how to improve your life as you move forward.

When you have a traumatic brain injury (TBI), anoxic brain injury, blast injury or other type of acquired brain injury, your progress is very individual.

My husband Alan suffered a severe brain injury when his heart stopped and oxygen could not be pumped to his brain for many minutes. Alan lost his abilities to read, write, walk, talk, think, and remember. Like many people who have a severe brain injury, he had to learn to do everything all over again-and all at the same time.

Alan did make great progress during intensive rehab in the hospital and for years at home. However, the damage to his brain meant that he could not go back to teaching physics in college. Alan was very depressed about his losses and changes. Over time, he decided to teach the public about what it was like to live with a brain injury. He spoke at hospitals, community programs, and schools about how he learned the alphabet and to how to dress himself. His speeches gave hope and motivation to patients, and raised awareness for many people.

Alan tried new hobbies, and loved building crafts from kits. He gave friends many wooden airplanes and colorful sun catchers.  He walked or exercised most days. Physical activity is good for the body and the brain. Alan said being active gave him energy and made him happy.

Alan taught me that even when brain injury changes or takes away a prized ability, we  can still choose a to have a positive attitude. That positive attitude provides the power to work hard in rehab. Our attitude helps us consider other choices and new directions.

Alan’s motto was, “Believe in yourself. Always keep moving ahead, loving, and learning.”

Here are a few more tips:

• Try not to feel down when progress seems slow.
• Take it one step at a time.
• Stay focused on your goal, and the rewards will add up.
• Celebrate every improvement! You deserve a reward!

Here are some good resources for information about brain injury, rehabilitation, vocational training, and support.

Books for Brain Injury Survivors

Mason, Douglas and Jean-Louise Gottfried. The Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Workbook: Your Program for Regaining Cognitive Function and Overcoming Emotional Pain. New Harbinger Publications: 2004. A comprehensive program to improve thinking and memory skills as well as healing emotional pain.

Stahura, Barbara and Susan B. Schuster. After Brain Injury: Telling Your Story: A Journaling Workbook. Lash and Associates Publishers: 2009. A compassionately written guide to discovering and moving on with the changes brought by brain injury. Writing prompts and explanations make it easy to get started sharing experiences.

Sullivan, Cheryle. The Brain Injury Survival Kit: 365 Tips, Tools, and Tricks to Deal with Cognitive Function Loss. Demos Health, 2008. Resource book written by a doctor who is also a brain injury survivor.

Brain Injury Survivors: Personal Memoirs

Becker, Suzy. I Had Brain Surgery, What’s Your Excuse?: An Illustrated Memoir.  Workman Publishing, 2004. The popular young cartoonist illustrates her brave recovery after surgery for a brain tumor.

Cromer. Janet. Professor Cromer Learns to Read: A Couple’s New Life after Brain Injury.  Author House, 2010. A physics professor details how he made a new life with meaning after a severe anoxic brain injury.

Fox Garrison, Julia. Don’t Leave Me This Way. Harper Paperbacks, 2007. Wonderfully spirited book by a young mother fighting back after a stroke.

Meili, Trisha. I Am the Central Park Jogger: A Story of Hope and Possibility. Scribner, 2003. Trisha conveys a tremendous message of hope and empowerment.

Osborn, Claudia. Over My Head: A Doctor’s Own Story of Head Injury from the Inside Looking Out. Andrews McMeel Publishing, 1998. A physician details her cognitive rehab journey with candor, compassion and wit.