In Aspen Valley Hospital I lay listening to the hum of a CT scanner. The date is March 14, 1995. The CT searches for any abnormality from my head being catapulted from six feet onto the ice and snow. Snowboarders call it “catching an edge”, an unfortunate event whereby a side of the board digs into the snow and thrust the rider towards that side with alarming speed. A haggard but friendly neurologist reviews the images and comes out to discuss them.

Professor Cromer Learns to Read: A Couple’s New Life after Brain Injury chronicles the seven year journey Janet shared with her husband after a cardiac arrest left Alan with a severe anoxic brain injury. Janet details their process of composting a new identity, marriage, and life with meaning and gusto.

The comprehensive how-to guide for psychological wellness after traumatic brain injury or stroke covers understanding the self, recovering emotionally, thinking in new ways, and changing behavior. Written in plain language and formatted for easy reading and use by caregivers, families and survivors, it is filled with practical worksheets and exercises. This is an essential tool for families and survivors on coping with the effects and consequences of brain injury. It addresses the daily stresses and challenges faced daily as well as the long term challenges for the future.

Mary and Michael have teamed up and written poems on Michael’s recovery from traumatic brain injury and their relationship through it. They worked 3 years to complete their second book titled Musing with Mary and Michael.

One of the common consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is sexual dysfunction. Unfortunately addressing sexual issues as a component of rehabilitation is often overlooked for a variety of reasons.

“Sexuality is an integral part of the human experience” (Sander). We are all sexual beings and sexuality is part of our life experience. Social mores and cultural differences make sexuality a taboo issue in some societies. Many therapists and other direct care providers in hospital and rehabilitation settings are untrained about sexuality and persons with disabilities. Their personal values often interfere with their ability or comfort level discussing the topic. When sexuality is overlooked as part of rehabilitation, sexual dysfunction can become an issue that is very difficult for families to understand. Social isolation, common for persons after TBI, limits opportunities for developing meaningful relationships.

I began wondering why I need to be so careful with what I say. I forever question myself strongly; this often takes over my thought process. I am very fortunate to believe that everything happens for a reason. I am also very fortunate to have a comedic relationship with the spirit within. I came to a wild discovery while explaining all of this to a dear friend of mine. Early on I convinced myself that my voice no longer belonged entirely to me. Now the question is; when do I take it back?

One day when I was 15 years old I lied to my family about where I was going, got in a car with an inexperienced driver, headed for Detroit, and was broadsided by a city bus. I suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a depressed skull fracture. I went into a coma. The doctors who performed emergency surgery informed my parents that I was not likely to survive the operation. If I did, I was not likely to regain consciousness. If I regained consciousness, they expected me to be severely handicapped.

Written by a TBI survivor and coach, the book cautions against expectations of a “return to normal” in favor of a more realistic hope: start where you are and strive to be a little better every day.

New series available now!

Developed by Dr. Jeff Kreutzer and Dr. Stephanie Kolakowsky-Hayner at the National Resource Center for Traumatic Brain Injury, this series of 3 workbooks voices the many thoughts, feelings, and reactions that survivors, families and caregivers experience but too often do not talk about after brain injury.

The Alaska Brain Injury Network (ABIN) and the North American Brain Injury Society (NABIS) invite you to an unprecedented educational event:

The Alaska Brain Injury Conference