A brain injury can affect short term memory. This is just one of many challenges that survivors struggle to cope with and adjust to as they rebuild their lives. The response, “I already told you” to a brain injury survivor’s question is not helpful. Donna Sue Hurst reveals her frustration at the impatience and insensitivity of others who simply do not recognize nor understand the cognitive impact of an acquired brain injury on short term memory, social interactions and communication.

Shaun Best, survivor of a brain injury over 30 years ago, discusses the stigma of stereotypes and labels for persons with brain injuries and other cognitive or physical challenges.

By emphasizing positive descriptive words, he focuses on including people with disabilities in our communities rather than isolating and excluding them.

Using positive thinking rather than negative thinking, he created the Challenged Conquisatador to describe how he lives his life fully after his brain injury.

What is a dog story doing in the Brain Injury Blog? Canine companions or dogs with special training to assist people with disabilities aren’t just for people who are blind.
Grace Peay tells the story of how her special dog, Ackerman, helped her regain her independence after her traumatic brain injury. Struggling with social isolation and depression in addition to her physical challenges after her brain injury, acquiring a canine companion required a lengthy application and training process.

The result is a loving companion, guide and assistant who helps her with the daily challenges of living with a brain injury. Ackerman is an amazing canine companion who has enriched her life.

“Who has those perfect relationships before a brain injury?” That’s the question of Beverly Bryant as she reflect on how her marriage with her husband and relationships with her children changed after her traumatic brain injury.

Moving on means grieving losses and letting go of one’s life prior to the brain injury. Recovery means allowing the survivor to take risks, make mistakes, and regain control while still giving help and support. Finding and maintaining relationships after brain injury is hard. But let’s be truthful. Building meaningful relationships is always hard.

I hope young people read this story about guns and brain injury. It’s up to them not to make the same mistake I did. They need to know that guns can’t think, but they can.

I was shot in the head and live with a brain injury. A gun only works when someone picks it up to use it. I didn’t know it was loaded, but I must have pulled the trigger because I shot myself in the head.

It changed my life and my future. I’m a brain injury survivor now. I’m a man who has to rely on others to get me where I need to go. I’m someone who always enjoyed learning but need help to learn now. I’m learning a lot about myself, my strengths and weaknesses. My life has changed but I’m workig on making a new life as a survivor.