My sister has frontal lobe and temporal lobe brain injury from being hit by another car 3 years ago.

[Deborah Hammons]

Hello everyone,

First, I am grateful I found this site and I hope I can get some advice from others who have some similarities as my sisters brain injury.

She was in a car accident about 3 years ago. She was the passenger and her husband was the driver, they were waiting to pull out of a parking lot when all of a sudden a car smashed right into the passenger side of the car and then went over the top of their car causing her to hit her head so hard against the windshield that it broke the glass from the impact.  The parametic said that if it wasnt for the windshield already having a small crack in it, then her head would of shattered. 

She is now going to have to live with a brain injury that causes her to have seizures and amnesia. After her seizure she has a childlike personality and sometimes she can't remember who I am. About 10 days ago we went to get pizza and the place was busy so i wanted to run to the store in the same parking lot to get some soda's. She wanted to wait for the pizza and so i went and wasnt even gone 10 min and when I came back she didnt know who I was. I had to convince her to come with me and that I was not going to hurt her. When we got back to my house she wouldnt get out of the car for like 10 min. She had forgotten how to walk up stairs so i had to show her and then she could.

Since that day she has had 21 siezures and still has not recovered all her sorts like  she usually does. She refuses to go to the hospital. Her seizures are only like maybe 5-10 seconds and are not grand-mal seizures thank goodness.

I am hoping someone can give me some advice on how to help my sister to at least get her "sorts" back as best as she usually does.

Thank you for listening to my story and I will post more later. 

 

[Glen Brist]

Hello  Deborah,     I   just  now,  happened  to   see  your  story,  ( because well,  have  a  Happy  Birthday ! !   )   There  are  so  many   members  here,  it  is  hard to   see   everyone....  Anyway,  I  am  very  touched,  and  sad,   that  your sister  does  not  want   hospital  care....  for  me  it  was  the  quickness  of   the   response  team  and  the   wonderful  "brain"  doctor,   and  the  immediate   rehab  therapy,  that    turned  me    in  the    right  direction.... I   truly  feel   for  her,   but   by  no means   know   medical   anything,   just    that   they  helped....  Read  "Over  My   Head"     a   story  of  a    lady   Dr.  that  went    quite  awhile  without    knowing  she   had   brain  injury,   and   they  her   recovery,,,,,  and  If   I  may   suggest,  contact  Cheryl Green -  a   member  on  this  site,  living  in   Portland....  she  is  a   dear  friend....(  is   that  ok? cheryl )   Anyway,   thinking  of  you   kindly,  and  with  care,   glen

[Richard J]

She need to find a doctor who understand TBI, seizures and meds.

[BARB GEORGE]

Deborah, 

There is a really good therapist in Portland that runs a support group.  Her name is Dr. Jane Starbird.  There is another support group at Good Sam, called Birrdsong.  They both meet on SAT.  

Forgetting isn't just 'oh gee, I lost my keys again... what to do?'.  It is OH MY GOD I DON"T KNOW ANYTHING.  It is soooooo hard. 

Speak with her doctors.  I found carrying the SAME bag, and my ipod with meditation music was REALLY helpful(I love ocean sounds).  I have seen people carry a stuffed animal, anything to sooth.  With seizures, everything (for me) goes blank.  I have been blessed to not have one for over a year.  Do you know if she can READ after a seizure?  A tag or bracelet that lets her (and others) know the situation may be helpful.  A note... something that says "I am scared, but I will be OK".  I have a friend who has NO facial recognition whatsoever.  He does not recall what his wife looks like.  That is painful for her, but they have been married over 25 years and are still very wonderful together.  

My heart goes out to you.  And to her.  Try getting her to a support group--and go with her--it will give you a chance to see she is not alone.