There is another TBI Survivor ID Card available, and it's free. Just need to send a self-stamped envelope to receive a wallet sized card. Where? In the Perspectives Network website.

Well, today is the 8^th year anniversary of my traumatic brain injury. Think I’m going to stop calling today an anniversary, and just call it a “brainday”, one word just like “Elvis” is only one word (was thinking about calling it a tbiday that that word doesn’t sing). Thankfully my 7^th year was a “normal” year for me (if such a thing exists). I did get myself more involved with local “survivor support groups”; helped with a family who had a family member survive a TBI;…

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Hello all, Been quite awhile since I’ve posted anything here, so let me tell you what I’m doing now. Have become  a member of  the Brain Injury Association of Mn., and a member of the traumatic brain injury support group in the Golden Valley (Mn) Courage Center. I also attended a conference for the Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) for their Patients & Families Care Center. An interesting conference to say the least: a full day where patients or family told HCMC staff concerning what…

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Hello all. Been quite awhile since my last post, but thought (to myself) it’s time to write something that hopefully will make sense or help other survivors. Winter has gone and now it’s spring, so I started my walking trips since the weather is better. Before my injury I was a full-time runner, at least 5 to 8 miles a day but running is something I can’t do anymore because my balance is not good at all. Even walking can be a problem, which is why I carry a walking stick with me. I really…

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Hello all. I am posting this message as I want everyone who understands what a traumatic brain injury means, to know that life doesn’t end. It just starts all over again. Today is the 7th year anniversary of my injury. Since

every brain injury is as distinct as the person who experienced it, we have to fight

our own hurdles. I know I had too. There were ugly days and good days; days I

can’t remember and days I don’t want to remember; hurdles that I couldn’t…

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To all the survivors out there, Happy Happy Father's Day. One of the great things about being a survivor is that I have great kids, that I love and who still loves me. It was my daughter (13 years old) who saw me fall (6 1/2 years ago) and saved my life by being smart enough to call 911.

Tomorrow will be May Day, hmm? I don't think I really care about that "holiday", pretty darn sure I won't be dancing around a may pole that's for sure, but it's so nice that it's spring and not winter. Walking around parks, planting new flowers in the gardens, digging out dandelions in the lawn, playing fetch with my dog, planning & hosting a picnic, grilling steaks for dinner (BBQ's), getting ice cream cones at Dairy Queen, just sitting in a comfy chair outside with nothing to do except… Continue

As we continue on our way to becoming more familiar with our new self are we also getting familiar with the limitations we are faced with. I understand that since I have balance problems I can’t play basketball the way I

did before… I can shoot the ball into the hoop as well as before, but I sure

can’t run and jump like I used too. That is one of my limitations, but it

doesn’t mean I have to stop playing. Trying to live life as a survivor my new rule

is…

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Hello there. It seems like I’m always wondering “what will be, what will be”. Not really as a question, but as a thought. Even after 6 ½ years of being a survivor it surprises me to have to grin & bear what I

hear people say. I understand that most people, and especially people who don’t

know other survivors, have no idea concerning what it takes for us to recover.

I (we) didn’t break my (our) leg or arm, I (we) broke my (our) brain, and

brains don’t…

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OK, I'm 60 now, and here lyrics that I heard during the last 6 years that really helped (and are still helping) my recovery.
10. I need to laugh
9. Let it be
8. Listen to the color of your dreams
7. You can celebrate anything you want
6. Think for yourself
5. Begin to make it better
4. It’s all within yourself
3. Free your mind
2. It is believing
1. Imagine

I'm sure that all of us can create a top ten list, but here's mine.

10. Never give up
9. Don’t get hung up about the “old” you
8. Help your family and friends understand the “new” you
7. Find and talk with other survivors
6. Inform non-survivors what TBI recovery means
5. Read and play
4. Find a “new” hobby or interest
3. Write a journal
2. Become your best advocate
1. Believe in yourself

Hello there. Well, it’s been a couple of days since my last message so I thought I should post a new one… so here it goes.



Let me explain my fall. On October 18, 2003 I was cleaning the gutters in my house which I had done for 14 years. For some reason I also climbed up to the roof of my garage. I think something must have been behind the basketball backboard and I wanted to remove it. When I was done and started to climb down the ladder, the ladder slipped, I griped the backboard… Continue