Brain Injury Blog

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It was Michael Kirkham’s first fight, and regrettably his last fight. The 6’-9” six foot nine fighter also known by the nickname “Tree” was competing in his first Professional fight Saturday June 26^th, 2010 at the USC Aiken Convocation Center in South Carolina.

Michael Kirkham, was in a MMA fighting match where took repeated blows to the head that prompted referees to stop the fight. Kirkham never regained consciousness and died the following Monday at Aiken Regional Medical Center, reports MMAFighting.com.

Michael Kirkham is the second MMA fighter to die from injuries sustained in a professional fight. Back in 2007, Sam Vasquez, was also severely injured during his match in Houston where he became comatose after his fight where he remained in a comatose state for 42 days before he passed away at the young age of 35.

As per the Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton, Michael died as a result of bleeding inside his brain. Coroner Tim Carlton ruled his death accidental and said he was waiting to review a video of that fight. He also noted that; Michael’s injuries were internal and he did not have severe external trauma or injury. Although they performed CPR and the nearest hospital was approximately 3 minutes away, he never regained consciousness.

Michael Kirkham sudden and tragic death will no doubt shed some more light on MMA and a sport that can have extreme consequences health and life wise. The State of South Carolina only last year legalized MMA, which is regulated by the state’s Athletic Commission. South Carolina is one of 44 states that has legalized and regulated MMA fighting events. On Monday June 28th, 2010, the New York State legislature stopped a measure that would have added it to the list of legal MMA venues.

In New York, the state Senate included a provision in the budget last week to legalize, regulate, and tax MMA fights. However it was removed in the Assembly on Monday, coincidentally the same day as Kirkham’s death, by lawmakers disturbed by the sport’s violence. Bob Reilly (D) of upstate New York argued in a 24-page memo last year that MMA is too barbaric for the state to support.

Mixed Martial Arts Fighting; Is it a Barbaric Sport or is it as Safe as they Say? Or is Ultimate Fighting just a regulated form of violence that physically harms the participant?

We welcome your thoughts and responses.

On behalf of BRAININJURYFORUM.com “Our thoughts and prayers are with Michael Kirkham family at this most difficult time.

The impact and consequences of a “brain injury” on any individual, family or relationship can have an effect that reaches far beyond the injured survivor. As how a brain injury affects who a person once was; it also affects how a primary caregiver and family once were. Relationships, family roles and responsibilities can experience change. Interpersonal communication can become a serious challenge to everyone connected with this scenario and who maybe dealing with their own myriad of intense feelings of shock, denial, anger, and depression that can accompany the losses resulting from such a traumatic injury.

A brain injury can change a family’s functionality, balance, its dynamics, harmony and landscape forever. “It has been said, that although we may not have physically lost the person, there is often the loss of the person we once new”. Losing someone you care for can be painful, however when it comes to brain injury, we live with a living reminder of that loss each day which can make it even more difficult. Support for families who live with, care for and provide structured support to a survivor is an area often overlooked, underfunded and needing more attention and focus. .

Support for families who live with a survivor is often scarce. What each family requires can vary however there are some fundamental basics that would be helpful for all. Support can be beneficial with; helping family’s through different challenges and transitions, understanding brain injury and what they are seeing, reducing stressors, living with a survivor, acquiring coping strategies, creating independence with the goal of reducing dependency, how to support a survivor and move forward and living within altered relationships to list a few.

In an effort to provide a real and up close personal look at what some caregivers and families experience we have endeavoured to provide real time comments, thoughts and observations. It is our hope that through these various words and comments that you will gain insight into the plight and struggles of some families after brain injury. To that end, it is with our deepest sense of gratitude that I thank everyone for their participation, candour and willingness to share those personal thoughts and emotions to advance brain injury awareness.

* Learning to living with what occurred as well as the loss is not an easy thing to do while you have the daily reminder of how challenging, disabling and invisible a brain injury is.

* The short-term and long-term impact goes well beyond the days that follow the initial brain injury.

* I have learned that, it’s important to be patient and understanding in order to be helpful and get both of us through the tough times and many setbacks along the way.

* The many nights that I go to bed thinking, problem solving and searching for ideas to fix a dilemma, or how will I address another can be exhausting.

* We still have good and bad days, weeks and periods as well as new and different concern that arise periodically.

We are still learning how to deal with his sudden and unannounced outbursts and temper tantrums.

* Being patient enough to remind them for the 4th or 5th time in the same hour that yes they did that or they had lunch or whatever the repeated question was.

* His brain injury which was through no fault of his has not only robbed my father of his life, it has brought a whole new world of challenges living with someone we no longer think we know.

* The impact of those words “your loved one, has sustained a severe brain injury” dealt such a devastating blow. It felt like the world around me fell silent; this was a very - very painful dark moment in my life. Some of my initial first thoughts were; “why her, why us, why now, what now, why, why, why” as I waited helplessly for the doctors to return with an update after surgery.

* We have a noticeably reduced quality of life now and do not travel anymore for a number of reasons brain injury related.

* Listening to the same joke for the umpteenth time without becoming frustrated and telling them to stop it!

* There are many days where I struggle with my thoughts and emotions that his brain injury has placed on our once normal relationship.

* Making sure and checking up that they have taken their med’s on time, four (4) times a day for the last 10 plus years…

* It has been difficult managing, keeping up to and navigating our numerous medical and health challenges, appointments and other scenarios that never seemed to let up. It has been exhausting on a number of levels.

* It is been a full time job staying on top of medical and other appointments, following up on them and their health related issues and any other problems that arise.

* Living my dual life of coping with, managing, problem solving and finding new ways around difficult scenarios that challenge their life! Doing the same with my own personal life and all of its responsibilities because I care enough to be there and share a many hours, days, weeks and years of my time to help assist and support their independence.

* The level and amount of stress that I have carried daily and keep hidden from the world can be overwhelming.

* I live with the strain and pressures of dual roles as I manage two lives and wear three different hats at any given time.

* We had to change our life style to accommodate the brain injury and her physical deficits whenever we looked into travelling, whereas pre-injury we never worried about things like this.

* I have learned that life is not always fair and that if you truly care, you are only too familiar with my words….

* Living through those days where I am burdened down by decisions, feels like an elephant is sitting on my chest.

* Given the severity of our mother’s injury and the circumstances that caused it, we still live with the sequel everyday in one way or another.

* It’s important for me to take some “me time” or I’d explode at everyone including the survivor because the level of prolonged stress has begun to take its toll on my own health and wellness.

* Seeing and living with the injustice that a brain injury has imposed on our daughter has cut deeply into our lives.

* That unexpected phone call, the shocking news, anguish, confusion, loss and horror of that day forever sketched into our minds. 

* There are no short cuts with her recovery; it continues to be a life journey of supporting where she appears to have stalled or plateaus, and where it feels like our progress has been wiped out because we are back in the hospital.

This is NO simple type of injury…..

“A brain injury doesn’t just change the life of the individual; it changes the lives of everyone around them.”

Copyright © 2010 BRAININJURYFORUM.com.

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The full impact of a childhood brain injury can be difficult to quantify, since a child’s brain and body is still developing. Each developmental stage can be affected by the brain injury. Each stage involves changes to the child’s emotional, cognitive, physical and behavioural state, as he progresses from infant to toddler, from toddler to preschooler, from preschooler to school child and from schoolchild to adolescent. It is often said that a child grows into his brain injury, because it is only as the child becomes older that the full impact of the brain injury is apparent. Change for the brain injured is always difficult and childhood is a period of continual change. Temper tantrums in a toddler are accepted; temper tantrums in an older child or adolescent are unacceptable. The effects of a brain injury can be extensive, often lifelong and can include changes to a child’s cognitive, behavioural, emotional and physical state.   

Children with a brain injury present unique challenges for parents, families and educators. It is extremely important for parents and schools to work together with medical and rehabilitation professionals, as the student makes the transition back into the school environment after having sustained a brain injury. As a result of the brain injury, a child may require additional one on one tutoring and/or special education arrangements. It is imperative that teachers be aware of a student in their class who has sustained a brain injury. Often a brain injury is not visible and behaviour can easily become mislabelled by a teacher.   

Where there are obvious physical deficits, visible problems and/or speech difficulties associated with the brain injury, a child may experience feelings of embarrassment and/or self-consciousness. It is important for all parents faced with these situations to provide that extra support, and encouragement, and openly share and speak about these concerns with their child. Adolescent years can be difficult as they are marked by physical, hormonal, and behavioural changes. An adolescent with a brain injury may experience more emotional and physical control difficulties. Increased impulsivity and poor judgement are common. With adolescence there is often a desire for increased independence from ones parents. This is a normal developmental stage, however in the case of an adolescent with a brain injury the same desire for independence is challenged by the need for their safety. Ongoing supervision may be required as a result of difficulties with judgment and impulsivity related to their cognitive impairments.   

Parents facing these scenarios may need to anticipate any potential problems, establish clear guidelines for behaviour and socialization, communicate regularly, and provide a form of safety net for their loved one. For adolescences with a brain injury, any sudden changes or transition can be very difficult and even overwhelming because of their reduced ability to think flexibly, creatively and appreciate the consequences of their decision or lack of one. Through any life changes, an early sign of difficulty in making a successful transition can be increased problems with mood, interpersonal conflict, “acting out”, depression, or even social withdrawal. Support and counselling can sometimes help in developing coping strategies and problem solving skills, to reduce the distress that may be associated with these transitions.   

“A Childhood Brain Injury is not a single one time event, a brain injury is forever”.

Copyright © 2010 BRAININJURYFORUM.com.

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On June 1st, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time, 23 year old Brad Cowden from Victoria, British Columbia began his ride (bicycle) across CANADA from Clover Point, Victoria, B.C. solo to raise greater awareness about BRAIN INJURY while raising funds for The Brain Injury Association of Canada and the Victoria Brain Injury Society. He will finish up in St. John’s, Newfoundland on August 6th, 2010.

To Support the Cause and Help continue advancing awareness and a number of initiatives, donations can be made online by visiting:

BIAC and / or the VBIS can be made online by visiting http://www.biac-aclc.caand / or http://www.vbis.ca

Brain Injury has become a significant medical and societal concern over the last 30 years. With advances in medical technology, many people who would have died are now surviving severe brain injuries. At times the cost is astronomical: financially, socially and emotionally.

June 1 2010 at 9:00 am Brad dipped his rear tire into the water at Clover Point on the Victoria Water front.

Why: Several of us have seen the first hand effects that a brain injury can have on someone’s life. A close family member of Brad and Carin had her life changed in mere seconds due to a near fatal brain injury she sustained in a car accident. It took years of rehabilitation for her to re-learn the simplest tasks. Only through the aid of the Victoria Brain Injury Society and her family and friends was she able to recover her independence and restore much of her cognitive abilities.

Through our research we learned so much more about the services that the Canadian Brain Injury Association, The Victoria Brain Injury Society, and others like them provide. We had found that many of these societies and associations do not receive federal funding and so rely on the kindness of volunteers and the generosity of donations. Still, many of them struggle to keep crucial support programs for family and rehabilitation alive.

SO THIS IS OUR CALL TO ACTION. We need to raise both awareness and funding to support our local, provincial, and national Brain Injury charitable organizations so they may continue to help Canadians receive the support they need.

The brainStormRIDE strives not only to raise funding and awareness for Brain Injuries, but also to educate all members of the public on safety and prevention. The most effective preventative measure anyone can take is to wear a helmet whenever they are engaged an activity that has the potential to inflict an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI).
Please consider a sponsorship or donation to help us complete our goals.

June 1, 2010 at 9:00 am Brad dipped his rear tire into the water at Clover Point on the Victoria Water front.
While we are checking for Brads’ location here I would like to mention a big thank you to Paul “The Iceman” Mondor for loaning us this GPS spotter. Check out his website at http://www.paulmondor.com/

Brad has had a difficult day with rain all day and 2 flat tires to repair on the road side. Renata will be with him again tonight. Let’s all hope for a better day tomorrow for Brad.

Day 3 better than day 2: Stop at the Chilliwack Brain Injury Drop-in Center for a meet and greet. A stop at the local bicycle shop to remedy the tire issues Brad has had. Then on to the road and off to Hope! Not as far as Brad had wanted to get today. The bugs had to be worked out of the bike before hitting the mountains.

Friday, June 4, 2010 Day 4 map: a late night post from Brad. (note) Brads’ odometer was set to zero at Mile Zero in Victoria. Dad and Uncle B are on their way to see Brad on their motorbikes today with a new set of high grade tires for Brad’s bicycle.

Brad’s log: Hey guys, today was an immensely challenging day. I’ve made it to Merrit after 6 hrs on the Coquahalla. My odometer reads 332 km, making it a 125 km day! However, I’m totally wiped and really not looking forward to the ride to Kelowna tomorrow. I think that I might need to take my rest day soon or else risk hurting my legs. If Uncle B is still heading over tomorrow, let him know I’ll be in Kelowna by 2 tomorrow. Sorry for not phoning but I got in late and I’m exhausted. With the shorter 90ish km ride tomorrow I hope to feel better tomorrow (Saturday) evening.

June 6th Notes from Brad’s Father: Uncle B and I found Brad in the middle of nowhere - literally. I was on a motorcycle riding this route that my son is pedaling on a bicycle and I assure you it made me feel such disbelief that any man could do what Brad is doing. We found Brad at 1,255 Meters above sea level… and climbing to approximately 1600 M. If any of you have ever taken the Coquhalla into the interior past Merrit and on to Kelowna you know what I mean. Here is a map link to where we found this young man….. please look at it and the surrounding area…. there is nothing but cold, ice and snow on the side of the road… wind that nearly blew my motorbike between lanes a few times.

June 7th Today was finally a day I have nothing to complain about. I was thinking about some of my other entries and they seem to have the recurring theme of “this is so hard” or “why is the weather so bad?” Well, not this one! After a great night of local wines and a homemade seafood dinner, I left Westbank for Kelowna to meet the people of Brain Trust Canada. They were happy to see me and we shared information about programs and prevention techniques. In addition to serving the survivors in the central Okanagan region, the Brain Trust also runs an extensive awareness campaign and turn out to be responsible for the “protect your head” promotions seen around the country.

June 8th After a great night at the Swan Lake campground outside of Vernon, I hopped back on the 97 and headed toward my destination for the day: Sicamous. The bike was handling great today so riding was way more enjoyable than any other time during the last 7 days. The combination of the extra puncture-resistant tires, thanks Uncle B, no more fenders to fuss over, and a clean bike meant I could finally get my head up and enjoy the scenery.

June 9th Brad is in Revelstoke and staying at the Sameson Backpacker Hostel. He is doing well but has not been able to send a true GPS signal or a blog this evening but is in good shape and ready for tomorrow heading beyond Rogers Pass as far as he can, possibly to Donald BC. He said that he spent the day riding in the rain but the ride was good.

June 10th This entry comes one day late for a good reason. Yesterday was the single greatest distance covered in a day both on the ride and by me personally. I left Revelstoke knowing that I was in for a long day because Roger’s Pass stood between me and the next stop. What stop that would be I wasn’t sure but a look on Google told me I would have a few options around the 100km mark. A long day in the mountains for sure, but the only other option was Golden, another 45km out.

June 11th After a day like yesterday the last thing I wanted to do was get up and ride again. Neither my legs nor my saddle-sores felt like they could take another day, even if it was a regular length 85 km. But, despite a late start, my body soon found the rhythm again and I began the climb out of Golden through Kicking Horse Pass. The weather was on my side today and it was a comfortable and scenic road crossing and re-crossing and Kicking Horse River.

June 12th Brad has made it to Canmore, Alberta. We have received a log from him yet but we know he is staying with Stan and Kathleen Niemiec and their sons Sheldon and Zachary, long time friends, at their beautiful Chickadee Pines & Mountain Bed and Breakfast. http://chickadeepines.ca/ From Brad: Today was the first day that I can literally say there was not a cloud in the sky! It was perfect weather, a great ride through the Banff Parkway, and has ended with a fantastic evening spent with the Neimiecs (our long-time friends) in Canmore. Today was also the day that I broke the one thousand kilometer mark!

June 13th Finally a day without hills! It was my last day before a rest from riding and my very last day in the mountains. In some ways, it was a bitter-sweet moment; the scenery of the Rockies and the triumph of cresting yet another pass versus the distance I can finally put behind me and no more days of utter exhaustion.

Nearly three (3) years after persistent migraines cut short the career of former All Black halfback Steve Devine, he’s helping kick off Brain Injury Appeal Week to warn people of the dangers of head injuries.

Australian-born Devine, 33, played 10 tests for the All Blacks, 78 first-class matches for Auckland and 70 for the Blues. But it was injuries, particularly concussion that brought an early end to his career.

“I’m just trying to get the message out for people to be careful in and around brain injuries, particularly with sport. People can rush back to get involved and it doesn’t give the brain a lot of time to rest, which is very important,” he told Sunday News. Brain Injury NZ’s week of fundraising and awareness activities starts tomorrow. Figures supplied by the organisation show every 15 minutes a New Zealander sustains a brain injury – from a simple concussion through to motor vehicle accidents and serious medical conditions. Brain Injury NZ President John Clough said New Zealanders needed to recognise the huge impact brain injuries had on Kiwi communities.

Devine, now hosting TV rugby show This Given Sunday and managing Auckland’s ITM Cup team, said two and a half years on from his retirement he had only recently stopped getting headaches. “I was struggling with three migraines a week until a couple of months ago, when I started a programme that involves botox.” He has had botox injected into the back of his head, his neck and temple and that has been a “huge relief”. “I know personally sometimes you feel all right a week after a head knock but it doesn’t mean everything is all right.  “You might think you can play on or play again but in the end it will catch up with you. I certainly wouldn’t wish on anyone what I’ve been through over the last two or three years.”

Source: By Finbarr Bunting - Sunday News - June 13, 2010

Determining brain death is a complex process that requires dozens of tests to make sure doctors come to the correct conclusion. With that goal in mind, the American Academy of Neurology has issued new guidelines….

An update of guidelines first written 15 years ago - that call on doctors to conduct a lengthy examination, including following a step-by-step checklist of some 25 tests and criteria that must be met before a person can be considered brain dead.

The goal of the guidelines is to remove some of the guess work and variability among doctors in their procedure for declaring brain death, which previous research has found to be a problem, said guidelines co-author Dr. Panayiotis Varelas, Director of the Neuro-Intensive Care Service at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.

According to the U.S. Uniform Determination of Death Act, brain death occurs when a person permanently stops breathing, the heart stops beating and “all functions of the entire brain, including the brain stem” cease.

While no one disagreed with that description, a 2008 study that included 41 of the nation’s top hospitals found widespread and worrisome variability in how doctors and hospitals were determining who met the criteria, said Varelas, co-author of the 2008 review.

For example, low body temperature, or hypothermia, can cause a person to have the appearance of brain death, so bodies have to be warmed before a determination can be made, Varelas said. But hospitals in the 2008 study had 11 different “target temperatures” that varied by several degrees, and there was no consensus about what temperature was optimal to get the best diagnosis, he said.

Those types of details have been worked out in the updated guidelines, which are published in the June 8 issue of Neurology.

“Even the best hospitals in the United States had such a tremendous variability in their policies,” said Varelas. “You die either because your heart or lungs stop working, or because you become brain dead. The former two are easy to determine. If there is no pulse, you die. If there is no breathing, you die. But becoming brain dead is much more complex.”

The new guidelines were developed based on a review of all of the studies on brain death published between 1995 and 2009. According to the guidelines, there are three major signs of brain death: coma with a known cause; absence of brain stem reflexes; and breathing has permanently stopped.

Periodically, news reports will talk about a patient in a long-term coma who miraculously woke up, or someone in a persistent vegetative state who seems to have an inner life, Varelas said. One of the best known examples was the Terri Schiavo case in Florida, which pitted the woman’s parents against her husband. The 41-year-old Schiavo died in 2005, two weeks after the removal of a feeding tube that had kept her alive for more than a decade.

But brain death should not be confused with other conditions, such as persistent vegetative or minimally conscious state, in which there is still some limited brain activity.

“We found no credible report of anyone who was brain dead and who woke up and survived,” Varelas said. The new guidelines, he added, have nothing to do with those high-profile cases. Brain death can result from a severe traumatic brain injury, stroke or lack of oxygen after cardiac arrest. About 90 percent of organ donations come from people who have been declared brain dead, Varelas said.

Dr. James Bernat, a professor of neurology and medicine at Dartmouth Medical School, said the new guidelines will help to remove some of the variability in how doctors determine brain death. “The 2008 study disclosed rather surprising and disturbing variations in determining brain death, and in some cases there were practices that were just plain wrong,” Bernat said. The main risk is that a patient will be declared brain dead who really isn’t Bernat said.

“The authors of this [new] study are experts in their field and have done an evidence-based, authoritative review,” Bernat said. “They are saying, ‘This is the way it ought to be done.’ The goal is to improve the uniformity and the quality of neurological practice.”

Source: usnews.com - June 7, 2010

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One family’s story - No two brain injuries or individuals are alike, and with that said, no two outcomes or recoveries alike either. Some survivors do better than others with their recovery and that can be a result of a number of factors. In lay terms, some of those are; the type of injury, region(s) of the brain affected, injury severity, access to rehabilitation services, pre-accident health related status, to even the level of support provided by family.

A survivor may visually look like you and I, but it’s the invisibility of the internal damages done to the brain that cannot be seen by the unknowing eye. An important point to remember; is to treat the injury and the person as separate items. As a result of the brain injury, it may cause them to say or do things that are out of character or inappropriate at times.  It is in those awkward, unpredictable and sudden outbursts or scenarios that it is the injury speaking - so to speak. Survivors often require various forms of support and rehabilitation from professionals and family to relearn skills and, in the more severe cases, to survive.

A survivor may live and struggle with a few or many changes and challenges. Some of those can be in the areas of their cognition, physical, behavioral and/or emotions. The extent of these changes, usually become more obvious with the progression of time. It is not uncommon for a survivor to continue to make progress and improvements over time and periodically stall and/or plateau with their recovery. Some of the real life challenges can be with; changes to ones personality, lack of insight and awareness, difficulty with memory, planning and problem solving, inability to understand and/or communicate adequately, slowed responses, impulsivity, difficulty with concentration, easily distracted, poor perception, recognition and judgment, inappropriate behavior, physical and/or verbal disinhibition, difficulty with initiation, balance and physical mobility.

The realization of the effects and any deficits as a result of their injury coupled with a dependency on others as well as a loss of independence and/or control over one’s life can be devastating and a potential cause for depression. The social consequences can also mean the loss of once close friends, difficulty cultivating and maintaining new friendships, isolation, and withdrawal from engaging in social activities and society. The degree and amount of changes coupled with the challenges a survivor must cope with can be extremely overwhelming and require an incredible amount of support.

“Consistency, structured support, on-going patience, understanding and time are some of the ways you can become a positive part of caring for and supporting a loved one with a brain injury”.  

Local couple spearheading renewal of provincial Brain Injury Association. In an instant, their lives were changed forever. A speeding car careening out of control with their daughter in the passenger seat resulted in disastrous consequences.

Now, five years after the accident that left their daughter with serious brain injuries, Marita and David Webb of Sackville want to do all they can to help other families in the province cope with similar tragedies. That’s why the couple is helping to rejuvenate a New Brunswick organization that raises awareness of the effects and causes of brain injuries, while also serving as an advocate for the patients, families and caregivers of those affected by brain injuries.

Called the “Brain Injury Association of New Brunswick”, the volunteer-run, non-profit group now has its head office based in Sackville (inside the former SGCI office building on Main Street). “It was a really good dynamic group at one time so we want to rebuild it again,” says Marita.

BIANB provides an important and valuable service, Marita explains, by connecting patients and their families with support groups, guiding them to information about brain injuries, providing them with practical information about coping with the consequences of a brain injury, and helping them find necessary services and programs. “There’s an outreach that’s necessary,” she says. “If a brain injury occurs, we want to let them know there is somewhere for them to turn.”

Marita and David, who are both board members of the association with David serving as vice-president, became involved with the organization after hearing about it through a brain injury support group they had been attending in Moncton. David says medical care and follow-up care for head trauma patients needs to be dramatically improved in New Brunswick.

“For survivors, very little is being done in the province,” he says, noting that the recovery and/or rehabilitation efforts are often left up to the family members. Many brain injury survivors can have an average life expectancy, he says, but require special care, which is sometimes out of reach for the parents.

Marita and David were themselves told to put Kalika in a special care facility after her accident that it would be easier on them, but decided not to follow that advice. And although it’s taken years of intense therapy and rehabilitation, their daughter has made huge gains and they are relieved they made that decision.

“We were told we should put Kalika in a home. We didn’t and look at her now,” says David, an obviously proud father who raves about how beautiful, strong and determined his daughter has been throughout her recovery. Marita adds, “If we had done what the professionals wanted us to do, she wouldn’t be where she is today.”

It was in March 2005 when Marita and David received the phone call every parent dreads – their teenage daughter had been involved in a catastrophic car accident, leaving her clinging to life with serious head injuries. Kalika was only 17 at the time, a young Tantramar Regional High School student who was visiting a friend in Ontario during her March break when she and some friends decided to set off on a drive down a country road. The speed limit was 60 km/h and they were careening down the roadway at 124 km/h.

There’s an outreach that’s necessary. If a brain injury occurs, we want to let them know there is somewhere for them to turn.” – Marita Webb

“The driver was speeding and ended up hitting a culvert after going around a bend in the road,” says Marita. The car rolled and came to rest upside down, with Kalika dangling by her seatbelt and severely injured. She had survived the crash but just barely – she suffered a closed head injury, which resulted in paralysis on both sides of her body, as well as other severe fractures.

Despite a prognosis early on from doctors who said she would have difficulty planning or organizing anything, much less make a successful return to high school, Kalika has beaten the odds.

Kalika graduated from high school last June with honours and, with perseverance and commitment, has been able to achieve many other triumphs as well. But the Webbs admit it hasn’t been easy. It’s taken a lot of time, energy, patience and money. “Without the proper resources, people with brain injuries will not reach the full potential they could,” says Marita. That’s why revamping the BIANB, which had been struggling to stay active for several years, is so essential, says David.

As part of its efforts, the New Brunswick association hosted an Atlantic Provinces roundtable in Sackville last month, with representatives invited from the Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and PEI associations. BIANB, which falls under the umbrella of the Premier’s Council on the Status of Disabled Persons, is also revamping its website to ensure it is more up-to-date.

David says the association will also be putting its efforts towards lobbying the New Brunswick government to obtain accurate statistical data and to conduct a needs assessment for brain injured persons and their families. “We want to improve the quality of life for individuals with a brain injury and their families,” he says. The group will be hosting its annual general meeting on June 12 in Sackville and is actively seeking board members and donations.

June is also brain injury awareness month in Canada and the national association is urging all Canadians to become involved with grassroots brain injury associations and to listen to survivor stories and family members speak about the support and guidance they have received.

The Brain Injury Association of Canada (www.biac-aclc.ca) also asks all children, youth, parents and seniors to help prevent acquired brain injuries by wearing helmets while cycling, rollerblading, skateboarding, ATVing, skiing, snowboarding, skating, playing ice hockey, tobogganing, and for all motorists to follow the rules of the road. For more information on the provincial association, contact the Brain Injury Association of New Brunswick at Suite 101, 131 Main Street, Sackville, or visit www.bianb.ca.

Source: Sackville Tribune Post – Katie Tower 3 June 2010

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In recognition of June as Brain Injury Awareness Month (Canada) and BRAININJURYFORUM.com ongoing commitment to Advancing Brain Injury Awareness and Supporting Prevention we will be sharing a five (5) part informational segment each week during the month of June in order to help others understand how a brain injury could change yours or someone you loves life forever.

Did you know that close to half a million people in the Province Ontarian’s live with a brain injury! So who are those individuals: the invisibility of survivor(s) in our communities makes it difficult to truly appreciate their plight and challenges! They are no different then you or I. They are someone’s Mother, Father, Sister, Brother or Other related family member.

With that said, BRAININJURYFORUM.com would like to take this moment to reflect on this group individuals in all communities and pause to remember those we have lost and who today live with the affects of a brain injury. In addition, let us not forget the many caregivers, individuals and family members that care for and/or support a survivor; your understanding, patience and endearing contributions are invaluable and selfless.

For those unfamiliar with the affects and changes that a brain injury can leave behind, we hope you will take this time to follow us and learn more about the injury that can often be lifelong, life-altering and disabling.  A brain injury is no simple injury, for no words can ever entirely express the loss, challenges and changes that it can impose on an individual as well as their families. 

 “It is said, that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step and so does the long journey of brain injury recovery”.

Copyright © 2010 BRAININJURYFORUM.com.

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Concussions Are Brain Injuries!

June is Brain Injury Awareness Month (Ontario). It also marks the completion of school and the beginning of summer. With school out, there is plenty of time to enjoy and engage in various outdoor recreational and non-recreational activities. However, in those moments of fun, kids often “do first and think later”, and are not always aware of the potential consequences of their sudden choice and something going very wrong. As a concerned parent’s take a moment to help them understand the importance of injury prevention by playing safely, and the benefits of wearing a helmet. Remember, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.

Children are at increased risk as their brains are still developing. Concussion can be caused by a direct blow to the head, face, neck, or elsewhere on the body with an “impulsive” force transmitted to the head. Concussion typically results in the rapid onset of short-lived impairment of neurologic function that resolves spontaneously. This year we encourage parents, coaches, school administrators, athletic teachers, and other municipal recreational organizations and the public to learn more about concussions and to get the facts. A concussion is a brain injury and most concussions occur without a loss of consciousness, so all concussions must be taken seriously.

Symptoms and signs can have a delayed onset (can become worse later on that day or even the next morning), so where you suspect a person of having a concussion, seek immediate medical attention.

What are the Signs? They can range from poor balance or coordination, slow or slurred speech, poor concentration, delayed responses to questions, vacant stare, decreased physical abilities, unusual emotions, personality change, and inappropriate behaviour.

What are the Symptoms? They can include headache, confusion, disorientation, dizziness, feeling dazed, seeing stars, sensitivity to light, ringing in ears, tiredness, nausea, vomiting to irritability.

The consequences of a concussion or multiple ones can have serious ramifications, especially when dealing with the brain of a young person. A bruised brain is invisible to the eye.  The effects could be exacerbated if misunderstood or ignored.  A concern with concussions is the cognitive and neurological effects of repetitive head injuries. Almost every concussion causes some degree of damage to the brain. Regardless of severity, a second concussion could become life-threatening if experienced within hours or days of the initial one. A return to regularly enjoyed activities should only occur once they no longer experience the symptoms or signs and a physician has given the okay to do so.

This public service message has been brought to you by BRAININJURYFORUM.com

Research shows that up to 90% of injuries are both predictable and preventable.