(Editor’s Note: On this very day, two years ago, Isaac Peterson submitted his first article for this blog. Today, Isaac celebrates that milestone in the essay below. Since the beginning, Isaac and I quickly developed a fast and terrific friendship and working relationship. Isaac’s work has graced these pages with many personal essays and articles (more…)
(Editor’s note: Writer, investigative journalist and BEST guest blogger, Isaac Peterson, shares some brain injury awareness information in honor of Brain Injury Awareness Month. Thank you Isaac for the important facts about brain injury. KT) A few times while contributing writing to this blog, I’ve mentioned undiagnosed traumatic brain injury (TBI)Â and never really thought (more…)
(Editor’s note: How much do traumatic brain injuries really cost? Writer, journalist and BEST guest blogger, Isaac Peterson, explores the true costs of brain injuries. The information Isaac provides is eye-opening and really makes one think. Thank you Isaac for this thought-provoking piece. KT). I was just thinking about all the money it must have (more…)
Editor’s note: Writer and stroke survivor, Isaac Peterson, offers some straightforward and valuable advice for family members, friends and caregivers of brain injury survivors. Thank you, Isaac for your wisdom and words. KT)
Before I received the gift of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), I really didn’t know what one was. Sure, I was familiar with the term, but after my stroke, I was surprised to learn that I had one. The constant dizziness, lack of balance, fatigue, the weakness in my limbs, alternating bouts of insomnia and super drowsiness, and other things; what was that about?
Since it looked like my life had turned upside down and sideways, I figured I’d better learn what had really happened and what I was in for in the immediate future.
After that it took me a while to realize that the people around me were still where I had been before my TBI and didn’t really understand what a TBI is and what it does to survivors. I also came to understand that as well-meaning as they might be, they would never fully understand until they had my hands on experience.
Family, friends, caregivers: where could they get the knowledge and understanding to help a TBI survivor cope with their new reality, and learn to cope themselves?
I desperately wanted the people in my life to know and understand what was going on with me.
I’ve seen websites that offer advice, but most seem to come down to this: be patient. The sites I’d seen didn’t offer much in the way of explaining what others need to know that will actually help others be patient. Patience is good; I know we can be a real handful at times. It must be pretty hard sometimes not to feel angry or frustrated.
Now it’s my turn to try to explain it.
(Editor’s note: Writer and brain injury survivor Isaac Peterson explores the interesting things that can change after brain injury, that aren’t necessarily a bad thing. Check it out. KT) Everybody with a traumatic brain injury knows how life-changing a traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be. Some people find that change is not always a negative, (more…)
(Editor’s Note: Enjoy writer Isaac Peterson’s best advice to kick off the new year in this must-read article. Here’s to excellence! Thank you, Isaac! KT) So, we can finally put 2018 is behind us, and we can now only view it in the rear view mirror. I say finally not because it was a bad (more…)