Head Injury Survivor

It Took Me Over 50 Years To Learn

 

Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be "meetings."

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."

People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.

You should not confuse your career with your life.

Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

Never lick a steak knife.

The most destructive force in the universe is gossip.

You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time.

You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.

There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday. That time is age eleven.

The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above-average drivers.

A person who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person. (This is very important. Pay attention. It never fails.)

Your friends love you anyway.

Thought for the day: Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic.

Hope....

Hope

by Brian Quinn

 

When all about you is black with gloom, And all you feel is pending doom. When your bones are racked with grim despair - When every breath is a gasp for air. Keep on going, though you need to grope, For around the bend is a ray of hope. A ray of hope is perhaps all that's left, As your will to live has been bereft. You've lost it all, it's just no use! You can end it all, you need no excuse. But throw away that piece of rope, And give yourself a chance of hope. Just give yourself another day, Brushing aside what your thoughts may say. This is your life and you can make a new start, By ignoring the brain - just follow the heart. Taking baby steps in order to cope, And minute by minute you'll build on your hope. Build on your hope,. one day at a time, Though the road be steep and hard to climb. The hurts of the past - they should be dead. The fears of the future are all in your head. Just live in the present and refuse to mope Your life will sparkle for you're living in hope.

The Burden of Neurological Diseases, Disorders & Injuries in Canada

This report is 138 pages... very informative.

Information relating directly to Head Inuries starts on page 67.

The Burden of Neurological Diseases, Disorders, and Injuries in Canada
The report provides estimates of the economic burden, disability-adjusted life years and hospital utilization associated with 11 neurological conditions. The report will serve as a baseline for future reports on the impact that neurological conditions have on individuals and the health care system in Canada. Read the report (pdf-1.4MB)

"There is melancholy in the wind and sorrow in the grass"

It is indeed a melancholy day....

A day when a moment remembering somthing past.... opens the doors to other memories flowing through. I miss some things from my life pre-TBI.

I miss certain smells, certain touches... lost feelings. They don't belong in my life now, to impose them would be to change them.  To change them would be to lose them.

Perhaps having them in my memory is better than not having them at all....

I Hope You Dance.....

"http://www.youtube.com/v/q6ZFAwByaKA&rel=0&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01&hl=en"

.....don't sit out... if you get the chance.... just dance!

"View From The Bedpan"

VIEW from the BEDPAN is a lively and spirited true story about a 43-year old woman, Beverley June Richmond, who two years after open-heart surgery is seriously injured when she is run over by a truck ~ her body going one way, her black pumps the other. In addition to life-threatening physical injuries, her mind and spirit are tested by three years of rehabilitation and more surgery, and by five years of adjusting to her new life with brain injury. Although raw emotions often surface, overall she is able to keep an inquisitive, optimistic outlook and a sense of humour. "The only way to survive such an ordeal is to see the humour in it, no matter how hard it is to find," writes Richmond. This is her story: how she survives her accident and recovery, what she sees and experiences in the hospital, and what she learns about herself and others. Included are many helpful tips, healing strategies, and insights.

Some readers will compare their own experiences as well as relate to these events and messages -motivational, yet comical at times -- as they unfold. Others will learm about the consequences of brain injury and hospitalization from a patient's perspective, especially the many challenges and victories of one survivor. View from the Bedpan was a nominee for the Stephen Leacock Award for using humour to help tell a difficult story, and is now in second printing. You can order the book by visiting the following website:

                                                  http://www.biaqd.ca/bedpan.htm

About the Author... 

Beverley Richmond was born and raised in Toronto. There she worked in administration, sales, publishing, and promotion. She moved to the Quinte area in 1990 and began work at the Intelligencer where she stayed until a near-fatal accident in December 1994 forced her into retirement. Beverley has been involved in corporate communications and writing in varying degrees throughout her career, including as an editor of association and employee newsletters, an advertising copywriter, and a columnist for two Metroland newspapers. She now enjoys writing as a hobby. She has had articles published and several short stories appearing in the Canadian Authors Association Wordscape anthologies. View from the Bedpan is her first book. It was a nominee for the 2003 Leacock award for humour and is now in second printing.

Beverley has raised awareness of brain injury through the media promotion of her book. She has also performed readings and spoken at libraries, bookstores, and retirement homes, and to various groups including brain injury associations, writers groups, health associations, hospital and church auxiliaries, service clubs, professional associations, nursing groups and nursing students. Beverley is a member of the Quinte Literary Guild, Stephen Leacock Association, Quinte Arts Council, and Canadian Authors Association, as well as Brain Injury Association Quinte District and Ontario Brain Injury Association. Beverley writes from her Victorian farmhouse in Prince Edward County.

Brain Injury and Custard Pies...

6 April 1999
Brain Injury and Custard Pies
by Kate Melville

A study by scientists at the University of Toronto and the Baycrest Center for Geriatric Care in Toronto has found that people with damage to the right frontal lobe of their brains have difficulty getting ironic jokes the way they should. Instead they prefer slapstick humour.

The study is the first to show that the frontal lobe plays a pre-eminent role in our ability to appreciate humour. This adds to evidence that good humour may rely on the makeup of the brain.

"We always thought of humour as a defining human attribute, but an intangible part of our personality," says Dr. Prathiba Shammi, who led the study. "Now we know humour can be tested and scientifically scrutinized."

 

The responses of 42 adult volunteers to written and verbal jokes were compared. Half the group had a brain injury (a single focal brain lesion to either the frontal or non-frontal regions) caused by stroke, tumor or surgical removal. Their responses were measured against a normal control group.

It was found that people with right anterior frontal damage had disrupted ability to appreciate written and verbal jokes compared to the control group and people with focal lesions elsewhere in the brain. Individuals with right frontal damage chose wrong punch lines to written jokes and did not smile or laugh as much at verbal jokes. Instead they preferred slapstick humour - surprising but illogical endings, the signature of acts such as The Keystone Cops.

The ability to understand and produce humour requires the concerted functioning of several cognitive processes: holding a piece of information in mind while you manipulate it ('working memory'), looking at a situation in different ways or from different perspectives ('cognitive shifting') and abstract thinking.

Damage to the frontal lobes has long been related to changes in personality, with marked effects on a person's ability to tell jokes and respond to humour. Such individuals often exhibit silly euphoric behavior, inappropriate laughter, and have an addiction to telling jokes that are usually inappropriate in content.

Dr. Shammi gave an example of one of her jokes and the responses.

A teenager is being interviewed for a summer job.

"You'll get $50 a week to start off,'' says her boss. ''Then after a month you'll get a raise to $75 a week.''

Volunteers were offered three possible punch lines.

A. "I'd like to take the job. When can I start?"

B. "That's great! I'll come back in a month.'' (This was the "correct" choice)

C. "Hey boss, your nose is too big for your face!'' (This slapstick response was most often chosen by participants with right frontal damage).

The study was supported by the Medical Research Council of Canada.

Perhaps if they used Banana Cream or Boston Cream Pie... the results may have been different??? Maybe a different Joke???.........Just a little TBI Humour!!! Nancy

Cognitive Rehabilitation: What is it… and does it work?

The article entitled "Cognitive Rehabilitation: What Is It... and does it work" can be found that the following link:

BrainandSpinalCord.org Blog

The Latest News and Info Regarding Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries

http://www.brainandspinalcord.org/blog/?p=3#comment-2

It is an excellent article, very informative and worth the read!

DEBUNKING TEN MYTHS OF "RECOVERY"

DEBUNKING TEN MYTHS OF "RECOVERY"

~from CH2 "The Nature of Head Injury" by Thomas Kay, Ph.D. and Muriel Lezak, Ph.D., the book is entitled "Traumatic Brain Injury and Vocational Rehabilitation", Published by The Research and Training Center, University of Wisconsin-Stout.

http://www.getrealresults.com/tenmyths.html

I just visited this page (Thanks for the reference to it in your blog today Mike!) and would suggest everyone take a moment to review it... let me know what you think! Thanks... Nancy

Back from Vacation...

Well I have been back for 48 hours now... and am finally started to feel rested! The trip to Mexico was wonderful and I enjoyed it very much. Didn't venture to far from the Resort as I tend to get muddled in new situations, but after day 3 ... I had a 3 klm radius that I felt comfortable walking about in and was able to establish landmarks so I would not get lost getting back to the San Marino.

Ironically, I felt I got more assistance when "muddled" in a country that spoke a different language and did not feel uncomfortable asking for assistance... BECAUSE ALL TOURISTS DO THAT!  I had all the necessary tools from my "tool kit" to make it a wonderful vacation ....although I did have to explain to a Mexican Inspector at the airport why I had medications in "blister packs" ... but when he reviewed the prescription labels all pasted to the back.... he seemed okay with it. After visiting a Pharmacy next to the Resort I understood his apprehension, you can literally buy almost anything over the counter (and in large quantities!)

Other than relax around the pool area or beach, only scheduled event was whale watching out in a zodiac and that was a great experience to watch a mother whale and her 2 month old offspring!! May not sound too exciting to some folks, but I just couldn't imagine a day tour or sky diving or hiking etc... I was down for an afternoon nap every day to ensure I could enjoy the quiet cool evenings at small beach cafes or restaurants. Very successfully avoided large crowds despite the Easter Holiday which also ensured a very relaxing peaceful (and headache free) vacation.

The most stressful part.... the flight home with not one... but two discontent children insisting on letting us all know they were not happy!! One a few seat ahead and one in the seat right behind me.

Unfortunately the plane was full so moving was not an option. For the first 2 hours I kept telling myself how sad I was for the wee ones... the next hour I was feeling pity for the parents... but the final 2 hours of the 5 hour flight were spent drafting imaginary letters to the airlines pleading for them to have small children treated as "pets"... put them in comfortable kennels... and transport in the luggage compartments!

Going to sign off and visit a few websites ... then get some more rest!