Head Injury Survivor

"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!

Vacation Time!

I am heading out to a much warmer climate.... time to relax and enjoy some sun.

Will be back March 24th...

Have a very Safe & Happy Easter!

"How To Recover" Comebacks from a Traumatic Brain Injury

I came across a another great website yesterday. It is a Blog maintained & written by Mike Wilkinson of New Zealand. Mike suffered a severe diffuse TBI sustained in a bicycle vs. van collision in 2005.

His Blog is focused on "Recovery" and has a great deal of information. Please visit Mike's Blog at :

http://howtorecover.blogspot.com/

One of my favourite articles written by Mike is entitled "A Case For Hope"... a very inspiring piece of work. You will find it as you review Mike's Blog.

Making Sense of my "Senses"!

For the past 4 and 1/2 years (post-TBI)... there has been a particular scent that seems to invade my "senses" and when it does, I actually experience feeling of anxiety or out & out fear. I couldn't put my finger on what the scent was... I actually couldn't describe to any valid degree,  or understand my response to it.

Recently, however, I ventured into a Specialty Tea Shop and soon discovered what the scent was!! It was a rather traumatic "awakening" and I am sure I scared the salesperson as well. Within minutes of entering the shop, I started sweating profusely, couldn't speak and the sounds coming out of my mouth were foreign to me.. I remember trembling uncontrollably... right before I passed out and hit the floor! As uncomfortable and scary that experience was,  the "memory" triggered by that smell has helped me understand what happened and what has been happening for almost 5 years.

April 21, 2004, my excellent Psychologist, Lori Thurston gave me a "homework" sheet that read:

"Certain events/experiences (e.g. unexpected changes/abrupt changes) may symbolize or resemble the MVA. When this happens you may experience physiological/psychological symptoms (e.g. anger, rage, sadness etc.) in response. Start to explore this & label these as stimulated responses... as a first step" (yes, I still have ALL of my homework sheets in my Tool-Kit!... Recovery never ends)

I soon realized that this did not just apply to visual or tangible changes and could be stimulated by any of the five senses. Have you ever heard a song on the radio, and it reminded you of an event in your life? Or tasted something that reminded you of Mom's home cooking or perhaps another place you had been? Perhaps you felt something new that reminded you of a favorite blanket or uncomfortable chair.

What happened in that Tea Shop finally makes sense... the smell of the tea was a constant reminder of the MVA in which I acquired the TBI ! I had just left the office and was waiting to turn into a Store to purchase tea! In fact I had just left a Specialty Tea Shop where I had purchased a unique Tea Pot to add to my extensive collection. That tea pot was actually broken into several pieces and as part of my recovery process, I slowly glued every piece together until the tea pot was once again whole. I still have it displayed in my home to remind me all things can be put back together... even if they do not appear to be the same.

It has been a great relief to finally understand not only what the scent was (and at times it was very random, perhaps phantom).  For the life of me, I don't understand why I didn't recall of this earlier or "connect the dots" sooner. And now that I understand the "why" of it all, the stimulated response to that smell... the memories & feelings the smell triggered... I will have to adapt some strategies to deal with it, perhaps overcome it all together (I hope!)

Venturing back into that Tea Shop is a little TOO much TOO soon (for both me & the salesperson) but I will let you know how this comes out! Now I am going to go check out my "Tool Box" to see what other tools I have available that need revisiting!

"Is This Normal?"

Jason Ferguson and his wife, Susannah, have created a guide for brain injury survivors and their families titled, "Is This Normal? Expectations after Traumatic Brain Injury and Helpful Tips." To download this brochure, please visit the URL listed here and read the artcle entitled "Getting Into The Swing of Things" by Jason!

http://www.tbicommunity.org/articles/index.htm

Brain Injury International Websites:

http://www.biac-aclc.ca/      Brain Injury Association of Canada

http://www.internationalbrain.org/index.php  International Brain Injury Association

http://www.biausa.org/  Brain Injury Association U.S.A.

http://www.headway.org.uk/default.asp?step=4  Headway United Kingdom

http://www.headway.ie/  Headway Association Ireland

http://www.myggsa.co.za/connect/receivers/brain_injury_group_big/ Brain Injury Group South Africa

http://www.bia.net.au/index.htm Brain Injury Australia

http://www.brain-injury.org.nz/  Brain Injury Association New Zealand