OBIA News

It was the end of October when Dianne Radunsky and I sat down with Terrance Brown to talk to him about his life after brain injury. Terrance is no stranger to OBIA, having been a regular caller on the Support Line for over 10 years.

For many, the cool autumn weather is the prelude to one of the most marvellous times of the year—the holiday season. People become preoccupied with making to do lists, coordinating and attending various holiday parties, and arranging family dinners. This is all done in anticipation of sharing the holiday season with those who mean the most to us.

Perhaps it was a phone call that changed your life so dramatically. Although you didn’t know it then, many strangers would soon enter your life; most of them would be speaking “medicalese” and offering confusing and conflicting messages. One of the first things these strangers might have told you was that a person very close to you had sustained a head injury, was in a coma, and might never awaken.

Thoughts equal actions, actions equal outcome and outcomes equal your destination in life. What are you thinking? This is my personal account of that day in 2005 when I made a decision that would impact more people than I ever thought possible.

The afternoon of June 8, 1995 would change our lives forever. A mother gets up in the morning and goes about her day, often not thinking about what could happen later on. I have a different perspective now and am grateful for every moment I have with my children and family. I will never take that for granted again.

As Brain Injury Awareness Month draws near, I’ve given much thought to the subject. Most of the general population has no concept of what “Brain Injury” really means.

“I promise for better or for worse, in sickness and in health”, these words kept running through my head as I stood by my husband’s ICU bed in St. Catharines General Hospital.

Just over thirteen years ago an elephant arrived at our home. There was something very familiar about him, perhaps it was his gait or was it the occasional twinkle in his eyes that we recognized?

It was a typical summer work-day morning. My buddy and I were travelling to work on our motorcycles—not just any motorcycle—our Harley Davidson Sportsters.