By Jen Norquay, Editor OBIA Review
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.
These are the highlights of Terrance’s story
Having been asked to do a number of presentations on brain injury and addiction over the last few months, the topic has been strongly on my mind. I have great empathy for those who struggle with addictions. Prior to working in the brain injury field, I was the Executive Director of a long term residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility. In retrospect, I worked with a number of clients who had an addiction issue and had also sustained a brain injury.
It was September 15, 1975 when ten year old Terrance was hit by a van while on his bike. He was thrown 150 feet, landing on his head. He was unconscious for eight weeks and in hospital for several months. He underwent a number of surgeries, including one to release intracranial pressure, which his young parents were told was not effective. He was released from hospital in spring of 1976 and sent home without having any rehabilitation. Terrance missed a whole year of school and when he returned to his grade five class with his head shaved, he was made fun of by his classmates. Academically, he was working at a C-D level and just barely got by. When he was old enough for high school, it was recommended that he go to General Brock High School in Burlington for vocational training. He took classes in chef training, baking, restaurant management, woodworking and printing. It was during this time that his parents split up and he went to live with his mother.
In 1979, tragedy struck again when, at the age of fourteen, Terrance was involved in another accident. He was hit by a car, breaking both legs and his pelvis. Terrance spent numerous months in traction and a body cast, and still feels the physical effects of these injuries to this day. To combat the pain, he takes Cesamet (medicinal THC) and smokes doctor-prescribed marijuana. Following high school graduation, Terrance worked as a mechanic for a popular tire store and was subsequently fired for not taking out the garbage. He then went for six months of training to become a healthcare aid. One night, after his shift, Terrance got into a bar fight at the local pub. It was only following this incident that he was finally diagnosed as having a brain injury. Following his diagnosis, a local brain injury support group helped him apply for CPP and ODSP but by no means was this the end of his troubles.
Navigating the ODSP system has proven to be very difficult and has understandably become yet another added stressor in Terrance’s life. Terrance initially received funding for a special dietary allowance which was essential for his physical well being. However, this allowance was taken away from Terrance when the legislation changed, leaving him scrabbling to try to eat properly on a now even further reduced income.
Terrance is also frustrated with ODSP as they refuse to pay for his medical marijuana, even though it is doctor-prescribed and government approved. The reason for this is that there is no drug identification number (DIN) and therefore medical marijuana is not covered by provincial health care. The absence of a DIN number not only affects Terrance but also many others who are in the same situation. Terrance spends much of his time being an advocate for medical marijuana users and wants to try to fix what he sees as a major injustice. He is not shy in contacting anyone who he thinks will help him, from his MPP right up to the PM’s office. However, in his advocacy he sometimes can be perceived as being disruptive.
“Had his brain injury been diagnosed at the time of injury, services and rehabilitation would have been made available to him and his life would be much different than it is now.”
At times, when Terrance gets frustrated, his demeanor may change and his voice elevates. Therefore, those people who do not understand that this change is related to his brain injury have felt threatened and, on occasion, the police have been called. In 2010 it was suggested that Terrance go for an emergency psychiatric assessment. This assessment showed the changes in his behaviour was due to his brain injury and not a mental health issue. It was also noted that had his brain injury been diagnosed at the time of injury, services and rehabilitation would have been made available to him and his life would be much different than it is now.
Prior to beginning our interview, Terrance brought out a copy of the last issue of the OBIA Review and pointed to the cover picture. On it was a picture of a person looking over a radiant field of flowers. He said that in his opinion, this represents someone with a brain injury, but rather than a field of flowers, he sees a wall blocking their way. He recited the words from the song “Hey You” from Pink Floyd’s album The Wall, which he said describes his difficulties following his brain injury.
“Hey you, out there beyond the wall, breaking bottles in the hall, can you help me? Hey you, don’t tell me there’s no hope at all, together we stand, divided we fall.” He calls OBIA on a regular basis asking for help in getting legislation set that would help people with brain injury. He sees himself as a facilitator, not a survivor. He has many legitimate issues with what he sees as a situation where people with brain injury are taken advantage of and it is his hope to teach people how to live with a brain injury. Terrance shared his method of coping: breathe in, breathe out, live life to the fullest and most importantly, take one day at a time.
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