Brain Injury Association of Niagara / Brain Injury Community Re-Entry (Niagara) Inc.
Association Activities
The Mahtay Cafe located downtown in St. Catharines graciously allowed BIAN/BICR to display the masks in a prominent position in the cafe, during the full month of June. Many Brock students who were in the neuropsychology program came over to talk and some recent graduates also expressed interest in volunteering at the BIAN Clubhouse. BIAN also plans to display the masks at the Welland (main) library in September as well as at the BIAN Gale in October.
Pat Dracup, Program Director at BIAN, also took part in a radio interview on CKTB 610 early June (link no longer active).
Mask Photos & Descriptions
Project by Andrea
St. Catharines, ON
Cause of Injury
In 2003 I had a benign tumour in my brain that was wrapped around my pituitary gland. I had one minor and two major surgeries, along with radiation during the course of a year and a half in order to attempt to remove or stop the tumour. My hypothalamus was affected as well as many parts of my brain.
Read MoreExplanation of Mask
The left side of the mask represents how I felt when we first discovered the tumour. The right side represents how I feel now.
Project by Bill
St. Catharines, ON
Cause of Injury
Motorcycle crash, hit by a truck in 1974. I was 19 years old when the crash occurred.
Read MoreExplanation of Mask
One side of the mask shows:
- the frustration because I can’t see
- quick to anger
- anxiety
- the worst enemy is yourself
The other side of the mask shows:
- the new beginning as I started to change
- sharing, forgiving, accepting, staying positive
- now working which gives me a sense of purpose.
Project by Brad
Welland, ON
Cause of Injury
Motor Vehicle Crash – where the other driver of the oncoming car fell asleep at the wheel and hit my vehicle.
Read MoreExplanation of Mask
The car crash happened on my left side of my body. All of the injuries that happened to me were:
- My left ear only hears a whisper
- My left eye doesn’t move past the middle
- My left leg is 1/2 inch shorter
- My left arm does not extend perfectly straight.
The tire mark on my mask explains where and how the oncoming car hit/crashed into me.
Project by Carmond
St. Catharines, ON
Cause of Injury
I was an arborist. I was responsible and went to work. I fell 73 feet along with the tree I was cutting down.
Read MoreExplanation of Mask
It has been my experience that people hear that I’m brain injured and right away think I am “retarded.” They don’t understand who I am, but look to my injury and limitations to set who I am. My mask is split in half, one side painted black, the other painted yellow. The black side represents the incorrect ideas that narrow-minded people have. The yellow side represents my true self and how I want people to see me.
Project by Christine
Niagara Falls, ON
Cause of Injury
My brain injury is from 7 confirmed concussions. The last one did me in! in 2015, I was at work and a senior male student accidentally kicked an indoor soccer ball which hit my face and forced my neck to whip back and hit the cement gym wall. I tried to return to work 3 times but was unsuccessful each time.
Read MoreExplanation of Mask
My mask was very liberating for me. It shows my life in the past 3 years.
WORDS:
- On the right side of face, things I did before the injury
- On the left side of face, things after the injury
4 PANELS:
- Orange: Shows what happened to me and what I have now, seizures, Post Concussive Syndrome (PCS), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Depression
- Pink: Also shows what happened to me – Concussion. Pink Concussion is a website for females with PCs and its a support group which has helped me a lot. The pins represent the 175 Botox shots I receive every 3 months for my constant headaches since my accident.
- Green: The tears and Tombstone represent me grieving my past life still. It takes time to grieve and to understand that your life has changed. I really miss teaching Phys. Ed and coaching and being told “I can’t do it anymore” really hurts.
- Yellow: Represents my current life – BIAN – Clubhouse in which I consider my other family, BICR – Activity based group which keeps me active, HEART – I found love at the BIAN!
- Hand Bound: Throughout my brain injury I have felt like I have had no say in everything from treatment all the way to how I was to return to work (and it failed 3 times). I want a voice! I want to be heard! I want to be taken seriously that I have a brain injury and seizures!
Project by Dennis
Wainfleet, ON
Cause of Injury
Motorcycle Crash
Read MoreExplanation of Mask
After my brain injury I am looking at life “through different windows.”
Project by Elliott
Niagara Falls, ON
Cause of Injury
I was in a motor vehicle crash in 2011. I learned to walk and talk again. I now have a support person that helps me during the week.
Read MoreExplanation of Mask
My personality is similar to Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde. When I am happy, I love to laugh and joke. When I am upset, I become very angry and it’s hard to control my emotions. I drew the crossroads to represent trying to mix my two sides together. My goal is to have a better balance between the two.
Project by Frank
Fonthill, ON
Cause of Injury
I fell off a four story building at a construction site.
Read MoreExplanation of Mask
The cracks on the head of the mask signify major damage to my skull. The flue means close to death. Almost died twice on the operating table. Light blue and green signifies recuperation, a slow and study process.
Project by Gerald
St. Catharines, ON
Cause of Injury
Motor Vehicle Crash, assault
Read MoreExplanation of Mask
The broken shards of glass were as a result of the car crash. The broken jaw and black eyes were as a result of being assaulted. I called my mask, “Down for the Count,” because in both situations, I lost consciousness.
Project by Kathy
Fenwick, ON
Cause of Injury
Motor vehicle crash 1984
Read MoreExplanation of Mask
One side of my mask represents how things have changed after my accident. The brain knows how to do things, but can’t do them! I cannot see properly as my visual field in one eye is foggy. But I am happy for what I can do!
I am grateful for the things that I can still do post injury: stained glass work, and now I also create paintings in acrylic and oil, and I enjoy giving massages, and most important is enjoying time with my family.
Project by Margaret
Welland, ON
Cause of Injury
Motor Vehicle Crash (hit by a transport truck). In a coma for 17 days, sustained traumatic brain injury. Additional injuries, ruptured spleen, collapsed lungs, broken pelvis, fractured ribs. Husband and 3 1/2 month old granddaughter died in the crash.
Read MoreExplanation of Mask
Reflects how things were before the accident and conversely how things are since.
Project by Martha
Welland, ON
Cause of Injury
Stroke, 14 years ago.
Read MoreExplanation of Mask
Half of mask, dark, sad, why me??
Other half, bright, new beginning, chin up…go forward.
Christian sign of the “fish” highlighted across both eyes shows FAITH is strong in both dark times and bright times.
Project by Mary Lou
Welland, ON
Cause of Injury
Meningitis, Encephalitis and Pneumonia
Read MoreExplanation of Mask
Pain, frustration, confusion keeps us working to improve our life. We go through therapies to relearn how to walk, talk, think, feel and do. This “will” gives the “NEW ME.” You can never stop trying to grow and change. Helping others, accepting help from others includes a family, being part of a Brain Injury support group, being part of a church (or having faith), makes life complete. Reciprocity…helping others, being part of life and not just standing on the sidelines.
Reading, music, painting, gardening, writing…LOVE.
- The Quick to Anger
- The Anxiety
- The Headaches
- The Forgetting
- The Fatigue
When Will It Go Away???
Project by Max
St. Catharines, ON
Cause of Injury
One gorgeous day, on the 19th of July, I was hit by a car, and I almost had to say goodbye. Again, I had to learn to eat, write and walk. I also have to learn to t-t-t-talk. It ain’t no fun getting hit by a car. I went into a coma after falling in some tar. Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Language Pathology, aren’t much fun. So wear your helmet, EVERYONE!
Read MoreExplanation of Mask
Belief that tomorrow will be better. But still a shadow of a doubt/pain.
Project by Mike
St. Catharines, ON
Cause of Injury
Brain Aneurysm/Brain Explosion. I was in a coma for seven days in Buffalo.
Read MoreExplanation of Mask
The sun and the smile represents positivity. I feel good. I am kind, confident and since my injury, I have been amazing. Since the injury, I struggle to find the right words. It’s a challenge to explain myself. I am happy.
Project by Paul
St. Catharines, ON
Cause of Injury
1st brain injury – winter 1973: at seven years of age while attempting to cross a busy street in between parked cars, as I was walking home from school for lunch, I was struck head on by a vehicle travelling in my direction, causing me a very serious head/brain injury/fractured skull and various bodily injuries.
2nd brain injury – spring 1978: at 12 years of age while assisting at my school’s high jumping, track and field event, another student attempted to jump over the high jumping pole, but while jumping upward the same student slipped, traveled off course in the air in my direction standing beside one of the big, metal high jumping pole support posts and with the full body weight of this student hitting the same big, metal high jumping pole beside me, came down right on top of me altogether with the metal post and student’s body striking my forehead/skull, heavily, and rapidly knocking me down and out onto the ground, causing me once again another serious brain injury.
Read MoreExplanation of Mask
This mask represents, in part, an array or spectrum of the number of different experiences, emotions and feelings I’ve encountered as I continue to progress/move forward in my life over the decades since the two head/brain/skull/bodily injuries have made themselves known to me, coming out of left field in my life’s past.
Project by Reid
St. Catharines, ON
Cause of Injury
Motor Vehicle Crash
Read MoreExplanation of Mask
Thunderbolt happens in a split second! The car crash changed my life that fast. Clouds represent how I feel some days…just cloudy.
Project by Sandra
Welland, ON
Cause of Injury
Motor Vehicle Collision. Lost my two dogs who died in the crash. I was flown via helicopter to Hamilton Health Sciences Centre. Traumatic brain injury, along with physical injuries, and memory loss.
Read MoreExplanation of Mask
Represents state of confusion – always struggling with words, making sense of things, chaos with understanding and too much noise.
I have changed but at the core, I am still empathetic, strong and still have a sense of humour. These characteristics make me”fight through this struggle every second.”
I wanted others to be aware when speaking to me:
- Stop – please slow down so I understand.
- One direction only – please keep it direct and simple in your speech or I won’t understand.
- PTSD – Ongoing issue, frustration, grieving, doubt, loss and nightmares.
- Hope – to fight through.
- New beginnings – new me going forward, new loves, new friends.
Project by Sid
Vineland, ON
Cause of Injury
I fell off my roof when I was 26 years old. I was in a coma for seven months.
Read MoreExplanation of Mask
Gene Simmons – Music helps me cope every day. It’s my escape when I’m feeling disturbed or confused. Music makes me feel happy and free!
Project by Tammy
Welland, ON
Cause of Injury
Postpartum hemorrhage, failed intubation, anoxia, cardiac arrest and coma
Read MoreExplanation of Mask
Right side of my mask represents before my acquired brain injury. I was satisfied, positive, lucky and loving most of the time. The left side represents a lot more emotions; sometimes confident, occasional anger, challenged by optimistic, with confusion going on at times. There are times I feel wise and serene. I used to feel refreshed but not so much anymore. There is a cloud hanging over me.
Project by Thomas
St. Catharines, ON
Cause of Injury
I was injured quite severely in a car crash on September 11, 1994 that put me into a coma for four months. I went to give different hospitals while I was in the coma, and they all doubted I was going to come out of it. My family was so nervous of course. But I did actually come out of that coma and I did have problems but got better and better after time and motivation.
Read MoreExplanation of Mask
On the left – negative situations after coming out of coma. On the right – positive thoughts and feelings to reach independence which was a most appreciative goal, especially since the doctors believed I would never walk or talk again…time and effort proved them wrong!