Another Fork in the Road

Holidays can be a stressful time of the year for anyone. Many extra responsibilities are thrust upon us. Buying presents, cooking special dinners, entertaining extended family members, and frolicking at office or family parties are some of the things that have to be done with a smile. Holidays may be fun for many, but they can be a huge challenge for those with brain injury who just barely get by in daily life. Let's find out how folks deal with the holidays. Every TBI survivor and caregiver has encountered a fork in the road that has diverted his or her life-plan. A car accident, a fall from the roof, doing one more chin-up, or a door literally slamming one in the face are just some causes of traumatic brain injury. College plans, walking down the aisle in the perfect dress, or the coveted job quickly slip from reality as dreams turn to struggle. These unexpected life-happenings that divert one from his or her chosen path in life can be devastating. But as Yogi Berra once said, "If you come to a fork in the road, take it." Life is all about choices! To learn more about me, please visit my blog and website. Surviving Traumatic Brain Injury Blog:                              survivingtraumaticbraininjury.com Author of Prisoners without Bars: A Caregiver's Tale:      donnafigurski.com  Donna's Blog:                                                                    donnaodonnellfigurski.wordpress.com

Melissa Cronin was strolling through the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market when an elderly man lost control of his car and barreled into the crowd. That changed her life forever. Now Melissa lives with ‘invisible bruises.” But Melissa picked up the pieces and is embarking on a new career. Read her interview on Surviving Traumatic Brain Injury to find out what it is and check out her story, “Invisible Bruise” in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Recovering from Traumatic Brain Injuries. Every TBI survivor and caregiver has encountered a fork in the road that has diverted his or her life-plan. A car accident, a fall from the roof, doing one more chin-up, or a door literally slamming one in the face are just some causes of traumatic brain injury. College plans, walking down the aisle in the perfect dress, or the coveted job quickly slip from reality as dreams turn to struggle. These unexpected life-happenings that divert one from his or her chosen path in life can be devastating. But as Yogi Berra once said, "If you come to a fork in the road, take it." Life is all about choices! To learn more about me, please visit my blogs. Donna O'Donnell Figurski - author donnafigurski.com Survivng Traumatic Brain Injury Blog: survivingtraumaticbraininjury.com Donna's Blog: donnaodonnellfigurski.wordpress.com

Every TBI survivor and caregiver has encountered a fork in the road that has diverted his or her life-plan. A car accident, a fall from the roof, doing one more chin-up, or a door literally slamming one in the face are just some causes of traumatic brain injury. College plans, walking down the aisle in the perfect dress, or the coveted job quickly slip from reality as dreams turn to struggle. These unexpected life-happenings that divert one from his or her chosen path in life can be devastating. But as Yogi Berra once said, "If you come to a fork in the road, take it." Life is all about choices! To learn more about me, please visit my blog and website. Surviving Traumatic Brain Injury Blog:                              survivingtraumaticbraininjury.com Author of Prisoners without Bars: A Caregiver's Tale:      donnafigurski.com  Donna's Blog:                                                                    donnaodonnellfigurski.wordpress.com

An 8-year-old boy's dream of playing National League Fooball comes true, but ends in tragedy. Cyndy Feasel and her college-sweetheart, husband, Seattle Hawk #54, Grant Feasel, paid the highest price for his dream. After years of abuse of his body on the football field, head-buttings, and numerous concussions, Grant didn't retire with the glory of the cheering crowds. He spent his days in pain - both physical and emotional pain. Through self-medication to ease his agony, Grant brought on a more and lasting pain - addiction. This fork in his road led him down the path to an early demise. His wife, Cyndy Feasel, tells about the horrors that the NFL left her husband with and how she is coping with his loss.   Every TBI survivor and caregiver has encountered a fork in the road that has diverted his or her life-plan. A car accident, a fall from the roof, doing one more chin-up, or a door literally slamming one in the face are just some causes of traumatic brain injury. College plans, walking down the aisle in the perfect dress, or the coveted job quickly slip from reality as dreams turn to struggle. These unexpected life-happenings that divert one from his or her chosen path in life can be devastating. But as Yogi Berra once said, "If you come to a fork in the road, take it." Life is all about choices! To learn more about me, please visit my blogs. Surviving Traumatic Brain Injury Blog: survivingtraumaticbraininjury.com Donna's Blog: donnaodonnellfigurski.wordpress.com

Brain injury comes in all shapes and sizes. It affects everyone differently. It is unique! Some brain injury is visible. Some is not. We call that "invisible" brain injury. I often talk about "invisible" brain injury on my shows. But, on tonight's show, caregiver and author, Jeannette Davidson-Mayer, and survivor, Dr. David Figurski will join me to talk about how physical and obvious brain injury affects their lives. Every TBI survivor and caregiver has encountered a fork in the road that has diverted his or her life-plan. A car accident, a fall from the roof, doing one more chin-up, or a door literally slamming one in the face are just some causes of traumatic brain injury. College plans, walking down the aisle in the perfect dress, or the coveted job quickly slip from reality as dreams turn to struggle. These unexpected life-happenings that divert one from his or her chosen path in life can be devastating. But as Yogi Berra once said, "If you come to a fork in the road, take it." Life is all about choices! To learn more about me, please visit my blog and website. Surviving Traumatic Brain Injury Blog:                              survivingtraumaticbraininjury.com Author of Prisoners without Bars: A Caregiver's Tale:      donnafigurski.com  Donna's Blog:                                                                    donnaodonnellfigurski.wordpress.com

Alisa Marie survived not only one brain injury, but she had three. She is no stranger to rehab. She has had occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy many times both as an inpatient and as an outpatient. Alisa Marie likes to remind folks as she refers to her brain injuries, "This isnt the ending to your life, it's a new beginning."  What a positive, upbeat attitude!   Every TBI survivor and caregiver has encountered a fork in the road that has diverted his or her life-plan. A car accident, a fall from the roof, doing one more chin-up, or a door literally slamming one in the face are just some causes of traumatic brain injury. College plans, walking down the aisle in the perfect dress, or the coveted job quickly slip from reality as dreams turn to struggle. These unexpected life-happenings that divert one from his or her chosen path in life can be devastating. But as Yogi Berra once said, "If you come to a fork in the road, take it." Life is all about choices! To learn more about me, please visit my blog and website. Surviving Traumatic Brain Injury Blog:    survivingtraumaticbraininjury.com Author of Prisoners without Bars: A Caregiver's Tale    donnafigurski.com  Donna's Blog:      donnaodonnellfigurski.wordpress.com

Another Fork in the Road:  Self-Perception After Brain Injury Has your perception of yourself changed after your brain injury? Do you feel more or less confident? Has your self-esteem been damaged? How do you see your "new" self after your brain injury? All of these questions and more will be discussed on this show.   Every TBI survivor and caregiver has encountered a fork in the road that has diverted his or her life-plan. A car accident, a fall from the roof, doing one more chin-up, or a door literally slamming one in the face are just some causes of traumatic brain injury. College plans, walking down the aisle in the perfect dress, or the coveted job quickly slip from reality as dreams turn to struggle. These unexpected life-happenings that divert one from his or her chosen path in life can be devastating. But as Yogi Berra once said, "If you come to a fork in the road, take it." Life is all about choices! To learn more about me, please visit my blog and website. Blog: Surviving Traumatic Brain Injury       survivingtraumaticbraininjury.com Website:  donnafigurski.com        Author of Prisoners without Bars: A Caregiver's Tale Donna's Blog: donnaodonnellfigurski.wordpress.com

Courtney Clark joins me again. this time to discuss her book, "The Giving Prescription: A Personal Plan for Healing Through Helping."  Since Courtney's life was derailed with her brain injury, she has focused on how to not only heal herself, but also to lend her learning through her speaking engagements and her books. Courtney Clark was fighting a diagnosis of cancer when her doctor found an arteriovenous malformation in her brain. An AVM, a tangled mass of blood vessels is congenital, meaning that it is present at birth. It is likened to a time bomb and can rupture at any time. Courtney immediately found the best surgeon in the US and set off for New York City.   In tonight's show, Courtney will talk about her experience and how she became a motivational speaker to help other folks. Every TBI survivor and caregiver has encountered a fork in the road that has diverted his or her life-plan. A car accident, a fall from the roof, doing one more chin-up, or a door literally slamming one in the face are just some causes of traumatic brain injury. College plans, walking down the aisle in the perfect dress, or the coveted job quickly slip from reality as dreams turn to struggle. These unexpected life-happenings that divert one from his or her chosen path in life can be devastating. But as Yogi Berra once said, "If you come to a fork in the road, take it." Life is all about choices! To learn more about me, please visit my blogs and websites: Surviving Traumatic Brain Injury Blog: survivingtraumaticbraininjury.com donnafigurski.com Author of Prisoners without Bars: A Caregiver's Tale Donna's Blog: donnaodonnellfigurski.wordpress.com

There are many dire symptoms of brain injury including cognitive dysfunction. That simply means problems with what I like to call the "thinking brain." It's the part of the brain that allows one to think, comprehend, and make valid decisions based on the input received. When the brain is cognitevely damaged, its affects so many parts of daily living.  My panel, survivor, Deb Brandon I will discuss the repercussions of cognitive dysfunction and how to live with it. This show is a contnuation of the July 7th show on the same topic. We only touched the tip of the iceberg then and Deb and I hope to dig a little farther in this time. Every TBI survivor and caregiver has encountered a fork in the road that has diverted his or her life-plan. A car accident, a fall from the roof, doing one more chin-up, or a door literally slamming one in the face are just some causes of traumatic brain injury. College plans, walking down the aisle in the perfect dress, or the coveted job quickly slip from reality as dreams turn to struggle. These unexpected life-happenings that divert one from his or her chosen path in life can be devastating. But as Yogi Berra once said, "If you come to a fork in the road, take it." Life is all about choices! To learn more about me, please visit my blog and website. survivingtraumaticbraininjury.com Surviving Traumatic Brain Injury Blog: donnafigurski.com  Author of Prisoners without Bars: A Caregiver's Tale Donna's Blog: donnaodonnellfigurski.wordpress.com

Lynn Mclaughlin - Survivor & Author In 2013, Lynn discovered she had a brain tumor, the size of a golfball, lodged inside her brain. That tumor turned her life upside down. Lynn writes about her experience in her book, "Steering Through It: Navigating Life, Threatening Illness Acceptance Survival and Healing."   Every TBI survivor and caregiver has encountered a fork in the road that has diverted his or her life-plan. A car accident, a fall from the roof, doing one more chin-up, or a door literally slamming one in the face are just some causes of traumatic brain injury. College plans, walking down the aisle in the perfect dress, or the coveted job quickly slip from reality as dreams turn to struggle. These unexpected life-happenings that divert one from his or her chosen path in life can be devastating. But as Yogi Berra once said, "If you come to a fork in the road, take it." Life is all about choices! To learn more about me, please visit my blog and website. survivingtraumaticbraininjury.com Surviving Traumatic Brain Injury Blog: donnafigurski.com  Author of Prisoners without Bars: A Caregiver's Tale Donna's Blog: donnaodonnellfigurski.wordpress.com