Close to Reaching My Goal

I am $500 away from reaching my goal of raising awareness and donations for brain injury survivors.  I keep trying to find new ways to raise money especially in today’s  environment where many of my friends and families have lost their jobs and/or  struggling with finances. 

Anyone who has an opportunty to donate and help me reach my goal  can access my web site at www.tbijourney.org.  Even a couple of dollars will help brain injury survivors and their families.

Finding Ways to Raise Awareness

I’m looking for new ways to help raise awareness about brain injuries.  It is the signature disability of our military wars and there are 5.3 million Americans living with the effects. 

We are having a Walk for Thought/Cycle for Safety event in New Jersey on Oct. 17; however, we don’t seem to get the press and the turnout that other events like Breast Cancer and Parkinson’s does each year. 

Anyone that has ideas or can help us raise awareness and donations, please contact me through questions@tbijourney.org

Thanks – Brain Injury Survivors and their families need someone to speak for them as they are unable to do this themselves.

How to Raise Donations for Brain Injury Survivors

I’m trying to raise money to help brain injury survivors by walking on Oct. 17, 2009.  We are walking at Washington Crossing State Park in Titusville, NJ and Paramus, NJ to help raise awareness to this serious disease and disability that affects 1.5 million Americans each year. 

If you are interested in supporting this cause, please check out my web site at www.tbijourney.org – it will link you to a secure web site where you can donate and help me reach my goal and hopefully exceed it. 

Thanks

Help to Raise Awareness for Brain Injury Survivors

On Oct. 17, 2009, I am walking at Saddle River County Park in Paramus, NJ to help raise awareness for anyone living with the effects of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). 

Did you know that each year 1.5 million Americans sustain a brain injury?  That equates to almost one every 21 seconds and an estimated 5.3 million Americans living with the effects of a brain injury.   

I need everyone’s help in reaching my goal of raising $1,500.   If you’d like to donate, please check out the following site to learn more about brain injuries and donate to help survivors - www.tbijourney.org

Brain Injury & Flashes of Light

Recently I developed flashes of light in my left eye.  For almost three months and five different healthcare professionals, I still don’t know what is causing these flashes of light.  Each doctor claims to not know why I’m getting these flashes of light.  Typically, flashes in your eye means the retina is tearing – I’ve seen a retina specialist and they have determined that my retina is fine – which is GREAT – the challenge now is finding a doctor to listen and who is willing to help me determine what is wrong.  I’ve had an MRI, MRA, CatScan and a series of eye tests which all have turned up with negative results and no answers to what is causing the problem.  The frustration with being a Brain Injury Survivor is many doctors don’t try to figure out what is wrong and will blame it on the brain and the old injury.  I’m sure there is a connection; however, doctors shouldn’t so easily dismiss the symptoms and want to help brain injury survivors receive the necessary treatment.   I find it unacceptable when a doctor tells me that “I’ll just have to get use to living with the flashes”, or they have no idea and then dismiss me.  Only to be left alone in finding why I still have flashes and what kind of specialist would be able to help identify what is happening.  There has to be a reason as to why the flashes started and a solution.  The flashes occur when I actively do something like take a shower, blow dry my hair or even when I’m engaged in a conversation.  I can have 50 to 100 flashes a day which can be very distracting when trying to talk with someone or try to do something.  The multiple flashes then cause pain in the eye and surrounding area and then pain throughout the head. So far, I’ve seen my primary care physician, ophthalmologist, retina specialist, neuro-optomotrist, and a neurologist and now I’m heading to a neuro-opthamologist.  This has been a long journey of pain, dizziness, disorientation, frustration and many other symptoms as the flashes have created problems for the brain injury.  Many of my original brain injury symptoms have returned making me feel like I’ve had a set back from the growth I’ve obtained over the many years of recovery. 

Elisa, thanks for your question.  There have been two opportunities that I’m aware of for brain injury organizations to share their stories – one was at the Capital in Washington, DC today, March 17 and the other was in Trenton, NJ – the state capital of New Jersey on March 13.  Individuals can always help create awareness by helping to spread the word about brain injuries.  Here is a web site that provides some tools such as a green magnet to be displayed on cars, refrigerators, etc.  http://www.bianj.org/individual-awareness

Brain Injury Awareness Month

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month.  This month has been designated to help build awareness and education around this “silent epidemic” of brain injury. By raising awareness we should be able to reduce the number of injuries sustained each year as well as help educate the public and healthcare professionals on the challenges brain injury survivors face each day.