Headline Magazine: Spring 2011

8/7/2019 Headline Magazine: Spring 2011

1/24

BrainPlasticity Explained

Page 10

A Playhousefor KidsHandymanChallenge

raises fundsfor CRHISS

Story Page 12

BRITISH COLUMBIAS VOICE FOR THE BRAIN INJURY COMMUNITY Spring


2/24

head line 2

BERNIE SIMPSON C.M. E. ANTHONY THOMASMember Order of Canada Dealing extensively with Motor Vehicle

Recipient of the Queens Jubilee Medal Accident Cases for over 15 years

Our firm handles motor vehicleinjury claims exclusively. Free consultation Low legal fees by percentage

Reduced legal fees on major cases Home and hospital visits We handle all expenses Service in all languages including

support staff who speaks Punjabi,Hindi, Cantonese, Mandarin,Korean, Vietnamese, French,Spanish, Italian

No recovery, No fees or expenses

Choosing a lawyer to represent you may be thesingle most important decision of your life!

We can help you get your life back on track.

Head Of ceSuite 1512 - 808 Nelson St.Vancouver, B.C. V6Z 2H2604-689-8888 (24 Hours)Fax 604-684-1881

Surrey/Delta Of ce604-591-88857253 - 120th St.,Delta, B.C. V4C 6P5www.simpsonthomas.com

BRAIN DAMAGE QUADRIPLEGIA & PARAPLEGIA WRONGFUL DEATH HEAD INJURY SPINAL CORD W

Major ICBC Injury Claim Lawyers Who CareDEALING EXCLUSIVELY WITH MOTOR VEHICLE CLAIMS FOR CLOSE T

YEARSThe hiring of your rm following our tragic MVA will be a time for gratefulness & appreciation never to be forgotten Katherine V. (mother of a child who suffered a severe brain injury)


3/24

SudokuThe rules of Sudoku are simple. Place a digit

from 1 to 9 in each empty cell so every row, every column, and every 3 x 3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.

Solution on page 22

head line 3

Message from the EditorJanelle Breese Biagioni

Greetings!

Headline is also availablein PDF format.

If you would like a copy sentto your email address

contact Mary Lou by email at:[email protected]

Please add Headline to the subject line

7 2 4

5 3 2

1 6 9 7

3 11 9 3 8

7 2

7 2 8 5

6 2 4

9 4 1

Spring is in the air! For some, this has been a long,snowy winter. For others, such as myself, it was arather mild winter and not as horrendous as predi-cated. I love the cozy feeling of winter but eachyear I look forward to the birthing that comes

with spring. Newly formed buds, trees in blossom,and skies of blue bring forth a sense of hope andrenewed energy. It is our intention to offer a sense ofhope and renewed energy to our readers as well.

In this issue, we share how the new format for thePacic Coast Brain Injury Conference went and anupdate on the new website, www.brainstreams.ca. Ifyou have not checked out this website, do so today.It is rich with information and personal stories. Iguarantee you will be inspired.

This issue also celebrates the success of the Camp-bell River Head Injury Societys 3rd HandymanChallenge in 2010. This is a very unique fundraiserso if you are going to be in the area this year, checkout the dates for 2011 and join themits for a great

cause!Headline also offers a reminder about NationalVolunteer Week in April. We salute the millions ofCanadians who offer freely of their time and skills inlocal communities. Without volunteers many agen-cies would not be able to function. Take time thisyear to celebrate your volunteers they are a pre-cious commodity!

In closing, as we move from winter, enjoy the fresh-ness of spring and all that it has to offer. Stay safe!


4/24

head line 4

head lineis published quarterly by

Mike Rossiter5851 Kittiwake Drive

Richmond, BC V7E 3P1

EditorJanelle Breese Biagioni

2031 Gourman PlVictoria, BC V9B 6A9

Email: [email protected]

HEADLINE welcomes letters and relevantarticles for publication, and reserves the right to

edit any accepted submissions for clarity and length. A signature, address, and telephone number are required.

Please contact Janelle Breese Biagionifor copy deadlines.

Mike Rossiter and HEADLINE editors take noresponsibility for, nor do they necessarily agreewith, the opinions contained in articles, letters

or advertising.Contact Janelle Breese Biagioniat 250-592-4460 for information.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS?We would like to keep our

mailing list up-to-date!If you have moved or would like to

be on the mailing list, pleasecontact Mary Lou at: 604-274-1251

or email her at: mlr @t el us .n et(Please put HEADLINE in subject line of email)

40981507

Government Resources

Regional Health Authoritys ABI Coordinators:Fraser Health - Aquired Brain injury Program-604-520-4175Interior Health Authority-250-870-4664,Contact Name: Deborah PrestonAcquired Brain Injury Program, Northern HealthCall 250-565-7393Vancouver Coastal Health Authority-604-714-4159Vancouver Island Health Authority- 250- 370-8699,Contact Name: Judith ArmstrongEnquiry BC-to locate Provincial Government Departments Lower Mainland 604-660-2421 Outside Lower Mainland 1-800-663-7867 Victoria 250-387-6121Ministry of Advanced Education, Training and Technology:Open Learning Information: In and Outside Lower Mainland 1-800-663-1633Student Loan Information: Lower Mainland 604-660-2610 Outside Lower Mainland 1-800-561-1818- select 1 then 5

Public Guardian & Trustee of British Columbia: 700-808 West Hastings St. Vancouver, BC V6B 3L3Victims Info Line: 1-800-563-0808Adult and Youth Addiction Services: Lower Mainland 604-660-9382 Outside Lower Mainland 1-800-663-1441

Community Resources

BC Coalition of People with DisabilitiesAdvocacy Access Program for assistance with provincial andfederal disability benefitsLower Mainland 604-872-1278Outside Lower Mainland 1-888-663-1278

Bus Pass for Persons with Disabilities and SeniorsLower Mainland 604-682-0391Outside Lower Mainland 1-888-661-1566

Tim Readman, Executive DirectorStroke Recovery Association of BCPhone: 604-688-3603 Toll Free: 1-888-313-3377www.strokerecoverybc.ca

Cerebral Palsy Association of BCLower Mainland Voice and TTY 604-515-9455

Outside Lower Mainland 1-800-663-0004Community Brain Injury Program for Children & Youth in BCToll Free 1-877-451-5511www.cbip.bc.ca

Epilepsy BCLower Mainland 604-875 6704Outside Lower Mainland 1-866-374-5377Victoria 250-475-6677

Information Services Vancouver604-875-6381


5/24

head line 5

For more information, contact:Barri Marlatt or

Lorenzo Oss-Cech

Personal Injury & Insurance Law

Youre in Good Hands.Our goal is to assist our clients by obtainingfunding for all of their immediate needsin order to maximize their potential forrecovery, while we proceed towardobtaining settlement or judgment thatallows a sustainable and encouragingnew future.

#1-505 Fisgard StreetVictoria, BC V8W 1R3

250.360.2500

www.hom-law.com

The 21st Pacic Coast Brain Injury Conference

(PCBIC) was held at the Sheraton Vancouver WallCentre, November 17 19, 2010. In addition to theVancouver site, simultaneous Satellite Conferenceswere held in both Victoria and Prince George. Aconference in Vancouver with live video feed to twoother locations was a new experience for PCBIC.Although the planning and execution of virtuallythree events at one time was somewhat nerve-wracking, it was an astounding success!

The decision for this new format was born outof the hiatus that PCBIC took following the 2007conference. The rationale for the hiatus was tore-align the conferences purpose. Through exten-sive research, it was determined that in additionto hosting future educational events, including the2010 conference, an online education and socialnetwork was needed to provide a one-stop shopfor information and to combat isolation of survivorsand their families on a 24 hour basis, seven days aweek. This resulted in the Pacic Coast Brain InjuryConference Society not only providing outstand-ing education and networking opportunities at theconference, but also the ofcial launch of the OnlineEducation and Social Network, www.brainstreams.ca. This website is the rst in BC and Canada tooffer substantial support and information resourcesonline.

It seems impossible, but the 2010 ConferenceProgram raised the bar and surpassed programs ofprevious years. Conference attendees were rivetedin their seats when listening to the likes of CaptainTrevor and Debbie Green (Canadian Forces re-

servist who suffered a brain injury while serving inAfghanistan), Christopher Nowinski (Author of HeadGames: Footballs Concussion Crisis), Greg Gold-berg (Author of The Organ of Intelligence) and MaryBenson (Brain Injury Survivor and member of theNational Para Nordic Development Team and theCanadian Paralympic Nordic Team) to name a few.The complete roster of speakers and presentationsis available at www.brainstreams.ca.

A tremendous thank you goes out to the PCBIC

Conference Steering Committee, including PattiFlaherty, Pacic Coast Brain Injury ConferenceSociety Chair and Geoff Sing, Chair of the PacicCoast Brain Injury Conference. The three venueswere: Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre, Vancouver,BC; University of Victoria, Victoria, BC; Universityof Northern BC, Prince George, BC. Each one waspivotal in the success of running the individualconference sites. The staff at each venue played alarge part in successfully coordinating the needsof the conference and its attendees. One cannotoverlook the professional and skilled team at Seato Sky Meeting Management Inc. their dedica-tion and expert precision in executing large eventsgave peace of mind to the planning committee!Finally, the ongoing support of PCBIC advertisers,sponsors, and conference attendees has been andremains the foundation of the conferences success THANK YOU!

The 21st Pacic Coast Brain Injury Conference


6/24

head line 6

It was nine hours to Tokyo, and as I stepped off theplane I felt like I was walking into a sauna. The airwas wet and the heat relentless. The daytime tem-

perature was 38/39 degrees Celsius and the humid-ity was around 100%. For the next two weeks a bigpart of my adventure in Japan would be trying not toactually melt. My hosts, Keiko and Hiroshi, told methat they had never seen it this hot before. And thisis in a part of Japan that is always hot and humid insummer.

I was back in Kyoto. This was my second trip there.I had returned at the request of my Japanese friendsto talk to brain injury survivors and their families inKyoto and to assist the Osaka Brain Injury Society intraining a peer support team there. This would be mychance to see all that they had accomplished sincemy last visit two years ago.

The rst time I went to Kyoto things were very dif-ferent. Not only was it snowing but the idea of braininjury survivors having an active role in helping othersurvivors was a new and exciting idea for people inJapan. And it is an exciting idea. It is an idea I believein. I have seen this idea manifest in my own life as asurvivor and as a member of the rst peer support

team at VBIS. Since then I have had the opportunityto train and facilitate several peer support teams andI continue to be impressed by the therapeutic power

of peer support.When I met Keiko Namatsuka, she was looking fora way to help brain injury survivors in Japan. As aspeech therapist she met many survivors and wasfascinated by their struggle to reinvent themselvesafter their injuries. She was looking for an alternativeto the medical model there that seemed to dene forthe survivor what they could expect (and not expect)for the rest of their lives. She was looking for some-thing new. She traveled to Victoria and we talked atVBIS for hours about peer support and the role it canplay in helping people rebuild a sense of themselvesafter brain injury. She visited us in Victoria with hercolleague Hiroshi Wakinaka, several times and thenasked me if I would travel to Japan. I didnt have tothink about it very long.

And so I found myself in the land of the Rising Sun. Itwas a strange and wonderful experience to travel toJapan. The people there treated me so well and theycame in droves to hear new ideas about brain injuryand ways to cope with it. But the second trip waseven better.

It is a simple but profound question we all live with.Everyone lives with this question but for survivors ofa life changing trauma this question becomes moreacute. How do we generate meaning in our lives afterthis kind of event? Who are we and what can we dothat matters?

When I was struggling with this question I was of-fered the chance to be part of a new program atVBIS called the Peer Support Program. That was in1998.

Victoria Brain Injury Society and Osaka Brain Injury Society

Connect through Peer Support ~Alex Ghilcrist

Columbia Speech &Language Services Inc.Providing speech and language services tochildren and adults throughout the Lower Mainland & Fraser Valley since 1987

1316 - 750 West Broadway Vancouver, B.C. V5Z 1J3

T: 604.875.9100E: [email protected]

Treatment aimed at community reintegration


7/24

head line 7

28 years of experiencehelping brain injured victims and their families.

T: 604.683.9621Toll-free 1.888.683.9621Fax 604.683.5084E: [email protected] - 650 West Georgia StreetBox 11547, Vancouver CentreVancouver, BC V6B 4N7

Joe Murphy, Q.C. Joe Battista, Q.C. J. Scott Stanley

Wes Mussio Steve Gibson Brian BrookeDerek Mah Kevin Gourlay Angela Price-Stephens

Irina Kordic

In 2010, I visited the Peer Support Team at the OsakaBrain Injury Society and watched as brave Japanesevolunteers put into practice the new peer supportskills we had talked about only two years before.They were amazing! They were so dedicated to help-ing each other and so committed to the idea of peersupport that I could not help but be deeply touched.They were so kind to one another and workedtogether so respectfully of each others strengths andweaknesses I was humbled in their presence andcould see for the rst time the power of what we hadbegun.

It was fascinating to see what the concept of peersupport had turned into in their hands. Of coursethe Japanese had brought their own interpretation ofpeer support to the program and in doing this theyhad made it into something uniquely their own, whilestaying true to the spirit of service and care integralto peer support. It is a beautiful thing and I was hon-

oured to be a part of it.We had lunch - planned, budgeted for, and cookedby the peer support team. They played piano andguitar and sang to me and to each other. We hadJapanese calligraphy lessons and a demonstration ofTai Chi. Altogether it was a wonderful day. Altogetherit was a wonderful trip.

We talked about what comes next. We talked aboutcontinued communication with survivors in Japanand a deepening relationship with the Osaka BrainInjury Society. We talked about visitors from bothcountries travelling back and forth. We talked abouttheir peer support team in communication with oursthrough email and letters. There are so many pos-sibilities.

Before I went to Japan, I asked the Peer SupportTeam at VBIS to write some thoughts and somegreetings to the peer supporters and survivors inJapan and they did. They reached into themselvesand made the effort to share something meaningfulwith people they have never met.

Thousands of miles away over the sea their wordshave been heard and something beautiful has begun.With the support of VBIS, the board, staff, member-ship, and the VBIS Peer Support Team, I have hadthe privilege of representing VBIS on the other sideof the world. On my second trip to Japan I was ableto see that we are changing lives there. We shouldbe very proud. I am proud of us all.

I dont know where any of this will lead or whatcomes next but I am sure looking forward to ndingout. I know it will be great.

Sayonara.


8/24

head line 8

Brain injury is devastating. Lives are turned upside down.

We offer not just a house, but homes for people at all levels of abilities,a foundation to build relationships and be connected to the community.

Our transitional and residential rehab programs are developed and guidedby rehab professionals, designed for each individuals unique needs

and implemented on a daily basis.

CONNECTs mission is simple...to make lives better.

In Langley call In Lake Country callJanette Jackman Christy McKeating

604-534-0705 250-469-9358

[email protected] [email protected]

Please visit our website at www.connectcommunities.ca


9/24

head line 9

T a ke a B r e a k

Find the following hidden words:

S Q T E A L M F U D G N I N N U R W DD Q X G R D I O R M U C Z C P U H W XU X X P S W I M M I N G Z X I K F C VB N R U W D W D R I A W Q F Z R R L PW V O L U N T E E R U P L I F T I N GT Y T A L W G D A P H P G I W K E L KC H I L D R E N G S L W S U N R N M RG G W V M D F N I A D T A R E W D M AZ N O A V V I A Y N Z U C L E L S J PQ I S R L P Y G T Z N T O C K W I Z QS R C O M A R E F Y I I Q L X A O M TE P J A D O M R U Z M S G E C C X L SE S C Y U L H S E R F R J E Z G X J FH I U N E B W A F Y E O S D B E R I SI U D H R G I L D G K O I K L W R N SK F I G H M R K Y X F D C D Y A E C BI S E V A E L A I U F T Y N Q P Z N W

N N A M S M M X S N X U H B I R D S UG L Q G J W K R A S G O R E T O O C S

AIR FRIENDS RUNNINGBIKING GRASS SCOOTERBIRDS HELMET SKYBUDS HIKING SMILECAMPING LEAVES SPRINGCHILDREN NEW BEGINNING SWIMMINGCLOUDS OUTDOORS UPLIFTINGFLOWERS PARK VOLUNTEERFRESH PLAYGROUND WALK

The Brain Injury Association of Canada (BIAC) hostedits most successful national Annual Conference at theRegina Inn in Regina, Saskatchewan, September 30thand October 1st & 2nd, 2010. It was staged jointlywith Brain Trust, the Annual Conference of the Sas-katchewan Acquired Brain Injury Partnership Project.The Conference was attended by survivors of acquiredbrain injury with their families and support members,as well as professionals devoted to service to thosepersons, plus researchers into various aspects of pre-

vention and treatment.Special Guest was Teleconference speaker TrevorGreene of Nanaimo, severely injured by head traumawhile serving in Kandahar, who with the great supportof his wife, Debbie, shows heroism on the arduousroad to recovery after a brain injury.

As well as a very diverse selection of presentations,the Conference provided the opportunity to networkand celebrate. Thursday evening was a Saskatch-ewan Reception featuring truly Saskatchewan enter-tainment including the Tavria Ukrainian Folk DanceEnsemble and Terrance Littletent, Champion HoopDancer from the Kawacatoose First Nation. More in-formation and photos can be found for both online.

Presentations are also available in pdf format at http:// biac-aclc.ca/en/2010/10/04/biac-2010-conference-presentations/

Special recognition went to the Saskatchewan ABIPartnership Project; Award of Merit volunteers KenMurnaghan (Charlottetown, PEI), Dennis Prouse (Ot-tawa, ON) and Marina White (Mount Pearl, NL); Re-

search Award recipient Dr. Angela Colantonio, Ph. D.,and many others listed at www.biac-aclc.ca. Specialrecognition for raising awareness of acquired brain in-jury went to cyclist Brad Cownden who cycled acrossCanada this past summer and Saskatchewans BarbButler as BIACs Volunteer of the Year.

Following the Conference the Brain Injury Associationof Canada held their Annual General Meeting. TheBoard of Directors of The Brain Injury Association ofCanada comprises the designates from each provincial

Brain Injury Association, plus several at-large directors.The Board of Directors of The Brain Injury Associationof Canada is pleased to announce its new executive:Larry Carlson (SK), President; Jeannette Holman-Price (NL), VP; Barb Butler (SK), VP Administration;Pauline Lute, (NB), Treasurer; Shelly Wieser (AB),Secretary Shirley Johnson (BC), Past President. HarryZarins (ON) is the organizations Executive Director.

We invite everyone to attend our 2011 Conference tobe held in Charlottetown, P.E.I. from August 23 to 26th,2011. Information can be found at http://biac-aclc.ca/ en/annual-conference/.

e Brain Injury Association of Canada


10/24

head line 10

By the time you will have nished reading thisarticle, the landscape of your brain will be differ-ent from the moment when you nish reading thissentence. The brain is a remarkable organ with thecapacity for plasticity, a term used to describe itsability to change. This article is the rst in a series tointroduce the term neuroplasticity (or brain plasti-city) and explore how disease, injury, and lifestyleaffect this phenomenon. Not too long ago the brainwas considered as a static structure. It once wasa generally accepted notion that after develop-ment, the brain doesnt change much at all. As itso happens, this is completely untrue. The brain isas dynamic as the experiencesthat shape it. But lets start withthe basics, what is the brain?How does it work?The brain is the most complexorgan known to man. Cellsare the building blocks of life;billions of brain cells organizethemselves in intricate net-works to make you who youare. Your brain is composedof housekeeping cells calledglia, and cells that have elec-trical properties called neur-

ons. Here, we will focus on thelatter. Neurons are a very special type of cell thatcan conduct electrical current. Similar to a wire,electrochemical signals travel within neurons so thatthey can communicate with other cells. There is agreat variety in the shapes and sizes of neurons, butits easiest to think of them as a tree. The branchesare termed dendrites; they are cluttered with tinybumps called spines that receive information fromother cells. The trunk can be thought of as the longprocess that extends from the cell body, termed anaxon. Electrical signals travel down an axon to the

terminal buttons, which can be thought of as thetree roots. Terminal buttons release neurotransmit-ters. These are chemicals neurons use to communi-cate. Essentially our neurons talk to one anotherto control some of the most basic vital functions,such as heart beat, or breathing, to more compli-cated processes such as learning and memory.

Your brain generates tens of thousands of newneurons each day. Neurogenesis is the term usedto describe the birth of neurons. There is goodevidence that shows neurogenesis contributes to

learning and memory. Cells that give rise to newneurons are called neural progenitor cells, andare found in two distinct regions of the brain. Therst is the subventricular zone, an area below theuid lled sacs located in the middle of your brain.Neurons born here migrate to the olfactory bulb,where they are involved in scent learning (importantto mammals like us). Second is the hippocampus,which mediates learning and memory, and alsoplays a role in navigation through space. About halfthe newborn neurons mature by growing branchesand roots (dendrites and terminals), and connect toother neurons that participate in brain circuitry.

At any given moment a single neuron receives anaverage of one million different inputs from otherneurons. Billions of neurons make up your brain,and with hundreds of branches on each cell, andhundreds of spines on each branch, you cant evenbegin to fathom its total number of connections.More remarkably, these connections are not ac-cidental. It is critical that the right neurons talk toone another, in the right way. This is why when yougo to pick up that cup of coffee your arm bendsinstead of your leg. At the same time by picking up

that coffee you are reinforcing the circuits involvedin that motion.

Your experiences shape your brain, making it asunique to you as your ngerprints. A dramaticexample comes from a British study that foundexperienced London taxi drivers have signicantlylarger hippocampi than non-taxi drivers (Maguireand colleagues, 1999); specically the portion ofthe hippocampus specialized for spatial orienta-tion. Not surprising when you consider the complexstreet networks they navigate day in day out. The

The Brain You Have Today is Not the Same as Tomorrow: Brain Plasticity Explained

~Larissa Szlavik

This is a hippocampal neuron from a mouse

brain. The cell body (oval) and dendrites(branches) are stained so that they can be visu-alized. The bumps alongthe dendrites are called spines.

Photo Credit: Crystal Bostrom, BSc. Divisionof Medical Sciences,University of Victoria


11/24

head line 11

larger volume is associated with a greater numberof cells and branches. However the strength in theconnections increases as well. Think of a neuralconnection like a river, the more water that rushesthrough it, the wider the riverbed becomes, and thegreater capacity it has for water to travel through it.As you read this article, neural networks involved inreading are being activated, and the more often youread the greater the activation. So take the mantrapractice makes perfect to heart, (or brain).Imagine that you were to learn how to play thepiano for the rst time. Existing networks of neur-ons involved in motor co-ordination of your ngers,processing sound, and any previous knowledge youhave of music will become activated. Furthermorenew branches will grow and make new connec-tions, and new brain cells will be generated to buildnew networks and integrate with existing networks.This is plasticity at work. Once you start to learnthe basics of piano, you will strengthen the con-

nections between neurons with practice, and buildnew ones as you learn different pieces, theory andtechniques. Plasticity works both ways. Ever heardthe myth that you only use 10% of your brain? Itturns out that every portion of your brain is used,and what doesnt get used is lost. That is to saycells that dont connect or talk to other cells willdie, and branches that dont connect to other roots/

branches degenerate. The same way you can ndan article of clothing more quickly if you get rid of allthe jeans and shirts you no longer wear, your brainfunctions most efciently if unnecessary connec-tions are removed from the network.

Your brain is a dynamic organ, bursting with activ-ity. The number of cells, branches and the strengthof their connections are constantly being modiedby the experiences you have. As it turns out neuro-logical diseases affect this brain plasticity. Progeni-tor cells give rise to new neurons, and currentlyresearches are interested in how they can be stimu-lated to replace brain tissue that is lost or damagedin disease or following injury. The next three articlesin this series will deal with (1) neurogenesis (2) howthe brain tries to recover from insult and stroke, and(3) how lifestyle affects brain plasticity.ReferencesMaguire, E.A., Gadia, D.G., Johnsrude, I.S., Good, C.D., Frac-kowiak, S.J., and Frith, C.D. 1999. Navigation-related structuralchange in the hippocampi of taxi drivers. PNAS. 97(8): 4398 4403.

About the Author Larissa Szlavik is currently a Masters student with the Divisionof Medical Sciences at the University of Victoria. Her researchfocuses on understanding neural stem cells. She can be con-tacted at [email protected].

PAINE EDMONDS LLP - PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS

M S B

LET OUR EXPERIENCE WORK FOR YOUICBC CLAIMS BRAIN INJURY SPINAL INJURY DISABILITY INSURANCE

No fees until you collect Home and Hospital VisitsFree Initial Consultation Call us now

604.683.1211 or toll free 1.800.669.8599

Email: [email protected] www.PElawyers.com


12/24

head line 12

Campbell River Head Injury Support Society(CRHISS) held their 3rd Annual Handyman Chal-lenge May 29-30, 2010. The Society raised$16,000.00 to use towards core costs (rent, heat,phones etc.).The CRHISS was happy to welcome back GeoffWoodmansey from the TV series Canadas WorstHandyman and the TV series Junk Raiders. Geoffand his family ew in from Ontario to donate his time

and to help out wherever he could. Geoff is an awe-some person and helping out the Head Injury Soci-ety is a cause that is near and dear to his heart.The Handyman Challenge had 8 teams this year,and though the weather was cool and rainy, theywere a great group of people to work with. It was atwo day build and the sheds were judged by ErnieAnderson and Geoff Woodmansey.This years rst place winner of the Golden Hammer was TheRoyal Shed Heads (Royal Le-page). Sponsors: Royal Lepage,Az-Tec, Material Sponsors: BlackCreek Farm & Feed. Team: Reg,Darcy, Joanne, Sophie, Deb,Michael, Tom, Paul, Doug.This years 2nd place winner of the Silver Hammerwas Close Enough Construc-tion (Daybreak Rotary). Spon-sors: Daybreak Rotary, MaterialSponsor: Windsor Mill. Team: Dan, Don, Jim, Joe, Dave, Mike,Urbain, Cathy.

This years third place winner ofThe Bronze Hammer was Discov-ery College. Sponsors : Altrusa,Marine Harvest, Material Sponsor:Windsor Mills. Team: Dan, Jor-dan, Clifford, Shawn, Ravi, Wayne,Tonia.This years fourth Place win-ner of the Rusty Hammer was The Loner. Sponsor: RBC Material Sponsor: Windsor Plywood. Team: John, Jamie, Rodney, Mervin.Special Mention Greg, Dan &JodieThis years Rusty Hammermeant that this was the teamthat improved most duringthe Challenge and has greatPotential.And last but not least a special mention of ShelleyHoward our Executive Director who started her ownteam: We Can Do It. Sponsor: Vancouver IslandInsurance. Material Sponsor: Kinsmen, WindsorPlywood. Team: Shelley, Derek, Jaden, Curtis, Barry,Jim.The essence of Shelley shines through in all shedoes short a team - no problem! Shelley will al-ways step up to the plate. She is a can do girl andit shows with all the Head Injury Survivors and theirfamilies at the Campbell River Head Injury.All the sheds were auctioned off the following Satur-day by Canadas famous Auctioneer Gord Dyck. Wethank all the teams, the Sponsors and the Volun-teers for helping make the 3rd Annual Handyman

Challenge a success.We are looking forward to seeingall of you back at the 4th AnnualHandyman Challenge June 2nd& 3rd 2011.Thank you to Catherine and TomHopkins for their support in pur-chasing the playhouse for theirgrandson, Josh Crouse.Cover Photo Credit: AlistairTaylor

CAMPBELL RIVER HEAD INJURY SUPPORT SOCIETY

3RD ANNUAL HANDYMAN CHALLENGE

Cheshire Homes Society of British Columbia

Acceptance, Empowerment,Independence, Opportunity Providing Transitional, Slower Stream and Apartment Based Rehabilitation Programs for Acquired Brain Injury since 1984.

Cheshire Homes Society of BC,Head Ofce #202 625 5th AvenueNew Westminster, BC, V3M 1X4Phone: (604) 540-0686www.cheshirehomes.ca a member of the Leonard Cheshire Disability Global Alliance

Bra in Plas t icit y Ex pla ined

P age 10

A Playhous e f or K idsH andymanC hallenge

raises fund sfor C RH IS S

S tor y P age 12

BRITISHCOLUMBIASV OICE FORTHEBRAIN INJURY COMMUNITY Spring 2011


13/24

head line 13

Gregs Diary Entries ~Greg Goldberg

July 16, 1998My days are full at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. Mornings of physiotherapy, after-

noons of speech therapy and early evenings of occupational therapy. The morning sunlight that trickled in through the many windows of the physiotherapy workout area gave the environment a real sense of optimism. The well maintained multitude of machines and therapeutic apparatuses awaited their use by patients determined to regain what they had lost.Sessions of therapy, every second day are ones of complete concentration motivated by pure drive and the will to get as healthy as possible.

My therapist, I struggle to remember her name,met me at nine AM sharp today and we were the only two occupying the silent gym.I initially thought that my therapist was in- credibly demanding of me today. She really was not. My fatigued and injured body just didnt have enough energy to perform the exercises as well as she had wanted me to do them. Her and a number of others, including myself. For the first fifteen minutes of the session we worked specifically on stretching. My right calf was especially tight due to the severe

nerve damage that had occurred in the accident. The doctors had explained to me that it was in constant work mode and it needed daily exercise and stretching to exhaust the muscle.The next thirty minutes were devoted to balance. It is in this area that I am very weak.Walking on an inclined treadmill followed immediately by trying to walk down a long line constructed of masking tape placed on the floor in a toe to heal manner was impossible.

I have terrible balance. I walk like a young adolescent that has had too many stiff drinks and I am not a drinker. I felt silly. Only with hard work and tons of patience will your balance come back, my therapist said to encour- age me. Devotion and time, time, time. The last quarter of the hour we worked on my strength. Being a little heavier than usual now due to all my inactivity combined with me now being very angry, this was my favorite part of the session. I got to strengthen some of my weakened muscles by sending blood to their awaiting cells, Pumping Iron I like to call it,was painful, exciting and emotionally ful- filling. I made my therapist say, OOOOOHHH and AHHHHHH with my exceptional dis- play of strength. Her words bounced right of the pale walls before entering my awaiting earlobes that were proud to let in the well-deserved verbal accolades.When the session was complete, I got a well- deserved Congratulations and an aide came there (I am feeling very important here) to escort me back to my now fresh and tightly tucked in, blue sheeted hospital bed.Located directly across from my room at the hospital is the shower that I use on a daily

basis. Showering is very difficult. My balance is suspect and I am too proud and stubborn to ask for help or even use the bars in the shower stall for support. I think they are for old people and not for me. I remember my first shower there, just days ago when I had to reach out and squeeze one of the moist stainless steel bars on the shower wall. I was afraid of slipping because of the slick and slippery tiled floor, I cried in the shower then. I think that there will be many more times that I will cry. But nobody has to know, right?

community therapists Building skills. Empowering people.TM

604-681-9293, Ext 153 #207-5740 Cambie St. Vancouver, BC V5Z 3A6

www.communitytherapists.com

Community Integration Driver Rehabilitation Vocational Rehabilitation OTs, PTs, SLPs, RAs GVRD, Fraser Valley,

Van. Island, Sea-to-SkySuite 400 - 601 West BroadwayVancouver, BC V5Z 4C2toll free 1.800.590.SALTt. 604.871.4306

health

Group Homes Support Home Sharing Rehabilitation

www.saltgrasshealth.com


14/24

head line 14

This years theme for National Volunteer Week isVolunteers: Passion. Action. Impact. In addition, fromDec. 5, 2010 through to Dec. 5, 2011, we mark the10th Anniversary of the International Year of Volun-teers. This provides organizations with two good rea-sons to celebrate the millions of Canadians who lendtheir time, energy, and skills to volunteer each year.

These caring individuals are often the glue of acommunity whether its a village, town, or city. Theirdrive and passion ensures the continuation andsuccess of school programs, little league sports,festivals, literary arts programs, church programs,recreational programs and most importantly, non-prot organizations. There is no denying it volun-teers are a precious commodity! In 2011, we wantto highlight the true contribution of volunteers in oursociety, states Ruth MacKenzie, President & CEO,Volunteer Canada. Canadas 12.5 million volunteersare agents of social change and their effort, skillsand time serve as the foundation for all communityservices.

Volunteers come from all walks of life. They vary inage from the young to the elderly, and they comefrom either gender. The tradition of setting aside oneweek a year to recognize and celebrate these indi-viduals goes back to 1943. Groups can show theirappreciation for non-paid workers by hosting a partyso the volunteers can enjoy some fun and get toknow one another, or by holding an awards night torecognize their skills, length of service and support.In setting up an exhibit at the local mall or by submit-ting newspaper articles to prole both the volunteersand the programs, an organization can increase theirexposure in the community. In fact, you may evenattract some new volunteers! No matter the budget,saying thank you is an absolute must! Volunteersenjoy even the simplest gesture like receiving a cer-ticate or letter of appreciation.

To learn more about National Volunteer Week in Can-ada, visit www.volunteer.ca

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK IN CANADA

Volunteers: Passion. Action. ImpaApril 10 16, 2011


15/24

head line 15

Pacific Coast Brain Injury Conferencewww.pcbic.org

BC Brain Injury Associationwww. bcbraininjuryassociation.com

Campbell River Head Injury Support Society www.crhead.ca

Fraser Valley Brain Injury Associationwww.fvbia.orgBrain Trust Canada

www.braintrustcanada.comwww.protectyourhead.com

Comox Valley Head Injury Society www.cvheadinjury.com

Nanaimo Brain Injury Society www.nbis.ca.

Powell River Brain Injury Society www.braininjurysociety.ca

Prince George Brain Injured Group Society www.pgbig.ca

Brain Injury Resourceswww.braininjuryresources.org

Ontario Brain Injury Association www.obia.on.ca

Brain Injury Association USAwww.biausa.org

South Okanagan Similkameen BI Society www.sosbis.com

Victoria Brain Injury Society www.vbis.ca

The Perspective Network www.tbi.org

The TBI Chat Roomwww.tbichat.org

G.F. Strong Rehabwww.gfstrong.com

BC Eplilepsy Society www.bcepilepsy.com

Headway CentreHowe Sound Rehabilitation Services Society

www.howesound.netNorthern Brain Injury Association

www.nbia.ca

Headline is a proud supporter of

Learn Connect Find

I N T E R N E T

R e s ou r c e s Take this Canada Council Safety Quiz

What do you knowabout bike safety?

1) Children have fewer bicycle fatalities than adults.True False

2) Road regulations for cyclists are different fromthose for drivers of motor vehicles.

True False3) A bicycle helmet could save your life.

True False4) Most bicycle injuries involve motor vehicles.

True False5) A bike that is too big or too small is a safetyhazard.

True False6) Cycling at night requires special skills and equip-ment.

True FalseAnswers to Bike Quiz1. True. In 2001, there were 60 bicycle fatalities - 36% age 19and under, and 64% over 19. Lower helmet use among adults isa key factor.

2. False. Even child cyclists must obey the same rules of theroad as adult drivers.

3. True. Ninety per cent of allcyclist fatalities are not wearinga helmet.

4. False. But 90 per cent of cyclist deaths do involve motor vehicles.

5. True. You should be able tostraddle the bike with bothfeet on the ground.

6. True. Dont let youngchildren ride in dark or dusk conditions.

Your Partners in Service Since 1981


16/24

head line 16

Hope Leisure ProgramThe Hope Leisure Program began as a Fraser ValleyBrain Injury Association (FVBIA) ArtWorks groupin 2005, with funding provided by Fraser HealthsAcquired Brain Injury Program. The participantsenjoyed being together so much that they success-fully advocated with Fraser Healths ABI Program tohave a permanent two day per week leisure groupthat included meals, community outings, art andother activities in a safe, comfortable environment.At the age of 15, program participant, Sharon Wells,was struck by a moving vehicle and thrown off thehood while walking along the side of a small-town

road on her way home from a party. Her mother,Sharon Sr. states, We are lucky to have her.Twenty-ve years later, after months of rehabilita-tion were over and all the professionals graduallydisappeared, Sharon and her family were left todeal with the many challenges that face survivorsof acquired brain injury. Until FVBIAs Artworksprogram came to Hope, Sharons main enjoymentwas working in the garden and perhaps a car ride toappointments or outings. Sharon now participatesin all aspects of the Hope Leisure Program, but herfavourite activity is art and she looks forward to

the days when she can come to the studio. WhenSharon rst joined the Artworks program in 2005,she required a signicant amount of assistance toproduce a painting due to problems with ne mo-tor skills. Over the years, she has developed thecondence and physical ability to produce beautifulartwork with very little assistance. Now, the joy onher face and in her voice when she sells one of herpieces is infectious to the rest of the group.Since opening in 2007, the Hope Leisure Programmeets Wednesday and Friday afternoons in thestudio behind the Owl Shop Cafe in scenic Hope,BC. Talented local artist, Fran Simpson and her col-league, Heather Plain co-facilitate the program. Par-ticipants can enjoy a cup of coffee and chat whileengaging in arts, crafts, computer games or otheractivities. They attend various events in Hope, Chil-liwack and Abbotsford and give back to the programby working bingos, having tables at ea markets,holding gar-age sales,participat-ing in craftshows andorganizingsuccessfulfund rais-ing events.They are alsoactively edu-cating their

communityabout ac-quired braininjury.For many ofthe partici-pants, at-tending theHope LeisureProgramprovidesan opportunity to get away from the challenges an

acquired brain injury has presented. People with ac-quired brain injury often report feeling isolated andmisunderstood, so having the opportunity to meetfellow survivors and discuss concerns unique to themreduces the feelings of being alone.

Community Mentors ProgramIn 2008, Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association beganthe Community Mentors program with funding fromthe Vancouver Foundation and the Rick Hansen

Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association

R a i n c o a s t

Community Rehabilitation

Services where you live, work and play 2392 Kingsway tel: 604.444.3770Vancouver, BC fax: 604.444.3729V5R 5G9 toll free: [email protected] www.raincoastrehab.ca


17/24

head line 17

Bill Morley

Tenacity Persistence Determination

Free home andhospital [email protected]

Vancouver Calgary Toronto MontrealQuebec New York London Johannesburg

604 631 3127

Free initial consultationPercentage feesavailable

Focused on your needs

Foundations BC Neurotrauma Fund. This programassists people with acquired brain with exploringcareer opportunities through research and informa-tion interviews with employers and staff who arein their eld(s) of interest. The focus is not just ongetting any job, but expanding their understand-ing of what it takes to get the job that ts with theirskills and interests so they have a specic directionbefore or during their involvement with an employ-

ment program such as Triumph Services.Deb Abma has been working with Fraser ValleyBrain Injury Associations Community Mentorscoordinator, Joy Scobie, in the development of anew training and facilitation business similar to whatshe was doing before her acquired brain injury. Idont know where this business will take me, butI do know I cant do it alone. By participating inthe Community Mentors program, Deb was able toexplore options in the workplace by talking to otherspeakers, gain condence in her ability to connectwith potential speaking opportunities, set up real-

istic employment goals and begin to form valuablenetworks. Her new business Speaks Out...! andDebs networking skills have already garnered herseveral speaking engagements.Community Mentors also has an artistic compon-ent. The original intent of this part of the programwas to establish an art cooperative or social en-terprise, but as in all acquired brain injuries, eachperson has different skills, interests and challengesso a more client-centred approach was necessary.Instead, part of the program focuses on mentoringartists and photographers in groups using local art-

ists and participants as instructors and mentors. Avariety of creative projects and pieces come out ofthese groups. For example, the Abbotsford pho-tography club recently developed an beautiful bookusing photographs of common objects that look likeletters of the alphabet that FVBIA hopes to marketfor them. The Langley and Abbotsford art groupswill be showing their work in several local galleriesin 2011. Mary McKee, FVBIA case manager, co-ordinates this part of the program.The program also assists several individuals indeveloping marketing strategies for their work so

that they can sell their art. John Bell, of Bell PhotoArts, is recognized in the community for his beauti-ful landscape photography and plans to expand hismarket through the internet. He is currently workingwith Joy Scobie to explore cost-effective ways ofdoing this.The Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association offers avariety of other services including support groups,art and photography groups and leisure programs.For more information on available services and re-sources for acquired brain injury, please contact the

Congratulations JOHN BELL! John was oneof 9 photographers receiving honorablemention in Fraser Financial Photo Contest!His notable photography Sunset Reection,Fishtrap Creek Park, Abbotsford, BC wasone of well over 200 photographs entered in the competition. Johns photograph will be featured in the Fraser Financial Group2011 Appointment Calendar. The judgeswere all graduates of the Canadian Associa-tion of Photographic Judging Course. JohnBell is owner of Bell Photo Arts.

Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association at604-557-1913, [email protected] or check out theirwebsite at www.fvbia.org .


18/24

head line 18

Recently launched in November, 2010,Brainstreams.ca is an exciting new web-site developed through the Pacic CoastBrain Injury Conference Society.

Why? The premise of the Brainstreams.ca project origin-ated from feedback received from families, survivorsof brain injury, and service providers who voiced aneed for the development of an education networkfocusing on brain injury. This concept evolved intoa website designed to: Educate and inform people about the brain andbrain injuries. Provide opportunities for people to connect withone another around topics of interest, have a place

to go where they feel understood, and nd ways toconnect with useful resources that are available inlocal communities. It is hoped that through sharedand learned experience, people will realize they arenot alone in their journeys. Strengthen collaboration amongst the BC braininjury community and to generate a road map ofwhere individuals see the need for services and sup-ports in the future. Through collaborative partner-ships, creative solutions to bridging service needscan be created.

Whats there to explore onBrainstreams.ca? There are three areas of the site: Learn, Connectand Find. The site uses simple language and a var-iety of media including text, audio, video, photos,

discussion forums.

Brainstreams.ca updates can also be found viapopular social networking tools such as YouTube,Facebook and Twitter.


19/24

head line 19

Special features:Conference materials Participant videos from the 2010 Pacic CoastBrain Injury Conference. Participants shared theirthoughts on connecting with others and what theywould most want to share with people about braininjury.

The audio les and presentation slides from thekeynote speakers from the conference.

If anyone is hosting a conference or event else-where in BC and would like to have videos, pres-entations, slides or a summary of the event posted,please send us an email to [email protected] better way to be informed about what is hap-pening around the province and to learn from oneanother?

A team of e perienced professionals sensitive tothe needs of both the survivor and the family.

e travel to you

Suite 1 Second Avenue, amloops, B 1

T . .1 1 T 1.8 . 8.19 hm hm law.com

www.hm law.com

David Marr Q.C. Kevin Cowan Danielle Leslie Joseph Zak

e care about your future

Ask the ExpertThe site features an Ask the Expert series wherean expert in Acquired Brain Injury answers onequestion that has been submitted per week bymembers of the brainstreams.ca community. Therst month covered the topic Reintegrating Stu-dents with Brain Injury Back to School.

The topic for February is Returning to Activity Fol-

lowing Concussion.There will be a different topic and expert eachmonth with experts ranging from health care provid-ers, family members/caregivers, survivors and com-munity service providers.

Help grow Brainstreams.ca The site has been ofcially live for three months.Brainstreams.ca has been developed for a widerange of individuals and uses. Anyone with feed-

back or suggestions for the site, such as topics orresources they would like to see included in the fu-ture, posting an event happening in their local com-munity or individuals interested in helping in furtherdeveloping and evolving the site is encouraged tosend an email to [email protected]. Your feed-back is crucial to the relevance and usefulness ofbraintreams.ca!


20/24

head line 20

emai l : ddoig@daviddoig .com

Suite 1450

1188 W Georgia Street

Vancouver BC V6E 4A2

Free initial consultation

Serving clients worldwidewho have been injured in BC

Flexible appointment times &locations convenient for you

Handle all legal expenses

Tel: 604.687.8874

Fax: 604.687.8134

Toll Free: 877.687.8844

Regaining Your Quality Of Life is our goal. We work togetherwith your rehabilitation team to ensure that you receive thebest possible rehabilitation while at the same time securing full,lifetime compensation for you and your family.

Our experienced team offers specialized expertise with a humantouch. Give us a call and then decide.

TRAUMATIC BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD INJURY

specialized expertise with a human touch

Janelle Breese Biagioni presents Patricia Smithwith her iPad

To launch the exciting online education network,www.brainstreams.ca, Janelle Breese Biagioniand her daughters, Myriah and Dale were pleased

to sponsor the iPad giveaways in memory of Cst.Gerald Breese. Every person registered at the 21stPacic Coast Brain Injury Conference was eligiblefor the draw. To date, two iPads have been won.Patricia Smith of Victoria, BC was the proud winnerof the second iPad. The third and nal draw willtake place soon. To learn more about the giveaway,visit www.brainstreams.ca

Ongoing DevelopmentWe are grateful to the Rick Hansen Foundation forsupporting the rst two years of the sites develop-ment funding through the BC Neurotrauma Fund.We are currently exploring partnerships and spon-sorship opportunities with like-minded organizationsand companies that are interested in being involvedin the long-term development of the site.

Keep in touchBrainstreams.ca sends out a monthly e-newsletterof new developments or events on the site. If youwould like to be a part of our mailing list pleasesend your contact information to [email protected].

Stay tuned for the third Brainstreams.ca iPad give-away! Details for the contest will be announced soon.


21/24

head line 21

H e a d s U pWHATS HAPPENING

AROUND THE PROVINCEBRAINTRUST CANADA

Braintrust Canada is hosting Gaining Ground: Topics inContinuing Brain Injury Recovery, May 4 6, 2011 at theNaramata Conference Centre in Naramata, BC.For more information, call 250-762-3233 or [email protected].

BULKLEY VALLEY BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION(BVBIA)BVBIA offers case management services, and assistancewith accessing rehabilitation programs, one-on-one emo-tional support, family support, and social and recreationalactivities. For more information, call 250-877-7723.

CAMPBELL RIVER HEAD INJURY SUPPORT SOCIETY(CRHISS)CHRISS provides education, advocacy, support, and fel-lowship. For more information, call 250-287-4323.

COMOX VALLEY HEAD INJURY SOCIETY (CVHIS)CVHIS hosts a weekly drop in luncheon for a nominalcost to survivors and their families. For more information,call 250-334-9225 or visit, www.cvheadinjury.com .

FRASER VALLEY BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION(FVBIA)

FVBIA Brain Injury Association offers programs, drop-insessions and support groups. For more information onFVBIA, call 604-557-1913 or (toll free) 1-866-557-1913 oremail [email protected].

VICTORIA BRAIN INJURY SOCIETY (VBIS)VBIS offers individual and group programs to survivorsand their support system. Programs offered include:Peer Support, ABI 101, Coping Skills, Personal Enhance-ment, Creative Arts, a Family Support Group and Educa-tion & Awareness seminars to community groups. Formore information call 250-598-9339 or visit www.vbis.ca

NANAIMO BRAIN INJURY SOCIETY (NBIS)NBIS offers rehabilitation and case management servic-es, disability benets assistance, and workshops focus-ing on issues ranging from trauma recovery to life skillsstrategies and anger management. For more information,call 250-753-5600 or visit their website at www.nbis.ca.

POWELL RIVER BRAIN INJURY SOCIETY (PRBIS)PRBIS www.braininjurysociety.ca provides support andservices for persons with acquired brain injury, spouses,family members and caregivers included. For more infor-mation, call 604-485-6065 or toll free 1-866-499-6065.

SOUTH OKANAGAN SIMILKAMEEN BRAIN INJURYSOCIETY (SOSBIS)SOSBIS provides the following services: Case Manage-ment, Psychosocial Recreation, Peer Support CognitiveEnhancement, Family Support, Stroke Recovery Support,Education, Personal Support, Womens Support and Pre-vention and Education. For more information, visitwww.sosbis.com

Tri-Cities Brain Injury Support Group has now beenaround for about a year and we are still running strong.We are always welcoming new members to share goodtimes with us. For the holidays we were able to go toa Greek restaurant in Coquitlam 19 people attended.Before that we went on an exciting trip stick curling. Tri-Cities Brain Injury Support Group continues to have itsmeetings every 1st Thursday of each month from 2 - 4pm. At our meetings, friends get together and discussinteresting topics and do fun activities. We meet at theCoquitlam Public Library - Poirier Branch on 575 Po-irier Street. For more information, please contact SandiCaverly at 604-916-5027 or [email protected] or MartinGranger at [email protected]. Newmembers are welcome!

KAMLOOPS BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION (KBIA)KBIA offers many services and programs, including casecoordination and life skills support. For more information,call at 250-372-1799.

ACQUIRED BRAIN INJ. . . with an ABI, a One-Day Functional Capacis not enough to determine ability to return to INTRODUCING THE 3-DAY ABI WORK C...a longer assessment allows for a comprehensive evalmultiple symptoms associated with Acquired Brain InjThe 3-DAY ABI WORK CAPACITY ASSESSMENTINFORMATION REGARDING:

Physical ability to perform work tasksCognitive skills to complete work demandsBehavioural skills to participate in work relationship

Call us for more informationOT CONSULTING TREATMENT SERVICES LTD.

210 - 3438 Lougheed Highway,Vancouver, BC V5M 2A4T: 604.215.3660 F: 604.215.3669E: [email protected]


22/24

head line 22

Reflections By Janelle Breese Biagioni

Love: The irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired. ~Mark Twain

People want to be loved and they want to be inlove. Its human nature. Men, women, the youngand old we all want to feel that wonderful feel-ing of being connected with our heart and soul toanother person.

Relationships change after a brain injury, especiallyintimate relationships. Sometimes the relationshipends. Sometimes it is enriched. Sometimes it goesthrough several transformations. The bottom line isa couple will experience signicant changes in theirlife together after one of them sustains a brain injury.Sometimes it is good. Sometimes it is bad. Some-times it is both good and bad. It is very challengingand often presents added stress and anxiety to analready stressful and demanding process.

Life doesnt end after brain injury and your relation-ship doesnt have to either. One of the rst statsoffered up to me after my husband was injured was

this: 85% of marriages following brain injury willend in divorce. I cant explain how defeating thatfelt. It was almost as if they were telling me to packmy bags then and there. For years that horrible statwas bantered about and reached as high as 98%.THANKFULLY, we no longer offer that grossly unfair(and in accurate) tidbit. It isnt that we should notoffer people statistics, but when possible offer themin a positive way. For example, lets start tellingour politicians and funders that 98% of marriagesfollowing brain injury can be saved when a person

(and their family) receives the supports and servicesneeded through rehabilitation. Just a thought.

Many men and women do maintain successful rela-tionships after brain injury. Others will fall in love andget married after they have a brain injury and theytoo, can be successful. Its not impossible. One orboth partners may have to work to adapt to being ina relationship, or to develop patience and effectivecommunication but really, that is not so differentfrom couples who are not dealing with a brain injury.

My intention is not to be dismissive or to imply thatall relationships are the same. Many of the peopleI have come to know and work with are strugglingwith some extraordinary issues in their relationshipbecause of brain injury. Frustration, anger outbursts,fatigue, lack of initiation and motivation are a few.These can have a profound impact on a coupleslife together. My intent is to offer hope to those whowant to be in love, strength to those coping withmajor challenges in a relationship because of braininjury, and understanding to those who have endeda relationship because it is no longer in the bestinterest of the couple to stay together.

Life can be difcult. Love can be heartbreaking.Still it is worth the risk.

Mair Jensen Blair LLP Lawyers700-275 Lansdowne Street, Kamloops, BC V2C 6H6Phone: (250) 374-3161 | Toll Free: 1-888-374-3161

Personal Injury

Vi s i t o u r w e b s i t e a t w w w. m j b l a w. c o m

We can helpIf youve been seriouslyinjured by someone else,we will achieve a fairresolution to properlycompensate you.

Sudoku SolutionPage 3

7 9 8 2 6 1 4 5 3

5 3 2 4 8 7 1 6 9

1 4 6 3 9 5 2 7 8

3 8 5 6 1 2 9 4 7

2 1 7 9 4 3 5 8 6

9 6 4 5 7 8 3 1 2

4 7 3 1 2 6 8 9 5

8 5 1 7 3 9 6 2 4

6 2 9 8 5 4 7 3 1


23/24

head line 23

Abbotsford Carol Paetkau 604-557-1913 TF 1-866-557-1913

Acquired Brain Injury Society of the Yukon Anne-Marie Yahn 867-668-5283

Alberni Valley Head Injury Society/Port Alberni Linda Kenny 250-724-6772

Barriere/Merritt Terry-Lynne Stone 250-372-1799

British Columbia Brain Injury Association Jan Siwinski 1-877-858-1788Brain Trust Canada Laurie Denton 250-762-3233

Brain Trust Canada - Vernon Contact Marcie McLeod 250-307-6064

Bulkley Valley Brain Injury Association Katherine Metz 250-877-7723

Burnaby Chinese Brain Injury Support Group Angela Kan 604-877-8606

Campbell River Head Injury Support Society Shelley Howard 250-287-4323

Caribou Brain Injury Society Shilo Toews 250-392-7772

Chilliwack FVBIA 604-557-1913 TF 1-866-557-1913

Comox Valley Brain Injury Society Dixon Hiscock 250-897-1255

Comox Valley Head Injury Society Jeremy Coombs 250-334-9225

Cowichan Valley Head Injury Support Group Barb Grantham 250-748-9338

East Kootenay Brain Injury Association Dawn Widdifield 250-417-6220

Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association Carol Paetkau 604-557-1913 TF 1-866-557-1913

Golden Brain Injury Support Group Donna Madden 250-344-5688

Kamloops Brain Injury Association Terry-Lynn Stone 250-372-1799

KBIA - Salmon Arm/Shuswap Contact Teresa Wolfe 250-833-0369

KBIA - Barriere/Merrit Contact Terry-Lynn Stone 250-372-1799

Langley/Aldergrove Brain Injury Support Group FVBIA 604-557-1913 TF 1-866-557-1913

Maple Ridge Support Group Ian Moore 604-944-9030

Mission FVBIA 604-557-1913 TF 1-866-557-1913

Nanaimo Brain Injury Society Mark Busby 250-753-5600

New Westminster Headway Gabrielle Pape 604.520.0130

B.R.A.I.N. (Brain Resource, Advocacy & Information Network) Tina Suter 604-540-9234

North Okanagan Shuswap Brain Injury Society (Salmon Arm/Shuswap) Robyn Coatta 250-833-1140

Northern Brain Injury Association Carmen Jose 1-866-979-4673

Peace Country Society for Acquired Brain Injury Linda Proctor 250-782-7519

Powell River Brain Injury Society Deborah Dee 1-866-499-6065

Prince George Brain Injured Group Society Alison Hagreen 250-564-2447 TF 1-866-564-2447

Sechelt/Sunshine Coast Brain Injury Support Group Rita Grenville 604-885-8524

South Okanagan Similkameen Brain Injury Society Dave Head 250-490-0613Terrace Brain Injury Support Group NBIA 1-866-979-4673

TriCities Support Group Sandy Caverly 604-916-5027

Vancouver Headway Leah Pentilla 604.732.4446

Vancouver Survivors Support Group Lillian Wong 604-873-2385

Victoria Brain Injury Society Barbara Erickson 250-598-9339

West Coast Support Network Wanda McAvoy 250-726-7459

West Kootenay Brain Injury Association Kim Johnson 250-304-1259

*Please email name and phone number changes to [email protected] to ensure this list is kept as up-to-date as possible.

BC BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATIONS &*This list updated Spring Issue, 2011. S u ppor t G r ou ps


24/24

PM40981507RETURN UNDELIVERABLECANADIAN ADDRESSES TO5851 Kittiwake DriveRichmond, BC V7E 3P1

Home.An experienced brain injury lawyer can make it happen.Winning complex brain injurycases for more than 30 years,Webster & Associates is a leaderin the eld of traumatic brain injury

law. We help our clients and theirfamilies reach their personal and

nancial goals.

Call us. We can help.Webster & AssociatesVancouver/Richmond: 604 713 8030

Victoria: 250 589 8030

Toll Free: 1 877 873 0699

email: [email protected]

BRAIN INJURY LAW. CA

Headline Magazine: Spring 2011

Documents

Transcript of Headline Magazine: Spring 2011