Headline Magazine: Summer 2011

8/6/2019 Headline Magazine: Summer 2011

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A Run toRememberDavidMcGuireisraisingawarenessacrossCanadaStoryPage6

Neurogenesis:Hope for

Regeneration?Page10

BRITISH COLUMBIAS VOICE FOR THE BRAIN INJURY COMMUNITY Summer 2011


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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

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Message from the EditorJanelle Breese Biagioni

Greetings!

Headline is also available in PDF format.If you would like a copy sentto your email address contactMary Lou by email at: [email protected] add Headline to the subject line

9 1 8

6 7 3

7 3 9

6 9 1 57 2

9 4 2 6

4 5 1

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We may be off to a slow start in terms of the goodweather, but nothing has slowed down the work of theBrain Injury Associations province-wide who are pre-paring for Brain Injury Awareness month in June. Taketime to support your local programs by volunteering,

making a donation, or stopping in for a coffee to showyour appreciation for the hard work done in your area no gesture is too small!

In this issue, we are pleased to bring you the story ofDavid McGuire. David, a brain injury survivor, is cur-rently running across Canada to raise awareness andfunds for brain injury. Davids story is inspirational. Hisefforts will make a difference in the brain injury com-munity and we are proud to show our support by pro-

viding you with up-to-date information on his travels.Check out his story and the websitewww.runtoremember.com.

This issue also features thoughts about the hot topicof Concussion in Sports. While the world of profes-sional athletes has been instrumental in keeping thisissue current and bringing about some needed chan-ges, there is a real concern about how to translate thesame message into recreational sports and day-to-day activities. We welcome your thoughts on this topicand invite you to e-mail comments to [email protected].

Headline includes information on the Pacific CoastBrain Injury Conference and the education and infor-mation-based website www.brainstreams.ca in thisissue as well.

In closing, as you turn your face toward the sun (I

promise, there will be some!)have fun and stay safe!

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2392 Kingsway tel: 604.444.37

Vancouver, BC fax: 604.444.3729

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headlineis published quarterly by

Mike Rossiter

5851 Kittiwake Drive

Richmond, BC V7E 3P1

Editor

Janelle Breese Biagioni

2031 Gourman Pl

Victoria, BC V9B 6A9

Email: [email protected]

HEADLINE welcomes letters and relevant

articles 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 Biagioni

for copy deadlines.

Mike Rossiter and HEADLINE editors take no

responsibility for, nor do they necessarily agree

with, the opinions contained in articles, letters

or advertising.

Contact Janelle Breese Biagioni

at 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, please

contact Mary Lou at: 604-274-1251

or email her at: mlr @t el us .n et(Please putHEADLINEin 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 Preston

Acquired 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 and

federal 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


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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 obtaining

funding for all of their immediate needs

in order to maximize their potential for

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Acclaimed clinical neuro-

psychology professor and

University of Victoria admin-

istrator Dr. Catherine Mateer

is the inaugural recipient of

a new award from the BCPsychological Association,

created in her name the

Catherine Mateer Scientist-

Practitioner Award.

Mateer is widely known for

her groundbreaking work

in the area of cognitive

rehabilitation for survivors

of head trauma. She has

helped people who have

suffered problems withmemory, attention and self-

regulation following car accidents, falls and blows

to the head. Her work in neuroscience has demon-

strated the tremendous neuroplasticity of the brain

that can help people compensate for problems,

leading to better recoveries and more independ-

ence.

In my work with people who are experiencing cog-

nitive impairments as a result of brain injury, I have

always tried to use scientific theory and methods

to develop new interventions and to evaluate theireffectiveness, says Mateer. The work has been

rewarding in and of itself, but to be recognized by

a science-practitioner award named for me is an

incredible honour.

The BC Psychological Association created the

award to recognize individuals who have made sig-

nificant and distinguished advancements in the field

of psychology using a scientist-practitioner model

AWARD HONOURS UVIC PSYCHOLOGY PIONEER

CATHERINE MATEER

to bridge science with the

application to real people in

real situations.

Mateer is a professor in

UVics Department of

Psychology, a previous

director of Clinical Train-

ing and former depart-

ment chair, and is cur-

rently UVics associate

vice-president for academ-

ic planning. She has auth-

ored three books and over

100 peer-reviewed articles

and book chapters. Most of

them address the manage-

ment of acquired impair-ments in memory, atten-

tion, executive functions, emotional adjustment and

behavioural self-regulation. Mateer is also known for

her kind heart, generous nature and willingness to

go the extra mile for students, clients, colleagues

and staff.

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Just a little run...across

Canada! David McGuireis running a marathon a

day across our country

to raise awareness and

funds for brain injury,

something that has af-

fected him, his family

and his friends very

personally and dramat-

ically.

In 2005, David suf-

fered a traumatic braininjury - the last thing

he remembers is the TV exploding (not literally) -

his brain was bleeding, his life was at risk. Davids

girlfriend, Mandy found him in a pool of blood in

his apartment and immediately called emergency

services. He was rushed to the hospital where his

family was given a choice: consent to an operation

that would remove a portion of his scull to allow

his brain to swell without further damage, or dont

consent and take a moment to say your good-byes.

Needless to say, they gave their consent and then

anxiously waited at the hospital. After the surgery

there were many unknowns; his family was told he

may not wake up and if he does he will likely not

walk or talk again.

David did wake up after being unconscious for

seven days. He was confused; he had tubes in his

arms, mouth, and places tubes shouldnt be. He

didnt know why he was there or why the nurse

wouldnt let him scratch his head. A part of his skull

was still in liquid nitrogen and his brain was still ex-

posed and swollen beyond the limits of his remain-

ing scull - he was trying to scratch his brain es-

sentially - this was not recommended according to

the doctor. David didnt have any memory of what

happened to him, he didnt have much memory at

that point at all.

Twenty-nine days later, after having his skull put

back and his head stitched up, David was dis-

charged to the care of his family and a myriad of

health professionals who focused on helping him

re-learn to do the things

we all take for granted:walking, talking, dress-

ing ourselves, eating.

His life had been saved

but now he had to learn

to live again.

He spent over a year

seeing every discipline

of rehabilitation profes-

sional available to him.

The good news is that

David is one of thelucky ones as he likes

to say. He did learn to walk and talk again and he

can do a lot of things many people with brain injury

cant, but life is not easy even for the lucky ones.

David has a large scar on the left side of his head,

which is the only physical sign of his injury, but on

a daily basis he struggles with short-term memory

loss and aphasia. He is often treated poorly be-

cause his disability cant be seen - its invisible - like

so many brain injuries. David explains some of the

frustrations of living with his injury...People look at me and dont see anything wrong

with me because you cant see my brain injury.

I have to shave my head and show my scar for

people to accept that I am disabled, but then I get

talked down to...its a catch 22.

Life is frustrating when I cant get simple words

out; I struggle with the most common things. Its

not funny that I cant get the word milk out at the

local store. People dont know how to react so I get

smirked at, it happens all the time. I know its not

their fault, they just dont understand. Where is the

training? No one teaches the people around me

how to deal with that. No one teaches me how to

deal with it either.

I feel judged. People look at me like Why are you

not working? Whats wrong with you? I have to

re-live and explain one of the most horrific moments

of my life to people around me every day just to be

accepted.

A Run to Remember~Melissa Wild


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28yearsofexperiencehelpingbraininjured

victimsandtheirfamilies.

T: 604.683.9621

Toll-free 1.888.683.9621

Fax 604.683.5084

E: [email protected]

2020 - 650 West Georgia Street

Box 11547, Vancouver Centre

Vancouver, BC V6B 4N7

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

Wes Mussio Steve Gibson Brian Brooke

Derek Mah Kevin Gourlay Angela Price-Stephens

Irina Kordic Eric L. Goodman

It takes everything I have to remember to put on

shoes, plan a run, take my water, set my training

watch, and find my way back home. Every time I

go out I am on my own. I have no mental map that

guides me. I have no memory of where I am or

mental link to where I am going. It is a scary thing,

a huge thing...just going for a normal run outside

on my own. I depend on technology and my family

to get me to my destination, to get me home, and

keep me safe.

...and yet he is considered one of the lucky ones.

Overnight David went from being an employee at a

national bank to being told to just sit at home and

collect his disability cheque. He was not about to

just sit and do nothing. But how does someone who

cant remember how to get home or what he had

for breakfast get out, get a job, keep a job, and get

home at the end of the day? Davids frustration with

his new self, new life, and new dependencies led to

immense frustrations. He was dependent on every-one around him to go to the store, the bank, and

earn a living. There werent any supports available

to him to help teach him or his family how to deal

with this new person he had become. One day he

decided to go out on his own - so he ran. He didnt

know where he was, where he was going or how to

get home but he could run without anyones help -

he felt fantastic!

It was Davids new found independence through

running and the frustration of seeing local brain

injury associations close due to lack of funding that

inspired him to do A Run to Remember: a mara-

thon a day from St. Johns, NL to Victoria, BC. He

is breaking the silence that plagues brain injury and

bringing a voice to this cause so the next David

McGuire wont have to fall through the cracks andstruggle the way he did.

David has partnered with BrainTrust Canada, aprogressive non-governmental organization whosemandate is to aid in the prevention of brain injury;and to improve the quality of life for persons withbrain injury. The association works with organizationssuch as the National Ski Patrol System (CSPS) onnational concussion management, and coordinatessocial marketing programs targeted at the highestrisk group for traumatic brain injury, young males16-24. BrainTrusts protectyourhead.com cam-paign garnered 9 international awards, and namedthe organization the 7th most creative advertiser inCanada. ~ Read more @ www.braintrustcanada.com.

The objective of A Run to Remember is to bring tolight the issue of brain injury to Canadians. De-spite being an epidemic, occurring at comparablelevels of serious mental illness, and having terribleeconomic and human costs, brain injury remains


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unrecognized by the federal and provincial govern-ments.

By undertaking this run, David and BrainTrustCanada hope to help people across the countrybring the epidemic of brain injury to light, encourageprevention strategies, and aid in the development ofeffective programs specifically for people living withacquired brain injury.

David began this journey on March 31, 2011 in St.Johns, NL and has currently completed 915 kmwhich has brought him into the province of NovaScotia as of May 4, 2011. He has been speaking tothe schools and youth at every opportunity alongthe way as well as the media and whoever else willlisten. He is reaching out to others with injury ortheir families to speak out and tell their story - hewants to show Canada how many people havebeen affected by brain injury and how drastic the ef-fects are personally, professionally and financially. It

is more common than most people realize; in everyroom of people he speaks to he is hard pressedto find someone whos life hasnt been affected bybrain injury - so many people just dont recognizeit. ...she hit her head falling off her bike...he hada stroke......its just a concussion These are justsome of the common phrases we hear every daybut how often do we remind ourselves that thatstroke and that concussion are brain injury? Wemay have fancy words for it but at the end of theday it is brain injury and each one is serious no mat-ter how it is labeled.

Organizations such as Foot Solutions, Honda, Rog-

ers, BDO, Best Western, We Care, BrainStreams,

ThinkFirst, SmartRisk, Preventable and The Can-

adian Ski Patrol have joined David and BrainTrust to

make this event possible and start a movement in

Canada.

Every three minutes someone sustains brain in-

jury; that is a lot of Canadians just in the time it has

taken you to read this article.

Be a part of the movement and inspire change in

Canada.

Make a donation! Become a sponsor! Share your

story!

Donations can be made in the following ways:

online through PayPal atwww.runtoremember.com

by texting brain to 45678 to donate $5 on yourcellular phone bill*

by mail to BrainTrust Canada11-368 Industrial Ave, Kelowna, BC, V1Y 7E8

in person to the run team enroute

or at any Scotiabank across Canada

Share your story: email [email protected]

Visit our website www.runtoremember.com

or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Flickr by

searching username: r2rcanada

For more information or to become a sponsor visit

www.runtoremember or contact the run team: run@

braintrustcanada.com or 250-762-3233.*All charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider. Service is available on most

Canadian carriers. Donations are collected for the benefit of A Run To Remember by the Mobile Giving

Foundation and subject to the terms found at www.mobilegiving.ca. You can unsubscribe at any time by

texting STOP to 45678

A M a r a t h o na D a y f o r

B r a i nI n j u r y

sponsored by

I have brain injury but I

can run and I am goingto make a difference.

~ David McGuire

Pave the way forDavid...Buy a Kilometer Online

or

Text brain to 45678to donate $5

w w w . r u n t o r e m e m b e r . c o m

Join the Movement

Help us stop preventable brain injuries , ;

,

-

, - -

.

- , , , , ,

. . . . . . . . .

, .

:

working to reduce preventable brain injury


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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

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Please visit our website at www.connectcommunities.ca


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Every day, thousands of new neurons are producedin the human adult brain. So then why is that peoplewho suffer substantial neuronal loss, such as braininjury survivors, or Alzheimers patients, have perma-nent deficits? You can have a partial liver transplant,however with current technology there is no way toreplace even small portions of the brain. This is be-cause neurons form elegant networks with astound-ing complexity. At a given moment a single neuronmay communicate through thousands of connec-tions. Imagine trying to add new noodles to a moundof spaghetti without disrupting any existing contacts.For this reason, it was thought that once all thesenetworks are established, the brain doesnt change.However this is not the case. Whoever told you thatyou were born with all the brain cells you will everhave was wrong. In the same way you are not the

same person you were ten years ago, the configura-tion of your brain is also influenced by a decade ofexperiences.

In the previous article, the concept of brain plasti-city was introduced. This is simply put as the brainsability to change. A central aspect in being shapedby your experiences is your capacity for learning and

memory. While the implications of adult neurogen-esis arent completely understood, it makes a wholelot of sense that in order to be able to create newmemories, you need to produce new cells. As it turnsout adult neurogenesis only occurs in two regionsof the brain, the olfactory bulb and the hippocam-pus. The former is involved in odor perception, andthe latter is responsible for the consolidation of newmemories. The classic case of a man named HM isa stark illustration. HM suffered severe anterogradeamnesia after having his hippocampus scooped outfor treatment of epilepsy. A great deal of researchsuggests that some of the memory impairment inAlzheimers is associated with a decrease in neuro-genesis in the hippocampus. Also chemotherapyprevents neurogenesis, and patients frequently com-plain of memory problems. While researchers are

still trying to better understand this process it meansone thing exciting, the brain has an innate capacityto regenerate. It begs the question: can we coax thebrain into fixing itself?

The only way a cell can be produced is from thedivision of an existing cell (mitosis). Chances areif youve paid attention to the news in the last ten

Neurogenesis: Hope for Regeneration?~Larissa Szlavik


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years, the term stem cell carries a lot of weight.

Neural stem cells reside in the adult brain. They havethe capacity to grow up to be any type of neuron.However in the same way you need to feed andnurture a baby to make it grow healthy, developingneurons need specific environmental conditions tobecome functional neurons. Thus, there are onlytwo regions that can act as neural nurseries. Newneurons destined for the olfactory bulb come from aregion lining the fluid filled sacs in the middle of thebrain. Those that integrate in parts of the hippocam-pus are produced in a special hippocampal region.While these neurons seem to consistently adhere tothe same fate, there is a lot of controversy whetherthey can be persuaded to move to parts of the brainoutside these two structures.

Neurogenesis occurs in four stages that were char-acterized by the German neuroscientist Gerd Kem-permann. Neural stem cells need to proliferate, toproduce special cells called neural progenitors.These progenitor cells being to commit to a specialcell type, as if to say when I grow up, I will becomea neuron! This stage is termed differentiation. Asthese cells differentiate into immature neurons, theyhave to migrate to the brain region where they willsettle. Once home they then mature into grownup neurons with extensive branches with whichthey will integrate into neuronal networks (see figure).There are many cellular events that drive the stagesof proliferation, differentiation, migration and matura-tion. By manipulating these cell signals with phar-maceuticals or environmental factors, it is possibleto affect the different stages of neurogenesis. In thenatural process, about half of the newly generatedcells survive.

There is much controversy over the purpose of adultneurogenesis. Why would the brain go through the

trouble of a process that is energetically expensive if

half the cells produced die? The brain cannot replacetissue in the vast majority of regions, however somespeculate that the process of adult neurogenesisis the brains way of trying. While medical technol-ogy is a long way from being able to manipulate thisprocess without causing major complications, we atleast know that the brain has the innate ability for re-generation. This is a great leap in the right direction.

From Kempermann et al 2003. The stages of hippo-campal neurogenesis. Type-1 cells are neural stemcells, giving rise to type-2a. Type-2a cells begin tocommit to becoming neurons, and produce types

2b, and 3. Immature neurons have short processesand as they mature these processes grow extensive

branches that allow them to integrate into networks.

ReferencesKempermann, G., Jessberg, S., Steiner, B., and Kronenberg, G.2003. Milestones of neuronal development in the adult hippo-campus. Trends in neurosci. 27(8): 447-452.

About the AuthorLarissa Szlavik is currently a Masters student with the Division ofMedical Sciences at the University of Victoria. Her research fo-cuses on understanding neural stem cells. She can be contactedat [email protected].

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I wanted to lend my voice to that of Janelles re-

garding concussions and the real world and to sup-

port what she has been saying.

We see on TV, we hear on the radio and read in

newspapers and magazines about concussion insport. Back in 1988, I attended a conference inToronto and one of the presenters was Frederick

G. Flynn, DO, FAAN, LTC, Chief Neurobehaviour at

the Walter Reed Medical Centre in Washington, DC.

What struck me about this presentation was the fol-

lowing comments:

In 1928, Martland described the neurological cog-nitive and behaviour features seen in boxers after

long careers. He coined the term, punch drunk for

a syndrome manifested by vertigo, staggering gait,

Parkinson features and mental deterioration.

That was written some 83 years ago. Now, as Ivesaid, we see concussions in virtually every sport;

however, those professional athletes get the best of

attention and we see many donating their brain to

science on their death. Much has been learned.

I wonder just how much of this relatively new re-

search is filtering down into the everyday system.

I fear not that much in reality. Recently, I was as-

sisting one particular family regarding their daugh-

ter, who was an avid soccer, basketball player andan honour student. They shared with me the run

around they had from the medical profession until

she ended up with at least two more concussions

because the first one was not taken seriously. It was

not until she was seen by Dr. Brian Hunt and later

underwent a neuropsychological evaluation and re-

ceived input from an education consultant, that her

life started to improve. She may not have achieved

what she could have prior to sustaining the concus-

sions; however, at least some help for her and her

family was realized. These situations are simply not

acceptable. The chances are had she been a top

athlete at university, she would have got immediate

attention and the outcome would have been, in all

possibility, a great deal better.

I fear for those children and there are far too many

involved in abusive situations or who may be in-

jured in a playground or playing sports that do not

get attention. Without the immediate attention and

proper precautions the likelihood of second and

third concussion is very high. If a child is abused

the chances of getting help is even less likely. I

have met far too many men in prisons who had

concussions from abuse or a fall or from playing

sports, who got no attention whatsoever. Theyended up doing poorly at school and dropping out,

turning to alcohol and/or drugs for self-medication

and then crime.

My big worry is that in spite of all the media atten-

tion, this is not trickling down into the everyday

world. As an example, I had a phone call this

year from a mother whose son was involved in an

incident playing hockey. It was only through her

persistence that they got the right medical help and

the right help for him in school, because the school

was certainly not prepared to recognize the effectsof the concussion.

I must say that parents are not totally blameless.

There are parents who get very upset with coaches

for keeping their son or daughter from playing be-

cause they have great aspirations of them becom-

ing professionals. By the same token, coaches are

not totally innocent. There are those coaches who

teach and coach at school and coach in the com-

munity. In one incident the coach knew perfectly

well that one of his students was not to be playing

for the rest of a particular season, yet he playedher on his community team where she sustained a

second concussion.

In another incident, two young men were taken to

the same hospital following a motor vehicle crash.

Both were similarly injured. One received extremely

good information, including a check sheet, and

was told if certain symptoms showed to contact

the hospital or his family doctor immediately. The

other got absolutely nothing and was just sent

home. This is from the same emergency room but

obviously handled by two very differently trainedprofessionals. These examples in 2011 certainly

indicate that there needs to be a lot more education

and awareness before the system picks up on how

damaging a concussion can be. The one phrase

you hear so often on the radio, TV or read in the

press is: one person was taken to hospital with

non-life threatening head injuries. Maybe it was

not life threatening, but very possibly life altering.

LifeAlteringConcussions~John Simpson


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Gregs Diary Entries~Greg Goldberg

Oct 3, 1998

When Jenny, (my wife at the time), tried to talksome sense into me, I could sense her fear andrage at my reluctance to ask for help. Today, I

politely requested an attendant to aid me withmy balance at shower time. It was the rightthing to do and this simple request put us bothat ease, although I was too stubborn to admitit.

A polite young man, no more than twenty-fiveyears old, wore an animated shower cap thatmade me laugh this morning. He promised tosecurely hold my hand every morning in theshower. Dont hold my hand, Im not a kid!Plus if you hold my hand, youll kind of be inthe shower with me and that my friend would

be very uncomfortable, I lashed out at him.During todays shower, he whistled (not at me),as he stood on the other side of the shower cur-tain while I quickly soaped and shampooed. Iwas too embarrassed to enjoy the feeling of thesoothing warm water fall on my skin with some-one else there. Apparently, this same attendantwould be with me for every shower for the rest ofmy entire stay at R.I.T. (I will make sure thathe is always on the other side of the shower cur-tain and I will demand that he stop whistling.Either that or Ill just stay dirty.

It is funny how you have to learn to enjoy some-thing when you realize that it is desperatelyneeded to help you move forward.

I am becoming quite unhappy with my sur-roundings and the food that the hospitalserved; it is awful. For his night time visits, myfather, my mealtime saviour, would, once in awhile, bring me delicious treats from the localdelicatessen. He knows how much I love delifood (and probably knew how bad it was forme) especially corned beef and dill pickles.

After our visit tonight, which was way too short,I was alone, alone with my corned beef and dillpickle. Even after a hospital meal of tastelesspasta and cold vegetables, I still found enough

strength and space in my stomach to shovel intomy open mouth, some tablespoon mounds ofstale rice pudding with dry brown sugar sprin-kled on top.

My doctors and neurologists are happy with myprogress. They have told me that I am gettingbetter and that I will be going home soon.

I won. I won. However, if they were going tosend me home, I had to agree on one thing. Ihad to agree to have an aide watch over mewhen I was at home alone. I told the rehabteam that it must be someone I know and some-one I liked. They agreed and probably felt sorryfor this new aide of mine. That is when Seancame into my life.

Greg Goldberg is a survivor of brain injury, author and

speaker. To learn more about Greg, or to subscribe to his

monthly newsletter, visit www.tbitalks.com.

Cheshire Homes Society of British Columbia

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14/24

headline 14

A great deal of attention has come to the forefront

about professional athletes sustaining a concus-

sion while playing sports. This has been a hot topic

for the media. I dont think any of us will complain

about the increased awareness it has generated on

what is a concussion, what the challenges are thata player has to cope with after sustaining a concus-

sion, and when it is safe for the athelete to return to

play. It is bittersweet when something happens to

increase brain injury awareness for it means that yet

again, the stats rise. However, knowing that play-

ers are now receiving proper treatment and they are

not being rushed back to the field or ice is what the

brain injury community has strived to achieve for

years.

In the shadows, at least for me, is the concern that

the seriousness and information about concussions,and the prevelance of them beyond sports, is not

filtering down to employers, parents, playground

supervisors, or to the everyday Joe engaging in

recreational sports. A person can sustain a concus-

sion through a work-related incident, a car crash,

or from being assaulted and/or abused. Children

and youth enjoying scooters, skateboards and inline

skates are also at risk and need to be educated on

equipment, safety measures and what to do if they

fall and hit their head. With an aging population, the

possibility of falls and suffering a blow to the headfor the elderly is also a concern.

A concussion, while labelled a mild form of brain

injury, is still a brain injury. An individual does not

have to lose consciousness to have sustained a

brain injury. The outcome of a concussion can be

serious for any one of any age. Dont mistake the

term mild form of brain injury to mean the per-

son should feel fine in just a few days and that

they should be able to get back to life as it was.

Remember every brain is different so how you

would be affected by a concussion may not be how

I would be affected. Each case is different and a

cookie-cutter approach to a persons recovery is

not appropriate. While the individual may look fine

physically, it does not mean they are not strugglingcognitively or with a mulitude of other symptoms

such as fatigue, headaches, poor balance, dizziness

etc. Recovery takes time and pinpointing the time

that each person will need equates to looking into a

crystal ball.

What can we do to ensure that the concussion

stories in the media are translated into everyday

risks for others? We do this we talk about it and

educate people on other ways that a concussion

could happen and help them to understand that the

symptoms are real and can be serious if not dealtwith in an appropriate and timely matter.

The following information on concussions comes

from Brainstreams.ca. I encourage you to visit the

website at www.brainstreams.ca for more informa-

tion on how to cope with the symptoms of a con-

cussion and when to return to work or play.

What is a concussion/mild traumatic brain injury?

A concussion is a mild form of traumatic braininjury

You probably had a concussion if you were:- dazed or confused after your injury,

- lost consciousness (knocked out),

- or cant remember what happened for a short

time before or after your injury

The effects of a concussion can be serious

What causes a concussion?

A direct blow or jolt to the head, face and neck.Could be from a fall, a tackle in a contact sport,

Concussion in Sports and Beyond~Janelle Breese Biagioni

Suite 400 - 601 West BroadwayVancouver, BC V5Z 4C2

toll free 1.800.590.SALTt. 604.871.4306

health

Group Homes Support Home Sharing Rehabilitation

www.saltgrasshealth.com


15/24

headline 15

Pacif icCoastBrainInjuryConferencewww.pcbic.org

BCBrainInjuryAssociationwww. bcbraininjuryassociation.com

CampbellRiverHeadInjurySupportSocietywww.crhead.ca

FraserValleyBrainInjuryAssociationwww.fvbia.org

BrainTrustCanadawww.braintrustcanada.comwww.protectyourhead.com

ComoxValleyHeadInjurySocietywww.cvheadinjury.com

NanaimoBrainInjurySocietywww.nbis.ca.

PowellRiverBrainInjurySocietywww.braininjurysociety.ca

PrinceGeorgeBrainInjuredGroupSocietywww.pgbig.ca

BrainInjuryResourceswww.braininjuryresources.org

OntarioBrainInjuryAssociationwww.obia.on.ca

BrainInjuryAssociationUSAwww.biausa.org

SouthOkanaganSimilkameenBISocietywww.sosbis.com

VictoriaBrainInjurySocietywww.vbis.ca

ThePerspectiveNetworkwww.tbi.org

TheTBIChatRoomwww.tbichat.orgG.F.StrongRehabwww.gfstrong.com

BCEplilepsySocietywww.bcepilepsy.comHeadwayCentre

HoweSoundRehabilitat ionServicesSocietywww.howesound.net

NorthernBrainInjuryAssociationwww.nbia.ca

Headline is a proud supporter of

Learn Connect Find

I N T E R N E T

Resourcesassault, vehicle accident, walking or running into

an obstacle, skateboarding, snowboarding,

explosionand the list goes on

Most concussions can be prevented

After a concussion stop what you are doing, let

someone know what happened and get help

It is very important to seek medical advice as

soon as possible if you think you have had aconcussion

Tell whoever is around you at the time that youthink you have a concussion. They could be a

family member, friend, co-worker, teammate, or

coach.

Immediately stop doing the activity whether it iswork, school, sports or driving

Brain Recovery

In the minutes to days after a concussion, braincells are in a vulnerable state

Usually the symptoms/problems of concussionare temporary and over time will go away

Healing usually happens over several days, but insome cases may take many weeks or months.

Some symptoms may appear right away andsome may appear later

Symptoms may get worse with an increase inactivity

Having had a previous concussion may increasethe time needed to heal

Common concussion symptoms and problems

Thinking Physical Emotional

Difficulty thinkingclearly

Feeling sloweddown

Difficultyconcentrating

Difficultyremembering

new information

Troubleexpressingthoughts andfinding theright words

Headache

Nausea orvomiting (earlyon)

Fuzzy or blurredvision

Dizziness or lightheadedness

Sensitivity tonoise or light

Poor balance

Clumsiness

Changes in sleeppattern

Feeling tired,having no energy

Irritable

Sad, depressed,tearful

More emotional


16/24

headline 16

If you or someone you know has sustained a brain

injury and you are looking for the most up-to-date

information to assist in recovery and rehabilita-

tion www.brainstreams.ca is your go-to place! Therecently launched website is rich with content on

the healthy brain, the injured brain, the journey and

how to move forward in life. From all corners of the

province (or anywhere in the world), people can

connect with experts on topics like: returning to

school, grief and loss, dating and relationships and

brain research. At any time, visitors are invited to

read the stories of others who have or are experi-

encing life after brain injury. As you look through

the plethora of information, if you have a question

for one of the experts, feel free to submit it and we

will forward it on to the expert for that topic. The

following Q & A is taken from the website and dem-

onstrates the help readily available to profession-

als, families, friends, and survivors of brain injury.

Topic: Return to activity following concussion

answered by Alice Rose

Alice Rose has

been the Community

Intervention Co-

ordinator of the Early

Response Concus-

sion Service at GF

Strong Rehab Centre

in Vancouver, BC

since 2002. The Early

Response Concus-

sion Service is one of

two concussion clin-ics for people aged

16 or over in British Columbia. Alice graduated as an

Occupational Therapist from University of Toronto

in 1975 and completed her Masters of Education

in community rehabilitation and disability studies at

University of Calgary in 2002. She received the 2010

Ginney Fearing Learning as a Way of Being award

in recognition of curiosity, application of evidence-

based practice, approaches and enablement of

others.

QuestionHello Alice:

I am a 66 year old woman who is in the process of doing

her masters degree in counselling at UVic. On Septem-

ber 3, 2010 I was rear-ended by a large pickup doing

approximately 80 km. I suffered a whiplash that caused

severe pain in my neck, shoulders and back. Along with

the whiplash I also suffered a concussion. I did not strike

my head, but as you know, one doesnt have to in order

to have a concussion.

After the accident I was having a great deal of trouble

concentrating, focusing, and recalling, as well as put-

ting information to memory. I started to take a herbal

remedy, which did help to take the brain fog away and

did improve some of the above complaints, but I am still

dealing with some memory lapses that are causing me

great concern.

For example, I have lived in the same home for eight

years and I forgot to pay my rent in January. That would

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If youve been seriously

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at Your Fingertips 24/7

www.brainstreams.ca


17/24

headline 17

be a first for me. On my way to my lawyers office I

could not remember if I had reached the street to turn

on or if I had passed it. This is a street I am very famil-

iar with. My ability to visualize, a skill I was constantly

good at seems to be very hit and miss. This is why I

could not visualize whether I had past the street or not.

When reading a section in my class text book I find I

cannot remember what I just read, nor can I compre-

hend what I just read. I am constantly rereading a page.If I do an assignment I can get the job done, but I cannot

remember what I did so I have to constantly review my

work and I still cannot remember the information. The

class I started right after the accident was grueling and

I just barely passed the class.

Prior to the accident I did not suffer any of these mala-

dies. At the end of the day my brain hurts and feels

exhausted. I have gone to a chiropractor and massage

therapist for my neck, shoulders and back, but who do

I go to for my brain? Thank you in advance for help-

ing me solve this problem. As a side note, I have alsodeveloped shingles. I have never had shingles before the

accident.

Sincerely,

M. A.

AnswerDear M.A.,The symptoms you describe following your motor

vehicle crash are commonly experienced following a

concussion and may also be influenced by any pain

and discomfort from your whiplash injury, poor sleep,headaches, dizziness and/or fatigue. As these symp-

toms resolve you will probably find that your thinking

problems also settle down.

Although it is tempting to focus on the difficulties you

have observed in specific situations I would recom-

mend that you first reflect on your overall health.

How well are you sleeping? Falling asleep, stayingasleep and feeling rested and refreshed when you wake

up is very important to your healing and recovery. You

need to have a routine time for going to bed and espe-cially for getting up in the morning.

Are you including some light aerobic activity in your

daily routine? Participating in regular exercise helpsour cognitive performance and also helps with get-

ting a good sleep. I suggest that you either start or

continue with regular light aerobic exercise (walking,

treadmill, stationary bike, swimming or water based

exercises) and gradually increase your participation

(first the frequency, then the duration and lastly the

intensity).

I am sure the demands of graduate studies are quite

stressful. Stress management is another important

component of your recovery as stress can influence

sleep, headaches and cognitive performance. I en-

courage you to apply relaxation techniques, including

meditation.

It is expected that you will continue to recover and

during that process you can improve your cognitive

performance by taking care of your overall well-being,as well as using written reminders, alarms, and/or

personal assistive devices. For example keep track of

your appointments and when bills are due by writing

the details on a calendar; use a daily planner and to

do lists to schedule and track daily or weekly activi-

ties. When learning new material it may also help to

rehearse or repeat information; for example it may be

helpful to read the text out loud or to take time to sum-marize each chapter after reading it.

You mention that your brain sometimes feels exhaust-

ed at the end of the day. People often struggle withphysical and cognitive fatigue following a concussion

so it is important to budget your energy thoughtfully.

Here are some suggestions for energy conservationthat will also help your cognitive function.

Allow some time at the beginning of each day to plan

and priorize the tasks and expectations for the day.

This time would be used to check your daily planner,

e-mail, assignments, review written communicationsand pull information or materials needed for the day

without interruptions or other demands.

Avoid or limit your exposure to noisy, busy or overlystimulating places. It may be helpful to use earplugs

when in a noisy environment or organize your work-

space to minimize clutter and visual distractions. Thiswill help you focus and it will reduce feelings of con-

fusion. For example, turn off the radio or television

when you are trying to study; go to the grocery store

when it is not busy; drive in light traffic.

Work on one assignment or task at a time. Write down

your priorities and your plan. This helps to keep yourfocus and helps you from feeling overwhelmed.

Give yourself more time than usual to complete as-

signments. Work for short periods and take breaks.

This will help reduce the stress that can impact on

your ability to concentrate.

It is important to pace yourself throughout the day

allowing for micro-breaks of 5-10 minutes before you

feel fatigued; it may take you more time to complete

your tasks. When concentration is critical for a task,

pick a time when your energy level is at its best. You

can adjust your effort by pacing i.e. take regular brain


18/24

headline 18

breaks before you experience symptoms (poor concen-

tration, fatigue)

Although the presence of symptoms does not mean you

should not be participating in your academic studies

it is important that you pace yourself and gradually

return to activities both at home and at school. Being

a student is an extremely demanding job as you are

being exposed to new information and learning every

day. If your symptoms increase it is a signal you havepushed too hard and need to adjust your effort.

You may find some other helpful suggestions on this

website http://www.brainstreams.ca/learn/injured-

brain/concussion/coping-symptom...

It may be helpful to contact the Resource Centre for

Students with a Disability at University of Victoria.

They may be able to assist with short term accommo-

dations or supports. Please see their website for more

information http://rcsd.uvic.ca/. I understand that

Victoria General Hospital provides some rehabilitation

services for people who are recovering from an ac-quired brain injury. Please talk to your Family Physi-

cian about the resources available in your community.

Thank you for your excellent question and all the best

with your graduate studies.

Sincerely,

Alice

email : [email protected]

Suite 1450

1188 W Georgia Street

Vancouver BC V6E 4A2

Free initial consultation

Serving clients worldwide

who 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 together

with your rehabilitation team to ensure that you receive the

best possible rehabilitation while at the same time securing full,

lifetime compensation for you and your family.

Our experienced team offers specialized expertise with a human

touch. Give us a call and then decide.

TRAUMATIC BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD INJURY

specializedexpertise with a human touch

Save the Date!February 15 17, 2012

PCBICS 22nd Conference

After an inspiring and thought provoking Conference

in 2010, the Pacific Coast Brain Injury Conference

Society (PCBICS) is pleased to announce the 22nd

Conference will be held February 15 17, 2012 at the

Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel. Other satellite

venues are being confirmed and will be announced

soon. Visit www.brainstreams.ca/conference in

June 2011 for more information on the program,satellite venues and registration. If you would like to

sponsor or exhibit at the Conference, please contact

Rosemary Casson at 604-984-6449 or via email at

[email protected]!


19/24

headline 19

Peg Lalor, a world class windsurfer, avid skier, andself employed entrepreneur, sustained an extremelysevere brain injury in June 2010 after being hit by acar on her bike in downtown Calgary. Peg was in acoma at Foothills Hospital for six weeks, emerging

very slowly over the next six weeks before beingtransferred to the Centennial Centre for Brain Injuryin Ponoka Alberta. At 53 years ofage, Peg is giving heart and soulto relearn lifes most basic skills- and charming the CentennialCentre staff along the way! She isblessed with a wonderful medicalteam, a great mix of humility andhumour, and many friends andfamily to support her along theway. Pegs goal, like many others

in Ferintosh unit, is to one daywalk again!

This past February, one of Pegslong time friends, Cindy Rand(Invermere, BC), pulled togetherthe Peg Lalor Rocks ski teamto compete in this years Dashfor Cash at Sunshine Village inBanff, Alberta. The event wassponsored by the Dave IrwinBrain Injury Foundation, set up inhonour of one of Canadas Crazy

Canucks, whose career endedrather abruptly following a crash during a train-ing run in March 2001. It was Daves survival andongoing recovery from his own severe brain injurythat led to the formation of this important founda-tion. He now has his sights set on helping otherfamilies impacted by the devastation of life alteringbrain injuries. He is a guy busy giving back to hiscommunity.

The Peg Lalor Rocks ski team placed an admirablesecond in this years race, though perhaps more

importantly claimed second prize for their fundrais-ing efforts, raising a total of $8,660 for the DaveIrwin Brain Injury Foundation. The teams mainsponsor, CP Rail, was instrumental in the teamssuccess, contributing the entry fee and supplyingthe team with some pretty slick ski racing gear. CPRail also went the extra mile of connecting Peg tothe action on the mountainside, providing her withan iPad the week before the race and videotap-ing a message from the race course so that shecould be part of this great event. The teams mes-

sage to Peg, including well wishes from a numberof Centennial staff members participating in therace can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XnNaGO-jR0.

As one of Pegs family members, I wanted to share

this story not only to raise awareness about theDave Irwin Brain Injury Foundation but also to high-

light the amazing facility Canadahas in the Centennial Centre forBrain Injury in Alberta. It is myunderstanding that six beds arereserved for BC residents at Cen-tennial Centre but due to the costsassociated with slow rehab (oftena 10-18 month hospital stay) it ap-pears that many of those beds arenot being filled with BC residents.

Though several high profile BCresidents, including Captain TrevorGreen, have spent time at Centen-nial Centre in recent years, manyothers, I suspect, are not being of-fered this kind of rehab opportunity.It is my hope that other BC familieswith less notoriety will also havean opportunity to receive this levelof care. Yes, it is a difficult road forpatients and family alike, but it isalso a once in a lifetime opportun-

ity for severe brain injury survivorsto be given a chance to lead more meaningful lives.Investing in brain injury upfront not only improvesthe lives of patients and families, it saves our med-ical system precious resources in the long run.

My sister Peg still has a tough row to hoe in Albertaand we are told to expect many more bumps alongthe way. She plans to eventually return to Vancouverto be closer to family, but that move will not end herplans for rehab. Peg is keen to pull together a teamof supporters to help her continue working towards

a more independent life in Vancouver. For a girlwho has sported an attitude is everything bumpersticker for years and still has one stuck to her wall inPonoka, I have no doubt she will one day contributesomething very special to the brain injury commun-ity and to our society at large. That future contribu-tion is made possible in no small way by a positive

attitude and the good fortune of landing on Centen-

nial Centres doorstep. Watch this lady carefully ...

shes a real dynamo and has only just begun to wow

you with all she can do!

Peg Lalor and the Dave Irwin Foundation~ Sue Rowan


20/24

headline 20

BCBIA wants to be clear - a blow to the head maycause a brain injury. Protect you and your familyfrom acquiring a brain injury by preventing acci-dents that are known to cause brain injury.

Several names are commonly used for a brain injuryare: Concussion, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) orAcquired Brain Injury (AB). Brain injuries can rangefrom mild to severe. Some brain injuries may notcause permanent deficits; however, others mayresult in long-term, long-lasting serious challenges,including difficulties with cognitive functions.

Brain Injury is for Life Protect Your Head

Think Ahead

1. To avoid falls at home:

Use a step-stool and/or grab bar whenreaching for items in high places

Install safety gates at the top and bottom ofstairways to protect small children and infants

Install grab bars next to the tub and toilet

Prevent youngsters from falling out of upperwindows by installing window guards

Make sure all stairways have handrails

Remove tripping hazards such as scatter rugsand electrical cords

Use non slip rubber mats in showers andbathtubs

Undergo regular eye exams to ensure field ofvision is accurate

Improve balance, strength and coordinationwith a regular exercise program

2. Always wear a seat belt when driving or riding ina vehicle.

3. Do not drive a vehicle or operate equipmentunder the influence of drugs or alcohol.

4. Use a child safety seat, a booster seat or seatbelt according to the childs age height andweight when in a vehicle.

5. Obey the law and store firearms in a lockedcabinet. Ammunition should be stored separately,also in a locked cabinet.

6. Ensure you and your children wear safety helmetswhen:

Playing baseball or softball (batting andrunning bases)

Riding on all-terrain vehicles, seadoos, snowmobiles, motorcycles or bicycles

Participating in skiing, snowboarding, skatingand blading sports/games

Participating in contact sports like hockey,

boxing or football, etc. Horseback riding and when participating in alltypes of racing activities

7. Playgrounds should be surfaced in shockabsorbing sand or with material such as mulch.

BC Brain Injury Association works hard throughoutthe year to get the message out: Think Ahead BeAware. Protect your head. Brain injury is not curable.

To donate, offer project support, become a memberor find out more about what you can do to preventbrain injury, visit our website at BCBrainInjuryAs-

sociation.com or email us at:[email protected]

June is Brain Injury Awareness Month

Be Aware Be PreparedDeborah St. Jean, Executive Administrator, BCBIA

TakeaBreakO G U D B Y C L J G N I K I H N F Z Z NA Q N Y X E D I T L U Z I Q W A T E R VJ G O C A M P I N G I V S L D B T M Z CA A V S B P T I H J A B R O A S N P E VQ F F B D F K R E M M U S H K N E I D IX G E X C S R E W O L F C U F B S V A HC T E S N U S K S I F S I C K I K D A R

H K H C T O C S P O H R N Z E K A N Y WE R V S K M I K V P V Y C U G I T L C OL Z V F N L Z T W E K I I Z N N E C O JM B G G N L P S A S R X P D I G B Q T VE A T A B A E C E C G T E O T S O Z T FT R R R A B T N O L A N D S A D A V A MS B A D T T Q N U O B V N B O U R T G IT E V E H E F R U J P A M Y B O D Z E RY C E N I K N G E S J L T S Y L I N U PX U L I N S P O R T S E F E O C N R N BA E E N G A P D V T M X S W G H G M U SD L W G V B S A N D C A S T L E S S F K

W R X V J D J O F L S C I N H L V T N U

Find the following hidden words:

barbecue gardening summerbasketball helmets sunsetbathing hiking suntanbiking hopscotch tideboating June travelcamping picnics vacationclouds rain vegetablescottage sandcastles waterflowers skateboarding waves

fun sports


21/24

headline 21

HeadsUpWHATS HAPPENING

AROUND THE PROVINCE

BRAINTRUST CANADABraintrust Canada is the organizer of A Run to Remember withDavid McGuire, a brain injury survivor running across Canada toraise funds and increase awareness about brain injury. Davidsstory and up-to-date information on the run appears in this issueof Headline. For more information, call 250-762-3233 or visit thewebsite www.runtoremember.com.

BULKLEY VALLEY BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION (BVBIA)BVBIA offers case management services, and assistance withaccessing rehabilitation programs, one-on-one emotional sup-

port, family support, and social and recreational activities. Formore information, call 250-877-7723.

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

COMOX VALLEY HEAD INJURY SOCIETY (CVHIS)CVHIS hosts a weekly drop in luncheon for a nominal cost tosurvivors 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-in ses-sions and support groups. For more information on FVBIA, call604-557-1913 or (toll free) 1-866-557-1913or e-mail [email protected].

KAMLOOPS BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION (KBIA)KBIA offers many services and programs, including casecoordination and life skills support. For more information, call at250-372-1799.

NANAIMO BRAIN INJURY SOCIETY (NBIS)NBIS offers rehabilitation and case management services, dis-

ability benefits assistance, and workshops focusing on issuesranging from trauma recovery to life skills strategies and angermanagement. For more information, call 250-753-5600 or visittheir 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, familymembers and caregivers included. For more information, call604-485-6065 or toll free 1-866-499-6065.

SOUTH OKANAGAN SIMILKAMEEN BRAIN INJURY SOCI-ETY (SOSBIS)SOSBIS is hosting its Education Day on Friday, June 10, 2011at the Penticton Lakeside Resort. The theme is Living Life Suc-cessfully after a Brain Injury. For more information, visit www.sosbis.com or e-mail [email protected].

TRI-CITIES BRAIN INJURY SUPPORT GROUPAs the sun is shining more often, Tri-Cities Brain Injury SupportGroup is definitely feeling warmer. Each month the group getsbigger and bigger as new members join us. At our meetings,friends get together and discuss interesting topics and do funactivities. Recently, we all met up in New Westminster and metup with Headway, another brain-injury support group. Currently,we are planning a trip to the Vancouver Aquarium. Our meet-ings are on every 1st Thursday of each month from 2 - 4 pmat the Coquitlam Public Library - Poirier Branch on 575 PoirierStreet. For more information, please contact Sandi Caverly at

604-916-5027 or [email protected] or Martin Granger at [email protected]. New members are welcome!

VICTORIA BRAIN INJURY SOCIETY (VBIS)VBIS offers individual and group programs to survivors and theirsupport system. Programs offered include: Peer Support, ABI101, Coping Skills, Personal Enhancement, Creative Arts, a FamilySupport Group and Education & Awareness seminars to communitygroups. For more information call 250-598-9339 or visit www.vbis.ca.

Personal Injury ICBC

Medical Negligence

Bill Morley

Tenacity Persistence Determination

Free home and

hospital visits

[email protected]

Vancouver Calgary Toronto Montreal

Quebec New York London Johannesburg

604 631 3127

Free initial consultation

Percentage feesavailable

Focused on your needs


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headline 22

ReflectionsBy Janelle Breese Biagioni

Perseverance is failing nineteen times

and succeeding the twentieth.~ Julie Andrews

Sudoku SolutionPage 3

9 3 2 5 1 7 8 4 6

5 1 6 8 4 9 7 3 2

7 4 8 3 2 6 5 1 9

2 6 4 9 7 1 3 5 8

3 7 1 6 5 8 9 2 4

8 9 5 4 3 2 1 6 7

4 8 3 2 9 5 6 7 1

1 5 9 7 6 4 2 8 3

6 2 7 1 8 3 4 9 5

Perseverance is defined as a steady persistence in

a course of action and to do so in spite of ob-

stacles or objections. It takes perseverance to over-

come any obstacle in life, but it is especially true for

people working to overcome the deficits of an injury.

The road can be long and hard. Life is different for

the person and family members as unwanted chan-

ges are integrated into their day-to-day routines.

It takes patience, courage, and constant focus tomove forward. The abilities of the injured person

may change, but it does not mean that they cant

go on to experience meaningful, joyful activities and

contribute to society with pride.

The following list of people overcame tremendous

obstacles to do extraordinary things:

Beethoven(composer)-wasdeaf

RayCharles(musician)-wasblindThomasEdison(inventor)-hadalearning

problemAlbertEinstein(scientist)-hadalearning

disabilityTerryFox(runner)-wasanamputeewithcan-

cer

StevieWonder(musician)-isblindJamesEarlJones(actor)-wasastuttererHelenKeller(author)-wasdeafandblind

MarleeMatlin(actress)-isdeafFranklinD.Roosevelt(president)-was

paralyzedfrompolioVincentVanGogh(artist)-wasmentallyillWoodrowWilson(president)-hadalearning

problemItzhakPerlman(concertviolinist)-was

paralyzedfromthewaistdown

StephenHawking(physicist)-has LouGehrigsdiseaseRickHansenparaplegic(ManinMotion)

If you or someone you know is working through

rehabilitation and recovery, choose one of these

individuals for inspiration. Learn everything you can

about them and how they overcame their difficul-

ties. Draw upon their strength and courage to move

beyond the obstacles you are facing. You can doextraordinary things even if your life is far different

from what it was keep on trying keep on smil-

ing!

A team of experienced professionals sensitive to

the needs of both the survivor and the family.

We travel to you

Suite 600-175 Second Avenue, Kamloops, BC V2C 5W1

T: 250.372.1221 TF: 1.800.558.1933E: [email protected]

www.hmzlaw.com

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

We care about your future


23/24

headline 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 Deborah St. Jean 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 Susan Goddard 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 Summer Issue, 2011. SupportGroups


24/24

PM40981507

RETURN UNDELIVERABLE

CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO

5851 Kittiwake Drive

Richmond, BC V7E 3P1

Home.An experiencedbrain injury lawyercan make it happen.

Winning complex brain injury

cases for more than 30 years,

Webster & Associates is a leader

in the field of traumatic brain injury

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

financial goals.

Call us. We can help.

Webster & Associates

Vancouver/Richmond: 604 713 8030

Victoria: 250 589 8030

Toll Free: 1 877 873 0699

email: [email protected]

BRAININJURYLAW.CA

Headline Magazine: Summer 2011

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