A Run to Remember David McGuire is raising awareness across Canada Story Page 6

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1 BRITISH COLUMBIA S VOICE FOR THE BRAIN INJURY COMMUNITY Summer 2011 A Run to Remember David McGuire is raising awareness across Canada Story Page 6 Neurogenesis: Hope for Regeneration? Page 10

2 Major ICBC Injury Claim Lawyers Who Care DEALING EXCLUSIVELY WITH MOTOR VEHICLE CLAIMS FOR CLOSE TO 40 YEARS The hiring of your firm 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) BERNIE SIMPSON C.M. Member Order of Canada Recipient of the Queen s Jubilee Medal E. ANTHONY THOMAS Dealing extensively with Motor Vehicle Accident Cases for over 15 years Our firm handles motor vehicle injury 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 headline 2 Choosing a lawyer to represent you may be the single most important decision of your life! We can help you get your life back on track. Head Office Suite Nelson St. Vancouver, B.C. V6Z 2H (24 Hours) Fax Surrey/Delta Office th St., Delta, B.C. V4C 6P5 BRAIN DAMAGE QUADRIPLEGIA & PARAPLEGIA WRONGFUL DEATH HEAD INJURY SPINAL CORD WHIPLASH

3 Sudoku The 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 Solution on page 22 Message from the Editor Janelle Breese Biagioni Greetings! We may be off to a slow start in terms of the good weather, but nothing has slowed down the work of the Brain Injury Associations province-wide who are preparing for Brain Injury Awareness month in June. Take time to support your local programs by volunteering, making a donation, or stopping in for a coffee to show your 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 of David McGuire. David, a brain injury survivor, is currently running across Canada to raise awareness and funds for brain injury. David s story is inspirational. His efforts will make a difference in the brain injury community and we are proud to show our support by providing you with up-to-date information on his travels. Check out his story and the website This issue also features thoughts about the hot topic of Concussion in Sports. While the world of professional athletes has been instrumental in keeping this issue current and bringing about some needed changes, there is a real concern about how to translate the same message into recreational sports and day-today activities. We welcome your thoughts on this topic and invite you to comments to headlinenews@ shaw.ca. Headline includes information on the Pacific Coast Brain Injury Conference and the education and information-based website in this issue as well. In closing, as you turn your face toward the sun (I promise, there will be some!) have fun and stay safe! Headline is also available in PDF format. If you would like a copy sent to your address contact Mary Lou by at: [email protected] Please add Headline to the subject line Raincoast Community Rehabilitation Services where you live, work and play 2392 Kingsway tel: Vancouver, BC fax: V5R 5G9 toll free: [email protected] headline 3

4 headline is published quarterly by Mike Rossiter 5851 Kittiwake Drive Richmond, BC V7E 3P1 Editor Janelle Breese Biagioni 2031 Gourman Pl Victoria, BC V9B 6A9 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 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: or her at: [email protected] (Please put HEADLINE in subject line of ) Government Resources Regional Health Authority s ABI Coordinators: Fraser Health - Aquired Brain injury Program Interior Health Authority , Contact Name: Deborah Preston Acquired Brain Injury Program, Northern Health Call Vancouver Coastal Health Authority Vancouver Island Health Authority , Contact Name: Judith Armstrong Enquiry BC-to locate Provincial Government Departments Lower Mainland Outside Lower Mainland Victoria Ministry of Advanced Education, Training and Technology: Open Learning Information: In and Outside Lower Mainland Student Loan Information: Lower Mainland Outside Lower Mainland select 1 then 5 Public Guardian & Trustee of British Columbia: West Hastings St. Vancouver, BC V6B 3L3 Victim s Info Line: Adult and Youth Addiction Services: Lower Mainland Outside Lower Mainland Community Resources BC Coalition of People with Disabilities Advocacy Access Program for assistance with provincial and federal disability benefits Lower Mainland Outside Lower Mainland Bus Pass for Persons with Disabilities and Seniors Lower Mainland Outside Lower Mainland Tim Readman, Executive Director Stroke Recovery Association of BC Phone: Toll Free: Cerebral Palsy Association of BC Lower Mainland Voice and TTY Outside Lower Mainland Community Brain Injury Program for Children & Youth in BC Toll Free Epilepsy BC Lower Mainland Outside Lower Mainland Victoria Information Services Vancouver headline 4

5 AWARD HONOURS UVIC PSYCHOLOGY PIONEER CATHERINE MATEER Acclaimed clinical neuropsychology professor and University of Victoria administrator Dr. Catherine Mateer is the inaugural recipient of a new award from the BC Psychological 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 with memory, attention and selfregulation following car accidents, falls and blows to the head. Her work in neuroscience has demonstrated the tremendous neuroplasticity of the brain that can help people compensate for problems, leading to better recoveries and more independence. In my work with people who are experiencing cognitive impairments as a result of brain injury, I have always tried to use scientific theory and methods to develop new interventions and to evaluate their effectiveness, 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 significant and distinguished advancements in the field of psychology using a scientist-practitioner model to bridge science with the application to real people in real situations. Mateer is a professor in UVic s Department of Psychology, a previous director of Clinical Training and former department chair, and is currently UVic s associate vice-president for academic planning. She has authored three books and over 100 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. Most of them address the management of acquired impairments in memory, attention, 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. You re 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 recovery, while we proceed toward obtaining settlement or judgment that allows a sustainable and encouraging new future. Columbia Speech & Language Services Inc. Providing speech and language services to children and adults throughout the Lower Mainland & Fraser Valley since West Broadway Vancouver, B.C. V5Z 1J3 T: E: [email protected] Treatment aimed at community reintegration Personal Injury & Insurance Law #1-505 Fisgard Street Victoria, BC V8W 1R For more information, contact: Barri Marlatt or Lorenzo Oss-Cech JOB #H CLIENT: HUTCHISON, OSS-CECH, MARLATT INSERTION DATE : SPRING 2009 PUBLICATION: HEADLINE MAG headline 5

6 A Run to Remember ~Melissa Wild Just a little run...across Canada! David McGuire is running a marathon a day across our country to raise awareness and funds for brain injury, something that has affected him, his family and his friends very personally and dramatically. In 2005, David suffered a traumatic brain injury - the last thing he remembers is the TV exploding (not literally) - his brain was bleeding, his life was at risk. David s 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 don t 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 shouldn t be. He didn t know why he was there or why the nurse wouldn t let him scratch his head. A part of his skull was still in liquid nitrogen and his brain was still exposed and swollen beyond the limits of his remaining scull - he was trying to scratch his brain essentially - this was not recommended according to the doctor. David didn t have any memory of what happened to him, he didn t 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 discharged 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, dressing 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 professional available to him. The good news is that David is one of the lucky 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 can t, 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 because his disability can t be seen - it s invisible - like so many brain injuries. David explains some of the frustrations of living with his injury... People look at me and don t see anything wrong with me because you can t 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...it s a catch 22. Life is frustrating when I can t get simple words out; I struggle with the most common things. It s not funny that I can t get the word milk out at the local store. People don t know how to react so I get smirked at, it happens all the time. I know it s not their fault, they just don t 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? What s 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. headline 6

7 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 can t 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? David s frustration with his new self, new life, and new dependencies led to immense frustrations. He was dependent on everyone around him to go to the store, the bank, and earn a living. There weren t 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 didn t know where he was, where he was going or how to get home but he could run without anyone s help - he felt fantastic! It was David s 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 marathon a day from St. John s, 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 won t have to fall through the cracks and struggle the way he did. David has partnered with BrainTrust Canada, a progressive non-governmental organization whose mandate is to aid in the prevention of brain injury; and to improve the quality of life for persons with brain injury. The association works with organizations such as the National Ski Patrol System (CSPS) on national concussion management, and coordinates social marketing programs targeted at the highest risk group for traumatic brain injury, young males BrainTrust s protectyourhead.com campaign garnered 9 international awards, and named the organization the 7th most creative advertiser in Canada. ~ Read The objective of A Run to Remember is to bring to light the issue of brain injury to Canadians. Despite being an epidemic, occurring at comparable levels of serious mental illness, and having terrible economic and human costs, brain injury remains 28 years of experience helping brain injured victims and their families. 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 T: Toll-free Fax E: [email protected] West Georgia Street Box 11547, Vancouver Centre Vancouver, BC V6B 4N7 headline 7

8 unrecognized by the federal and provincial governments. By undertaking this run, David and BrainTrust Canada hope to help people across the country bring the epidemic of brain injury to light, encourage prevention strategies, and aid in the development of effective programs specifically for people living with acquired brain injury. David began this journey on March 31, 2011 in St. John s, NL and has currently completed 915 km which has brought him into the province of Nova Scotia as of May 4, He has been speaking to the schools and youth at every opportunity along the way as well as the media and whoever else will listen. He is reaching out to others with injury or their families to speak out and tell their story - he wants to show Canada how many people have been affected by brain injury and how drastic the effects are personally, professionally and financially. It is more common than most people realize; in every room of people he speaks to he is hard pressed to find someone who s life hasn t been affected by brain injury - so many people just don t recognize it....she hit her head falling off her bike...he had a stroke...it s just a concussion These are just some of the common phrases we hear every day but how often do we remind ourselves that that stroke and that concussion are brain injury? We may have fancy words for it but at the end of the day it is brain injury and each one is serious no matter how it is labeled. headline 8 Organizations such as Foot Solutions, Honda, Rogers, BDO, Best Western, We Care, BrainStreams, ThinkFirst, SmartRisk, Preventable and The Canadian Ski Patrol have joined David and BrainTrust to make this event possible and start a movement in Canada. Every three minutes someone sustains brain injury; that is a lot of Canadians just in the time it has taken you to read this article. sponsored by Pave the way for David... Buy a Kilometer Online or Text ʻ brainʼ to to donate $5 A Marathon a Day for B r a i n Injury I have brain injury but I can run and I am going to make a difference. ~ David McGuire working to reduce preventable brain injury Join the Movement Help us stop preventable brain injuries It s about making the right decision, take only the smart risks such as; check how much water there is before you dive in don t drink and drive, or get in the car with someone who has been drinking Be a part of the don t text movement while driving and inspire change in wear the gear - helmets prevent up to 88% of brain injuries Canada. 175,000 people in Canada get brain injury every year - that s 480 people per day - more than a Boeing 747! Make a donation! Become a sponsor! Share your Youth are at the highest risk for brain injury. story! Your brain controls everything - breathing, sense of smell, personality, walking, memory, and your ability to learn and make decisions... but... your brain doesn t heal like your arms and legs... brain injury is permanent. Donations can be made in the following ways: Prevention is the only cure! online through PayPal at Through events such as A Run to Remember, we seek to create a lasting legacy for this cause. For more information or to provide support go to: and by texting brain to to donate $5 on your cellular phone bill* HOW? by mail to BrainTrust Canada Industrial Ave, Kelowna, BC, V1Y 7E8 in person to the run team enroute or at any Scotiabank across Canada Share your story: [email protected] Visit our website or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Flickr by searching username: r2rcanada For more information or to become a sponsor visit or contact the run team: run@ braintrustcanada.com or *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 You can unsubscribe at any time by texting STOP to 45678

9 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 guided by rehab professionals, designed for each individual s unique needs and implemented on a daily basis. CONNECT s mission is simple...to make lives better. In Langley call In Lake Country call Janette Jackman Christy McKeating [email protected] [email protected] Please visit our website at headline 9

10 Neurogenesis: Hope for Regeneration? ~Larissa Szlavik Every day, thousands of new neurons are produced in the human adult brain. So then why is that people who suffer substantial neuronal loss, such as brain injury survivors, or Alzheimer s patients, have permanent deficits? You can have a partial liver transplant, however with current technology there is no way to replace even small portions of the brain. This is because neurons form elegant networks with astounding complexity. At a given moment a single neuron may communicate through thousands of connections. Imagine trying to add new noodles to a mound of spaghetti without disrupting any existing contacts. For this reason, it was thought that once all these networks are established, the brain doesn t change. However this is not the case. Whoever told you that you were born with all the brain cells you will ever have was wrong. In the same way you are not the same person you were ten years ago, the configuration of your brain is also influenced by a decade of experiences. In the previous article, the concept of brain plasticity was introduced. This is simply put as the brain s ability to change. A central aspect in being shaped by your experiences is your capacity for learning and memory. While the implications of adult neurogenesis aren t completely understood, it makes a whole lot of sense that in order to be able to create new memories, you need to produce new cells. As it turns out adult neurogenesis only occurs in two regions of the brain, the olfactory bulb and the hippocampus. The former is involved in odor perception, and the latter is responsible for the consolidation of new memories. The classic case of a man named HM is a stark illustration. HM suffered severe anterograde amnesia after having his hippocampus scooped out for treatment of epilepsy. A great deal of research suggests that some of the memory impairment in Alzheimer s is associated with a decrease in neurogenesis in the hippocampus. Also chemotherapy prevents neurogenesis, and patients frequently complain of memory problems. While researchers are still trying to better understand this process it means one thing exciting, the brain has an innate capacity to regenerate. It begs the question: can we coax the brain into fixing itself? The only way a cell can be produced is from the division of an existing cell (mitosis). Chances are if you ve paid attention to the news in the last ten PAINE EDMONDS LLP - PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS headline 10 Kirsten Madsen Steve Heringa Brad Garside LET OUR EXPERIENCE WORK FOR YOU ICBC CLAIMS BRAIN INJURY SPINAL INJURY DISABILITY INSURANCE Free Initial Consultation No fees until you collect Home and Hospital Visits Call us now or toll free [email protected]

11 years, the term stem cell carries a lot of weight. Neural stem cells reside in the adult brain. They have the capacity to grow up to be any type of neuron. However in the same way you need to feed and nurture a baby to make it grow healthy, developing neurons need specific environmental conditions to become functional neurons. Thus, there are only two regions that can act as neural nurseries. New neurons destined for the olfactory bulb come from a region lining the fluid filled sacs in the middle of the brain. Those that integrate in parts of the hippocampus are produced in a special hippocampal region. While these neurons seem to consistently adhere to the same fate, there is a lot of controversy whether they can be persuaded to move to parts of the brain outside these two structures. Neurogenesis occurs in four stages that were characterized by the German neuroscientist Gerd Kempermann. Neural stem cells need to proliferate, to produce special cells called neural progenitors. These progenitor cells being to commit to a special cell type, as if to say when I grow up, I will become a neuron! This stage is termed differentiation. As these cells differentiate into immature neurons, they have to migrate to the brain region where they will settle. Once home they then mature into grown up neurons with extensive branches with which they will integrate into neuronal networks (see figure). There are many cellular events that drive the stages of proliferation, differentiation, migration and maturation. By manipulating these cell signals with pharmaceuticals or environmental factors, it is possible to affect the different stages of neurogenesis. In the natural process, about half of the newly generated cells survive. There is much controversy over the purpose of adult neurogenesis. Why would the brain go through the trouble of a process that is energetically expensive if half the cells produced die? The brain cannot replace tissue in the vast majority of regions, however some speculate that the process of adult neurogenesis is the brain s way of trying. While medical technology is a long way from being able to manipulate this process without causing major complications, we at least know that the brain has the innate ability for regeneration. This is a great leap in the right direction. From Kempermann et al The stages of hippocampal neurogenesis. Type-1 cells are neural stem cells, giving rise to type-2a. Type-2a cells begin to commit to becoming neurons, and produce types 2b, and 3. Immature neurons have short processes and as they mature these processes grow extensive branches that allow them to integrate into networks. References Kempermann, G., Jessberg, S., Steiner, B., and Kronenberg, G Milestones of neuronal development in the adult hippocampus. Trends in neurosci. 27(8): About the Author Larissa Szlavik is currently a Master s student with the Division of Medical Sciences at the University of Victoria. Her research focuses on understanding neural stem cells. She can be contacted at [email protected]. community therapists Building skills. Empowering people. TM Community Integration Driver Rehabilitation Vocational Rehabilitation OTs, PTs, SLPs, RAs GVRD, Fraser Valley, Van. Island, Sea-to-Sky , Ext 153 # Cambie St. Vancouver, BC V5Z 3A6 headline 11

12 Life Altering Concussions ~John Simpson I wanted to lend my voice to that of Janelle s regarding concussions and the real world and to support what she has been saying. We see on TV, we hear on the radio and read in newspapers and magazines about concussion in sport. Back in 1988, I attended a conference in Toronto 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 following comments: In 1928, Martland described the neurological cognitive 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 I ve said, 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 research is filtering down into the everyday system. I fear not that much in reality. Recently, I was assisting one particular family regarding their daughter, who was an avid soccer, basketball player and an 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 received input from an education consultant, that her life started to improve. She may not have achieved what she could have prior to sustaining the concussions; 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 injured 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. They ended 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 attention, 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 effects of 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 because they have great aspirations of them becoming professionals. By the same token, coaches are not totally innocent. There are those coaches who teach and coach at school and coach in the community. 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 played her 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 trained professionals. 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. headline 12

13 Greg s Diary Entries ~Greg Goldberg Oct 3, 1998 When Jenny, (my wife at the time), tried to talk some sense into me, I could sense her fear and rage at my reluctance to ask for help. Today, I politely requested an attendant to aid me with my balance at shower time. It was the right thing to do and this simple request put us both at ease, although I was too stubborn to admit it. A polite young man, no more than twenty-five years old, wore an animated shower cap that made me laugh this morning. He promised to securely hold my hand every morning in the shower. Don t hold my hand, I m not a kid! Plus if you hold my hand, you ll kind of be in the shower with me and that my friend would be very uncomfortable, I lashed out at him. During today s shower, he whistled (not at me), as he stood on the other side of the shower curtain while I quickly soaped and shampooed. I was too embarrassed to enjoy the feeling of the soothing warm water fall on my skin with someone else there. Apparently, this same attendant would be with me for every shower for the rest of my entire stay at R.I.T. (I will make sure that he is always on the other side of the shower curtain and I will demand that he stop whistling. Either that or I ll just stay dirty. It is funny how you have to learn to enjoy something when you realize that it is desperately needed to help you move forward. I am becoming quite unhappy with my surroundings and the food that the hospital served; it is awful. For his night time visits, my father, my mealtime saviour, would, once in a while, bring me delicious treats from the local delicatessen. He knows how much I love deli food (and probably knew how bad it was for me) especially corned beef and dill pickles. Cheshire Homes Society of British Columbia Acceptance, Empowerment, Independence, Opportunity Providing Transitional, Slower Stream and Apartment Based Rehabilitation Programs for Acquired Brain Injury since Cheshire Homes Society of BC, Head Office # th Avenue New Westminster, BC, V3M 1X4 Phone: (604) a member of the Leonard Cheshire Disability Global Alliance After our visit tonight, which was way too short, I was alone, alone with my corned beef and dill pickle. Even after a hospital meal of tasteless pasta and cold vegetables, I still found enough strength and space in my stomach to shovel into my open mouth, some tablespoon mounds of stale rice pudding with dry brown sugar sprinkled on top. My doctors and neurologists are happy with my progress. They have told me that I am getting better and that I will be going home soon. I won. I won. However, if they were going to send me home, I had to agree on one thing. I had to agree to have an aide watch over me when I was at home alone. I told the rehab team that it must be someone I know and someone I liked. They agreed and probably felt sorry for this new aide of mine. That is when Sean came 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 ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURY (ABI)?... with an ABI, a One-Day Functional Capacity Evaluation is not enough to determine ability to return to work... INTRODUCING THE 3-DAY ABI WORK CAPACITY ASSESSMENT...a longer assessment allows for a comprehensive evaluation of the multiple symptoms associated with Acquired Brain Injury... The 3-DAY ABI WORK CAPACITY ASSESSMENT WILL GATHER OBJECTIVE INFORMATION REGARDING: Physical ability to perform work tasks Cognitive skills to complete work demands Behavioural skills to participate in work relationships Call us for more information OT CONSULTING/TREATMENT SERVICES LTD Lougheed Highway, Vancouver, BC V5M 2A4 T: F: E: [email protected] headline 13

14 Concussion in Sports and Beyond ~Janelle Breese Biagioni A great deal of attention has come to the forefront about professional athletes sustaining a concussion while playing sports. This has been a hot topic for the media. I don t think any of us will complain about the increased awareness it has generated on what is a concussion, what the challenges are that a player has to cope with after sustaining a concussion, 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 players 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 concussion 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 head for 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. Don t mistake the term mild form of brain injury to mean the person 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 person s recovery is not appropriate. While the individual may look fine physically, it does not mean they are not struggling cognitively 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 dealt with in an appropriate and timely matter. The following information on concussions comes from Brainstreams.ca. I encourage you to visit the website at for more information on how to cope with the symptoms of a concussion and when to return to work or play. What is a concussion/mild traumatic brain injury? A concussion is a mild form of traumatic brain injury You probably had a concussion if you were: - dazed or confused after your injury, - lost consciousness (knocked out), - or can t 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, Suite West Broadway Vancouver, BC V5Z 4C2 toll free SALT t headline 14 health Group Homes Support Home Sharing Rehabilitation

15 assault, vehicle accident, walking or running into an obstacle, skateboarding, snowboarding, explosion and 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 a concussion Tell whoever is around you at the time that you think you have a concussion. They could be a family member, friend, co-worker, teammate, or coach. Immediately stop doing the activity whether it is work, school, sports or driving Brain Recovery In the minutes to days after a concussion, brain cells are in a vulnerable state Usually the symptoms/problems of concussion are temporary and over time will go away Healing usually happens over several days, but in some cases may take many weeks or months. Some symptoms may appear right away and some may appear later Symptoms may get worse with an increase in activity Having had a previous concussion may increase the time needed to heal Common concussion symptoms and problems Thinking Physical Emotional Difficulty thinking clearly Feeling slowed down Difficulty concentrating Difficulty remembering new information Trouble expressing thoughts and finding the right words Headache Nausea or vomiting (early on) Fuzzy or blurred vision Dizziness or light headedness Sensitivity to noise or light Poor balance Clumsiness Changes in sleep pattern Feeling tired, having no energy Irritable Sad, depressed, tearful More emotional Resources I N T E R N E T Headline is a proud supporter of Learn Connect Find Pacific Coast Brain Injury Conference BC Brain Injury Association www. bcbraininjuryassociation.com Campbell River Head Injury Support Society Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association Brain Trust Canada Comox Valley Head Injury Society Nanaimo Brain Injury Society Powell River Brain Injury Society Prince George Brain Injured Group Society Brain Injury Resources Ontario Brain Injury Association Brain Injury Association USA South Okanagan Similkameen BI Society Victoria Brain Injury Society The Perspective Network The TBI Chat Room G.F. Strong Rehab BC Eplilepsy Society Headway Centre Howe Sound Rehabilitation Services Society Northern Brain Injury Association headline 15

16 The Most Up-to-date Information on Brain Injury at Your Fingertips 24/7 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 rehabilitation is your go-to place! The recently 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 experiencing 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 demonstrates the help readily available to professionals, families, friends, and survivors of brain injury. Personal Injury We can help If you ve been seriously injured by someone else, we will achieve a fair resolution to properly compensate you. Mair Jensen Blair LLP Lawyers Lansdowne Street, Kamloops, BC V2C 6H6 Phone: (250) Toll Free: Visit our website at Topic: Return to activity following concussion answered by Alice Rose Alice Rose has been the Community Intervention Coordinator of the Early Response Concussion Service at GF Strong Rehab Centre in Vancouver, BC since The Early Response Concussion Service is one of two concussion clinics for people aged 16 or over in British Columbia. Alice graduated as an Occupational Therapist from University of Toronto in 1975 and completed her Master s of Education in community rehabilitation and disability studies at University of Calgary in She received the 2010 Ginney Fearing Learning as a Way of Being award in recognition of curiosity, application of evidencebased practice, approaches and enablement of others. Question Hello Alice: I am a 66 year old woman who is in the process of doing her master s degree in counselling at UVic. On September 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 doesn t 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 putting 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 headline 16

17 be a first for me. On my way to my lawyer s offi ce 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 familiar 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 fi nd I cannot remember what I just read, nor can I comprehend 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 maladies. 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 helping me solve this problem. As a side note, I have also developed shingles. I have never had shingles before the accident. Sincerely, M. A. Answer Dear 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 symptoms 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 recommend that you first reflect on your overall health. How well are you sleeping? Falling asleep, staying asleep 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 especially for getting up in the morning. Are you including some light aerobic activity in your daily routine? Participating in regular exercise helps our cognitive performance and also helps with getting 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 encourage 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 activities. 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 summarize each chapter after reading it. You mention that your brain sometimes feels exhausted at the end of the day. People often struggle with physical and cognitive fatigue following a concussion so it is important to budget your energy thoughtfully. Here are some suggestions for energy conservation that 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, , assignments, review written communications and pull information or materials needed for the day without interruptions or other demands. Avoid or limit your exposure to noisy, busy or overly stimulating places. It may be helpful to use earplugs when in a noisy environment or organize your workspace to minimize clutter and visual distractions. This will help you focus and it will reduce feelings of confusion. 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 your focus and helps you from feeling overwhelmed. Give yourself more time than usual to complete assignments. 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 headline 17

18 breaks before you experience symptoms (poor concentration, 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 have pushed too hard and need to adjust your effort. You may find some other helpful suggestions on this website 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 accommodations or supports. Please see their website for more information I understand that Victoria General Hospital provides some rehabilitation services for people who are recovering from an acquired brain injury. Please talk to your Family Physician about the resources available in your community. Thank you for your excellent question and all the best with your graduate studies. Sincerely, Alice Save the Date! February 15 17, 2012 PCBIC S 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 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 or via at [email protected]. See you there! TRAUMATIC BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD INJURY 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. Free initial consultation Serving clients worldwide who have been injured in BC Suite W Georgia Street Vancouver BC V6E 4A2 Flexible appointment times & locations convenient for you Handle all legal expenses Tel: Fax: Toll Free: [email protected] specialized expertise with a human touch headline 18

19 Peg Lalor and the Dave Irwin Foundation ~ Sue Rowan Peg Lalor, a world class windsurfer, avid skier, and self employed entrepreneur, sustained an extremely severe brain injury in June 2010 after being hit by a car on her bike in downtown Calgary. Peg was in a coma at Foothill s Hospital for six weeks, emerging very slowly over the next six weeks before being transferred to the Centennial Centre for Brain Injury in Ponoka Alberta. At 53 years of age, Peg is giving heart and soul to relearn life s most basic skills - and charming the Centennial Centre staff along the way! She is blessed with a wonderful medical team, a great mix of humility and humour, and many friends and family to support her along the way. Peg s goal, like many others in Ferintosh unit, is to one day walk again! This past February, one of Peg s long time friends, Cindy Rand (Invermere, BC), pulled together the Peg Lalor Rocks ski team to compete in this year s Dash for Cash at Sunshine Village in Banff, Alberta. The event was sponsored by the Dave Irwin Brain Injury Foundation, set up in honour of one of Canada s Crazy Canuck s, whose career ended rather abruptly following a crash during a training run in March It was Dave s survival and ongoing recovery from his own severe brain injury that led to the formation of this important foundation. He now has his sights set on helping other families impacted by the devastation of life altering brain injuries. He is a guy busy giving back to his community. The Peg Lalor Rocks ski team placed an admirable second in this year s race, though perhaps more importantly claimed second prize for their fundraising efforts, raising a total of $8,660 for the Dave Irwin Brain Injury Foundation. The team s main sponsor, CP Rail, was instrumental in the team s success, contributing the entry fee and supplying the team with some pretty slick ski racing gear. CP Rail also went the extra mile of connecting Peg to the action on the mountainside, providing her with an ipad the week before the race and videotaping a message from the race course so that she could be part of this great event. The team s message to Peg, including well wishes from a number of Centennial staff members participating in the race can be found at watch?v=3xnnago-jr0. As one of Peg s family members, I wanted to share this story not only to raise awareness about the Dave Irwin Brain Injury Foundation but also to highlight the amazing facility Canada has in the Centennial Centre for Brain Injury in Alberta. It is my understanding that six beds are reserved for BC residents at Centennial Centre but due to the costs associated with slow rehab (often a month hospital stay) it appears that many of those beds are not being filled with BC residents. Though several high profile BC residents, including Captain Trevor Green, have spent time at Centennial Centre in recent years, many others, I suspect, are not being offered this kind of rehab opportunity. It is my hope that other BC families with less notoriety will also have an opportunity to receive this level of care. Yes, it is a difficult road for patients and family alike, but it is also a once in a lifetime opportunity for severe brain injury survivors to be given a chance to lead more meaningful lives. Investing in brain injury upfront not only improves the lives of patients and families, it saves our medical system precious resources in the long run. My sister Peg still has a tough row to hoe in Alberta and we are told to expect many more bumps along the way. She plans to eventually return to Vancouver to be closer to family, but that move will not end her plans for rehab. Peg is keen to pull together a team of supporters to help her continue working towards a more independent life in Vancouver. For a girl who has sported an attitude is everything bumper sticker for years and still has one stuck to her wall in Ponoka, I have no doubt she will one day contribute something very special to the brain injury community and to our society at large. That future contribution is made possible in no small way by a positive attitude and the good fortune of landing on Centennial Centre s doorstep. Watch this lady carefully... she s a real dynamo and has only just begun to wow you with all she can do! headline 19

20 BCBIA wants to be clear - a blow to the head may cause a brain injury. Protect you and your family from acquiring a brain injury by preventing accidents that are known to cause brain injury. Several names are commonly used for a brain injury are: Concussion, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or Acquired Brain Injury (AB). Brain injuries can range from mild to severe. Some brain injuries may not cause permanent deficits; however, others may result 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 when reaching for items in high places Install safety gates at the top and bottom of stairways to protect small children and infants Install grab bars next to the tub and toilet Prevent youngsters from falling out of upper windows by installing window guards Make sure all stairways have handrails Remove tripping hazards such as scatter rugs and electrical cords Use non slip rubber mats in showers and bathtubs Undergo regular eye exams to ensure field of vision is accurate Improve balance, strength and coordination with a regular exercise program 2. Always wear a seat belt when driving or riding in a vehicle. 3. Do not drive a vehicle or operate equipment under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 4. Use a child safety seat, a booster seat or seat belt according to the child s age height and weight when in a vehicle. 5. Obey the law and store firearms in a locked cabinet. Ammunition should be stored separately, also in a locked cabinet. 6. Ensure you and your children wear safety helmets when: Playing baseball or softball (batting and running bases) Riding on all-terrain vehicles, seadoos, snow mobiles, motorcycles or bicycles headline 20 June is Brain Injury Awareness Month Be Aware Be Prepared Deborah St. Jean, Executive Administrator, BCBIA Participating in skiing, snowboarding, skating and blading sports/games Participating in contact sports like hockey, boxing or football, etc. Horseback riding and when participating in all types of racing activities 7. Playgrounds should be surfaced in shock absorbing sand or with material such as mulch. BC Brain Injury Association works hard throughout the year to get the message out: Think Ahead Be Aware. Protect your head. Brain injury is not curable. To donate, offer project support, become a member or find out more about what you can do to prevent brain injury, visit our website at BCBrainInjuryAssociation.com or us at: [email protected] Take a Break O G U D B Y C L J G N I K I H N F Z Z N A Q N Y X E D I T L U Z I Q W A T E R V J G O C A M P I N G I V S L D B T M Z C A A V S B P T I H J A B R O A S N P E V Q F F B D F K R E M M U S H K N E I D I X G E X C S R E W O L F C U F B S V A H C 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 W E R V S K M I K V P V Y C U G I T L C O L Z V F N L Z T W E K I I Z N N E C O J M B G G N L P S A S R X P D I G B Q T V E A T A B A E C E C G T E O T S O Z T F T R R R A B T N O L A N D S A D A V A M S B A D T T Q N U O B V N B O U R T G I T E V E H E F R U J P A M Y B O D Z E R Y C E N I K N G E S J L T S Y L I N U P X U L I N S P O R T S E F E O C N R N B A E E N G A P D V T M X S W G H G M U S D 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 summer basketball helmets sunset bathing hiking suntan biking hopscotch tide boating June travel camping picnics vacation clouds rain vegetables cottage sandcastles water flowers skateboarding waves fun sports

21 Heads Up WHAT S HAPPENING AROUND THE PROVINCE BRAINTRUST CANADA Braintrust Canada is the organizer of A Run to Remember with David McGuire, a brain injury survivor running across Canada to raise funds and increase awareness about brain injury. David s story and up-to-date information on the run appears in this issue of Headline. For more information, call or visit the website BULKLEY VALLEY BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION (BVBIA) BVBIA offers case management services, and assistance with accessing rehabilitation programs, one-on-one emotional support, family support, and social and recreational activities. For more information, call CAMPBELL RIVER HEAD INJURY SUPPORT SOCIETY (CRHISS) CRHISS provides education, advocacy, support, and fellowship. For more information, call COMOX VALLEY HEAD INJURY SOCIETY (CVHIS) CVHIS hosts a weekly drop in luncheon for a nominal cost to survivors and their families. For more information, call or visit, FRASER VALLEY BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION (FVBIA) FVBIA Brain Injury Association offers programs, drop-in sessions and support groups. For more information on FVBIA, call or (toll free) or [email protected]. KAMLOOPS BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION (KBIA) KBIA offers many services and programs, including case coordination and life skills support. For more information, call at NANAIMO BRAIN INJURY SOCIETY (NBIS) NBIS offers rehabilitation and case management services, disability benefits assistance, and workshops focusing on issues ranging from trauma recovery to life skills strategies and anger management. For more information, call or visit their website at POWELL RIVER BRAIN INJURY SOCIETY (PRBIS) PRBIS provides support and services for persons with acquired brain injury, spouses, family members and caregivers included. For more information, call or toll free SOUTH OKANAGAN SIMILKAMEEN BRAIN INJURY SOCI- ETY (SOSBIS) SOSBIS is hosting its Education Day on Friday, June 10, 2011 at the Penticton Lakeside Resort. The theme is Living Life Successfully after a Brain Injury. For more information, visit www. sosbis.com or [email protected]. TRI-CITIES BRAIN INJURY SUPPORT GROUP As the sun is shining more often, Tri-Cities Brain Injury Support Group is definitely feeling warmer. Each month the group gets bigger and bigger as new members join us. At our meetings, friends get together and discuss interesting topics and do fun activities. Recently, we all met up in New Westminster and met up with Headway, another brain-injury support group. Currently, we are planning a trip to the Vancouver Aquarium. Our meetings are on every 1st Thursday of each month from 2-4 pm at the Coquitlam Public Library - Poirier Branch on 575 Poirier Street. For more information, please contact Sandi Caverly at 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 their support system. Programs offered include: Peer Support, ABI 101, Coping Skills, Personal Enhancement, Creative Arts, a Family Support Group and Education & Awareness seminars to community groups. For more information call or visit Personal Injury ICBC Medical Negligence Vancouver Calgary Toronto Montreal Quebec New York London Johannesburg Tenacity Persistence Determination Free initial consultation Percentage fees available Focused on your needs Bill Morley Free home and hospital visits [email protected] headline 21

22 Reflections By Janelle Breese Biagioni Perseverance is failing nineteen times and succeeding the twentieth. ~ Julie Andrews Perseverance is defined as a steady persistence in a course of action and to do so in spite of obstacles or objections. It takes perseverance to overcome 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 changes are integrated into their day-to-day routines. It takes patience, courage, and constant focus to move forward. The abilities of the injured person may change, but it does not mean that they can t 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: David Marr Q.C. Kevin Cowan Danielle Leslie Joseph Zak We care about your future A team of experienced professionals sensitive to the needs of both the survivor and the family. Beethoven (composer) - was deaf Ray Charles (musician) - was blind Thomas Edison (inventor) - had a learning problem Albert Einstein (scientist) - had a learning disability Terry Fox (runner) - was an amputee with cancer Stevie Wonder (musician) - is blind James Earl Jones (actor) - was a stutterer Helen Keller (author) - was deaf and blind Marlee Matlin (actress) - is deaf Franklin D. Roosevelt (president) - was paralyzed from polio Vincent Van Gogh (artist) - was mentally ill Woodrow Wilson (president) - had a learning problem Itzhak Perlman (concert violinist) - was paralyzed from the waist down Stephen Hawking (physicist) - has Lou Gehrig s disease Rick Hansen paraplegic (Man in Motion) 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 difficulties. Draw upon their strength and courage to move beyond the obstacles you are facing. You can do extraordinary things even if your life is far different from what it was keep on trying keep on smiling! headline 22 We travel to you Suite Second Avenue, Kamloops, BC V2C 5W1 T: TF: E: [email protected] Sudoku Solution Page

23 BC BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATIONS & * This list updated Summer Issue, Support Groups Abbotsford Carol Paetkau TF Acquired Brain Injury Society of the Yukon Anne-Marie Yahn Alberni Valley Head Injury Society/Port Alberni Linda Kenny Barriere/Merritt Terry-Lynne Stone British Columbia Brain Injury Association Deborah St. Jean Brain Trust Canada Laurie Denton Brain Trust Canada - Vernon Contact Marcie McLeod Bulkley Valley Brain Injury Association Katherine Metz Burnaby Chinese Brain Injury Support Group Angela Kan Campbell River Head Injury Support Society Shelley Howard Caribou Brain Injury Society Shilo Toews Chilliwack FVBIA TF Comox Valley Brain Injury Society Dixon Hiscock Comox Valley Head Injury Society Jeremy Coombs Cowichan Valley Head Injury Support Group Barb Grantham East Kootenay Brain Injury Association Dawn Widdifield Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association Carol Paetkau TF Golden Brain Injury Support Group Donna Madden Kamloops Brain Injury Association Terry-Lynn Stone KBIA - Salmon Arm/Shuswap Contact Teresa Wolfe KBIA - Barriere/Merrit Contact Terry-Lynn Stone Langley/Aldergrove Brain Injury Support Group FVBIA TF Maple Ridge Support Group Ian Moore Mission FVBIA TF Nanaimo Brain Injury Society Mark Busby New Westminster Headway Gabrielle Pape B.R.A.I.N. (Brain Resource, Advocacy & Information Network) Tina Suter North Okanagan Shuswap Brain Injury Society (Salmon Arm/Shuswap) Robyn Coatta Northern Brain Injury Association Carmen Jose Peace Country Society for Acquired Brain Injury Linda Proctor Powell River Brain Injury Society Deborah Dee Prince George Brain Injured Group Society Alison Hagreen TF Sechelt/Sunshine Coast Brain Injury Support Group Susan Goddard South Okanagan Similkameen Brain Injury Society Dave Head Terrace Brain Injury Support Group NBIA TriCities Support Group Sandy Caverly Vancouver Headway Leah Pentilla Vancouver Survivors Support Group Lillian Wong Victoria Brain Injury Society Barbara Erickson West Coast Support Network Wanda McAvoy West Kootenay Brain Injury Association Kim Johnson *Please name and phone number changes to [email protected] to ensure this list is kept as up-to-date as possible. headline 23

24 PM RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO 5851 Kittiwake Drive Richmond, BC V7E 3P1 Home. An experienced brain injury lawyer can 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 their families reach their personal and financial goals. BRAININJURYLAW. CA Call us. We can help. Webster & Associates Vancouver/Richmond: Victoria: Toll Free: [email protected]