Another Fork in the Road

Abby Maslin is the caregiver for her husband, TC. who was brutally beaten and left for dead. TC now lives with a traumatic brain injury. Abby tells their story of how they are piecing their lives back together again.   Every TBI survivor and caregiver has encountered a fork in the road that has diverted his or her life-plan. A car accident, a fall from the roof, doing one more chin-up, or a door l...

Brain Injury causes all kinds of issues. It can cause emotional and behavioral problems, It can cause many physical disabilities and it also can interfere with cognitive thinking. Planning and organization skills are just some of the things that are affected by brain injury. Don't forget to listen.   Every TBI survivor and caregiver has encountered a fork in the road that has diverted his or her l...

You never know what life will offer. Sometimes it presents unexpected happy events like running into a long, lost friend. Other times it slaps you in the face with unwanted events like falling on a prickly cactus on a desert hike. Sometimes it puts you in the wrong place at the wrong time. Nolan McDonnell was in the wrong place at the wrong time when he became a victim of a robbery and was shot in...

Effects of brain injury don't always appear at the onset of the injury. Sometimes they take time to make themselves known. Some weeks, months, or years after the event headaches/migraines may appear. Dizziness and seizures may happen. These events can be very unsettling and cause unwanted disturbance and anxiety in one's life. Come eavesdrop on panelists, Fruit (Grace) Mauzy, caregiver and Barbara...

Host, Donna O'Donnell Figurski and panelists, survivor, Deb Brandon and caregiver, Fruit Grace Mauzy are going rogue. We are going to talk about whatever pops into our brains. It's bound to be a fun and an intersting show. Every TBI survivor and caregiver has encountered a fork in the road that has diverted his or her life-plan. A car accident, a fall from the roof, doing one more chin-up, or a do...

Brain injury has a way of disrupting a survivor's life in many ways. Many survivors live with a plethora of physical disabilities. Some live with various cognitive disabilities. And, some have a combination of both. For these survivors, re-entering the job force can be a huge challenge. Tune in to hear, survivor, Deb Brandon, caregiver, Fruit Mauzy, and me talk about how the challenges of returnin...

Ken Collins was a young man in his mid-20s when brain injury became a serious part of his life. As I always say in my show, brain injury is not discriminating and can happen anywhere, anytime and to anyone. It can happen when you least expect it. It happened to Ken Collins when he was out for fun - riding a snowmobile. That unsuspecting incident changed Ken’s life forever. Listen to his story abou...

Brain Injury causes all kinds of issues. It can cause emotional and behavioral problems, It can cause many physical disabilities and it also can interfere with cognitive thinking. Planning and organization skills are just some of the things that are affected by brain injury. Don't forget to listen.   Every TBI survivor and caregiver has encountered a fork in the road that has diverted his or her l...

Meet Mimi Hayes - Brain Injury Survivor, Author, & Comedienne. Mimi had her brain injury when she was only 22 years old. While on a blind date, Mimi had a migraine. A week later she began to have weird symptoms and her life ws forever changd. Mimi is the author of her book, I'll Be OK. It's Just a Hole in My Head.   Every TBI survivor and caregiver has encountered a fork in the road that has d...

Both caregivers and survivors join me for this show on Finding Purpose in Life After Brain Injury. Survivors, Deb Brandon and Su Meck join caregiver, Bob Millsap and me to talk about how life goes on with purpose and dignity after brain injury has turned it upside down. Every TBI survivor and caregiver has encountered a fork in the road that has diverted his or her life-plan. A car accident, a fal...

Dr. David H. Figurski, Professor Emeritus - Department of Microbiology and Immunology - Columbia University talks about corona.virus. Many brain injury survivors were already prepared for the shelter-in-place orders that many states have invoked. Their brain injuries have made it difficult or near impossible for some to leave their homes. So shelter-in-place was no more difficult that their normal...

Have you ever wondered about why there are so many homeless people? I have! Have you ever wondered if there is a correlation to brain injury and homelessness. I have! So I asked Carrie Collins-Fadell, Executive Director of Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona, (BIAAZ) and Paula Crockett, head of Single Adult Shelter for Central Arizona Shelter Services, (CASSAZ) what they know about this topic. They w...

Harriet Hodgson is the author of more than 36 books circling around the topics of caregiving, grief, and taking charge again. She was the caregiver for her mother, her grandchildren, and her husband. She knows what she is talking about when she talks caregiving. Please join us. Every TBI survivor and caregiver has encountered a fork in the road that has diverted his or her life-plan. A car acciden...

Brain injury cause many issues for its survivors. Two big problem areas are emotional and behavioral changes. It can completely change a survivor's personality so that family and friends no longer recognize the person they love. Often, the survivor can not even recognize him or herself anymore.    Every TBI survivor and caregiver has encountered a fork in the road that has diverted his or her life...

While serving his country in Iraq, Tommy Hopkin's life was forever changed. So was the life of Tommy's wife Kristina. When Tommy's camp was attacked, his head was injured causing a brain injury that will be with him forever. Kristina feels that folks need to walk a day in Tommy's shoes  or hers to really understand the difficulties that brain injury brings with it. Every TBI survivor and caregiver...

You have a brain injury. Your whole life has been upended. You want to scream at the world. Go ahead and scream. Scream and yell and stamp your feet and . . . do it again. Then breathe! It seems hard to find anything good about your life being turned upside down. Life as you knew it is gone. A new life has taken its place. Now what? You still have choices - wallow in sadness for a life stripped aw...

Ronda Alcorn, caregiver to her son, Austin, is one of three founders of "We're Moving Forward." This non-profit organization was formed to enhance the lives of brain injury survivors, their caregivers, and family and is located in Phoenix, AZ. It organizes social events and activities for everyone. Summer camp, bowling outings, a walk-a-thon, and movie events help to enhance the social lives of it...

365 days pass and a new year begins. It happens every year at this time. It's a new beginning. It feels fresh and you vow to improve your life. You make resolutions or promises to exercise, eat well, write more, finish that project that you started five years ago. You pledge and vow and promise and, if you are like most folks, you follow through for about a week or two - maybe a month. Let's talk...

Jeannette Davidson-Mayer has been a guest and a regular panelist on my show for many years. Jeannette’s husband, DeWayne, had 5 brain injuries while serving in Iraq. DeWayne’s brain injuries have not only changed his life forever but also the lives of Jeannette and their family. Jeannette is the author of Our Central Command Post: An Adaptive Military Family Home. Every TBI survivor and caregiver...

Prisoners without Bars Donna is the host of the Podcast “Another Fork in the Road” on the Brain Injury Radio Network. I was interviewing on her show last year which is what developed into me having a show.  Donna is the caregiver of a person who had a brain injury. Donna has a blog called Surviving Traumatic Brain Injury https://survivingtraumaticbraininjury.com and she has just become the author...

Holidays can be a stressful time of the year for anyone. Many extra responsibilities are thrust upon us. Buying presents, cooking special dinners, entertaining extended family members, and frolicking at office or family parties are some of the things that have to be done with a smile. Holidays may be fun for many, but they can be a huge challenge for those with brain injury who just barely get by...

Melissa Cronin was strolling through the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market when an elderly man lost control of his car and barreled into the crowd. That changed her life forever. Now Melissa lives with ‘invisible bruises.” But Melissa picked up the pieces and is embarking on a new career. Read her interview on Surviving Traumatic Brain Injury to find out what it is and check out her story, “Invisible B...

Every TBI survivor and caregiver has encountered a fork in the road that has diverted his or her life-plan. A car accident, a fall from the roof, doing one more chin-up, or a door literally slamming one in the face are just some causes of traumatic brain injury. College plans, walking down the aisle in the perfect dress, or the coveted job quickly slip from reality as dreams turn to struggle. Thes...

An 8-year-old boy's dream of playing National League Fooball comes true, but ends in tragedy. Cyndy Feasel and her college-sweetheart, husband, Seattle Hawk #54, Grant Feasel, paid the highest price for his dream. After years of abuse of his body on the football field, head-buttings, and numerous concussions, Grant didn't retire with the glory of the cheering crowds. He spent his days in pain - bo...

Brain injury comes in all shapes and sizes. It affects everyone differently. It is unique! Some brain injury is visible. Some is not. We call that "invisible" brain injury. I often talk about "invisible" brain injury on my shows. But, on tonight's show, caregiver and author, Jeannette Davidson-Mayer, and survivor, Dr. David Figurski will join me to talk about how physical and obvious brain injury...