The Real Lives of TBI Wives

In this inspiring episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, host Erika Brouillette sits down with Wendy Lukonen, CEO of the Daily Gratitude Movement, to explore the transformative power of gratitude in caregiving and everyday life. Wendy shares her deeply personal journey caring for her mother with pancreatic cancer and her grandmother with dementia, and how embracing a daily gratitude practice helped h...

In this compelling episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, Erika Brouillette sits down with Dallas Shepherd, founder of Harmonized Brain Center, to explore his family’s life-changing journey with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Dallas recounts the harrowing 2003 accident when his son was struck by a baseball, resulting in an epidural hematoma and coma, and shares the long road to recovery that inspired...

In this powerful episode of The Real Lives of TBI Wives, host Erika Brouillette sits down with Jason Lalli, a resilient traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivor, to explore his extraordinary journey of healing, advocacy, and personal growth. Jason opens up about life before his multiple brain injuries, sharing the vibrant career and personal life he loved, and recounts the dramatic and often devastat...

In this episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, host Erika Brouillette sits down with Von Limbaugh of the Limbaugh Law Firm to discuss critical legal strategies for families navigating the challenges of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Von draws on his extensive expertise in estate planning, elder law, guardianships, and conservatorships, breaking down complex topics into actionable steps for caregivers....

In this special anniversary episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, Erika Brouillette shares an intimate look at life with her husband, Shelby, after his traumatic brain injury. Celebrating 13 years of marriage in a season that looks very different from their past traditions, Erika reflects on the challenges of honoring special days while navigating life as a TBI caregiver, and the intentional steps s...

In this episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, Erika Brouillette dives into the Radiate section of her Reclaim membership, exploring how TBI wives can reclaim their energy, confidence, and sense of self amidst the demands of caregiving. Erika discusses practical strategies for setting boundaries, finding moments of joy, and prioritizing self-care without guilt. She shares exercises and prompts from t...

In this episode of The Real Lives of TBI Wives, host Erika Brouillette continues unpacking the RECLAIM framework by diving into step two: Rebuild. After surviving the chaos of traumatic brain injury and caregiving, rebuilding means creating boundaries, rhythms, and systems that actually hold you — not just your family. Erika shares her personal turning point when survival mode nearly broke her, an...

In this episode of The Real Lives of TBI Wives, host Erika Brouillette introduces the RECLAIM framework — her three-step process for helping wives of men with traumatic brain injuries find themselves again after years of survival mode. Step one is Reconnect: coming back to your true self and your higher power so you can breathe, heal, and live from a place of strength instead of exhaustion. Erika...

In this special 20th episode and season finale of Real Lives of TBI Wives, host Erika Brouillette takes a moment to reflect on the incredible resilience of TBI wives, honoring the strength it takes to care for a loved one while navigating the emotional and physical toll of caregiving. Erika shares her own journey, offering heartfelt insights into the importance of community support and the selfles...

In this week's episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, Rosalyn Fast takes us through her emotional and transformative journey as a caregiver to her husband, Donald, who sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in 1997. Rosalyn recounts the day that forever changed their lives, sharing the slow realization of the severity of Donald's injuries and the overwhelming challenges they faced, from medical str...

In this episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives,  Amanda Mahaffey takes us through the evolution of their relationship, starting from their early years together and raising their daughter, to the life-changing moment of the bike accident that altered everything. Amanda delves into the struggles of living with ambiguous loss, a challenge many TBI wives face, and how they navigated the misunderstandings...

In this emotional episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, Carin Miller opens up about her 25-year journey as a caregiver to her husband following his traumatic brain injury (TBI) from a car accident in 1997. From the initial shock of the accident to the ongoing physical and emotional challenges, Carin shares the hardships they faced as a family, including her husband's prolonged opioid addiction and t...

Claire Wilkerson shares her and her husband's journey through his traumatic brain injury (TBI). Pre-injury, Claire and her husband were high school sweethearts enjoying life in Washington, involving travel, camping, and fly fishing. The TBI happened in 2020 when her husband had a car accident while on his way to fly fish. Claire describes the experience from receiving the shocking call from the ho...

In this episode of 'Real Lives of TBI Wives,' Jenny Ziegelhofer shares the harrowing story of her husband's traumatic brain injury that began in the summer of 2022. From the initial discovery of a lump to a complex diagnosis and a life-changing stroke post-surgery, Jenny walks us through the emotional and logistical challenges faced by their family. She discusses the toll it took on their lives, h...

Navigating the Journey: Barb's TBI Wife Story In this episode of 'Real Lives of TBI Wives,' Erika Brouillette welcomes Barb DeJarnett, who shares her profound journey as a wife and caregiver for her husband, Darien, following his traumatic brain injury (TBI) in 2013. Barb recounts the immediate impact of the accident, the extensive medical treatments, and the long rehabilitation process that follo...

In this episode of 'Real Lives of TBI Wives,' host Erika Brouillette interviews April, who shares the heart-wrenching journey of being the caregiver and wife to a husband who suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) four years ago. April recounts the day of the accident, the immediate aftermath, and the long, arduous road to recovery that followed. She discusses the legal battles with workman's com...

In this heartfelt episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, Kim Krajny opens up about the traumatic experience of her husband James’ severe brain injury and spinal cord damage following a devastating accident on December 10, 2020. Kim recounts the gut-wrenching day of the accident, the overwhelming chaos that followed, and the emotional toll it took on her as she navigated the complex healthcare system...

In this powerful episode, Jill West shares her family's journey through the life-altering challenges following her husband's brain tumor diagnosis and subsequent brain injury. Jill takes us back to their college days when they met, started a family, and envisioned a bright future, only to have their lives forever changed by medical setbacks. Jill opens up about the initial diagnosis, the transform...

In this deeply moving episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, host Erika Brouillette  sits down with Karen Stone Fortune, whose husband suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) after a cycling accident in 2019. Karen shares the heartbreaking early moments of the injury, the long road to an accurate diagnosis, and the complications that led to emergency brain surgery—all amid the isolating challenges of...

In this heartfelt episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, host Erika Brouillette welcomes Gloria Longsworth, who shares her powerful journey as the wife of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivor. Gloria recounts meeting her husband Gabe in Germany and how their life was turned upside down when he suffered a massive stroke while they were living in South Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic. From naviga...

In this unforgettable episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, host Erika Brouillette speaks with Jacqui Taylor Hayward, whose husband Greg suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in October 2023 after falling down the stairs during an episode of sleepwalking. Jacqui takes us inside the night that changed everything—detailing the emergency response, ICU crisis, and multiple life-saving surgeries that f...

In this heartfelt episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, host Erika Brouillette is joined by Val Creager, who shares her moving journey through love, tragedy, and transformation after her husband’s life changed forever in a 2019 traumatic brain injury (TBI). Val walks listeners through their love story, raising children together, and the devastating accident that reshaped everything. She opens up abo...

In this compelling episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, host Erika Brouillette sits down with Amanda Ryan Romo, who courageously shares her journey after her husband sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) from a work-related accident that triggered severe vertigo, a concussion, and complications from neck surgery. Amanda speaks openly about the overwhelming toll caregiving took on her young famil...

In this heartfelt episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, host Erika Brouillette welcomes guest Brittiny Buckenberger, who opens up about her husband’s surgically induced traumatic brain injury (TBI) following the removal of a brain tumor. What began as a life-saving procedure quickly became the start of a life-changing caregiving journey. Brittiny vulnerably shares the cognitive and emotional challen...

In this eye-opening episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, host Erika Brouillette speaks with Robin Szymkowski, a devoted wife and caregiver who opens up about the life-altering moment her husband suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Robin recounts the shock of the accident, the relentless stream of medical complications, and the steep learning curve that came with managing her husband’s evolving...