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If you know someone with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), you understand the strong need for young head-injured adults to socialize and attend training sessions with their peers. Not with the mentally challenged. Not with those with dementia. With their peers.
Aneta Lyons, RN, founded SOHI some time after her son, Duane suffered a head wound in a car accident at age 21. Now in his mid-thirties, he's had numerous surgeries.
From his photo you can see he has no forehead structure. He has a forehead prosthesis, but it gets uncomfortable once Arizona temperature goes over 100o.
Do head-injured caregivers deserve some time off? Responsibility for a TBI patient on a 24-hour-a-day basis leaves parents and loved ones little time for themselves and each other. Is it any wonder there is such a high incidence of conflicting relationships and divorce for parents of TBI patients?
People stare at him in restaurants, on the street, and in church. Still, while his life is different than before, Duane is a sociable person who can read and write and express himself. He has many head-injured friends, but it's difficult for them to get together. Here's what he recently wrote in an effort to get people to join forces and work for an activity center:
"Contrary to public perception, many, many TBI patients function fairly well, but more slowly, and perhaps differently than before. They need to be able to laugh together, eat together, play computer games together, and watch TV together. Additionally, they need to take classes together, learning and growing in a non-threatening environment. Many urgently want to be more productive. Head-injured people understand-and have patience-with each other's unique characteristics."
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Please help this worthy group with funding or finding ideas for a facility.
