The Brain Injury Association of America has announced Brain Injury Awareness Day as March 22, 2017 at our Nation’s Capitol in Washington DC.

This event is hosted by: Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D NJ) and Congressman Thomas J. Rooney (R FL), co-chairs of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force.

It is FREE to attend, everyone is welcome, and no registration is required.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
10am-2pm Brain Injury Awareness Fair
Rayburn Foyer, First floor, Rayburn House Office building.
2:30-4:00pm
Brain Injury Briefing
Gold Room, 2168 Rayburn House Office building
5:00-7:00pm
Reception celebrating Brain Injury Awareness Month
Gold Room, 2168 Rayburn House Office building

The very first Brain Injury Awareness Day on Capitol Hill was held in 2002, and is is hosted by the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force co-chaired by Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-N.J.) and Thomas J. Rooney (R-Fla.). It is put on in partnership with the Brain Injury Association of America. I will be meeting with my Senators while I am in DC and asking them to join the Task Force!

How YOU can help — even if you’re not able to attend in-person in Washington DC:

1. Find your local Senator and Representatives:
– To find your Senator you can visit www.senate.gov and click on your state
– To find your Representative you visit www.house.gov and enter your zip code in the upper right hand corner
2. Send them a letter requesting they join the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force. Use this letter as a template (change out the RED highlighted areas). CLICK HERE FOR PDF
3. Include this form for them to join the Task Force. CLICK HERE FOR PDF.
4. Schedule a meeting with them while you’re in DC (if you’re attending).

Please contact Amy Colberg, Director of Government Affairs, at acolberg@biausa.org if you would like assistance with scheduling meetings with your elected officials during Brain Injury Awareness Day on Capitol Hill.

This year will be my third time attending BIA Day, and I wanted to offer my fellow survivors who are planning to attend some tips on planning out your day!

Amy with Senator Pascrell at BIA Day March 2016

Amy at Argosy University with several of her fellow Brain Injury Advisory Council membersThis year will be my third time attending BIA Day, and I wanted to offer my fellow survivors who are planning to attend some tips on planning out your day!

Amy with the members of ADAPT Clubhouse in Washington DC 2016

Map Your Route
Whether you’re arriving by Metro, Taxi, or car, it is important to do your research and know where you’re going. Make note of which building you need to be at, and program the addresses into your GPS using the “walk” option, or print out maps and highlight your path. NOTE: You will need to go through security screening to enter any of the buildings at the Capitol. You can not bring in food or beverages, and your bags will be scanned and/or checked by hand. Please be prepared, and feel free to tell security you have a brain injury and may need some assistance from them.

Plan Your Schedule In Advance
Understand how much energy you’re willing to exert and plan accordingly. If you can only give yourself and hour or so, I highly suggest you put your energy towards the Awareness Fair. You will be able to meet with vendors who support brain injury awareness, you’ll meet fellow survivors, interact with the Brain Injury Association of America, and pick up some free swag to take home with you! The Congressional Briefing can get a bit long, and can be over stimulating to listen to, however, you will learn a lot and get updates on what is happening across the country with brain injury awareness, detection, and prevention. The Reception is a fun time to hang out with the new people you have just met, as well as eat some tasty treats.

Wear Comfortable Shoes
It’s important to understand that there is a lot of walking involved when you’re at the Capitol. You will walk from your car, Taxi, or Metro stop to the building, and also between the buildings. Distance is deceiving when you look at a map, so it’s good to be prepared for a lot of walking!

Stay Hydrated & Eat A Snack
Eat a healthy breakfast before heading out. Hydration is critical to brain health, so bring a water bottle and fill it up once you’re through security. There is also a cafeteria located inside the building where you can purchase beverages as well as a meal or snacks.

Bring A Notebook & Pen & Tote Bag
You will likely meet a lot of wonderful new people, and you’ll want to grab their business card and/or make notes. You will be taking in a lot of new information, and I suggest writing things down so you don’t forget, and make notations of things you want to follow up on. A tote bag will come in handy to carry around the free swag that you pick up (pens, etc).

Pace Yourself & Be Prepared For Overstimulation
Get LOTS of rest the night before. This is going to be a busy day with lots of people, walking, and interaction. Bring with you any comfort items you may need such as sunglasses and earplugs. Take breaks and pace yourself, you’re under no obligation to see it all and do everything on the schedule!

HAVE FUN!

Here is a recap of the first BIA Day I attended in March, 2015 on Huffington Post: CLICK HERE

Please consider donating to my GoFundMe Campaign to help cover my costs to get to Washington DC this year … where I am also speaking at the Virginia Brain Injury Conference, as well as Argosy University and two Clubhouses. CLICK HERE for more information.

Amy with her Senator Al Franken in Washington DC

Name: Judy Wallace
Oklahoma City, OK

Date of your TBI:6/16/2000

How did your TBI happen: I was a Senior Executive traveling on business in Dallas. I was on my way to a business dinner. An SUV, traveling at 80 miles per hour, T-boned the vehicle I was riding in (impact #1). My right hand was slammed into my forehead by the Airbag breaking my neck from C2-C6 (impact #2). The SUV continued to push us, up and over the curb (impact #3) & into a retaining wall (impact #4).

What has been your biggest challenge post-TBI: Loosing my career, health, and marriage.

What has been your biggest blessing post-TBI: I’ve learned to be more patient, more forgiving and more accepting.

What is your biggest piece of advice to other TBIers and loved ones: There isn’t much that a nap in a quiet, dark room can’t help.

What do you do to relax: Read

What do you do for fun: Socialize as much as I can manage.

What is your least-favorite household chore that stresses you out: Paperwork and any human interraction that requires “customer service”.

Would YOU like to be featured on our blog?? Fill out this online form: https://goo.gl/forms/hgDam3WzvFrNQOaV2

Join me as I chat with Dr. Beth Westie about healthy hormones after brain injury.
She’s a ton of fun to listen to, so enjoy!!

3 Key Points Beth covers in this video:
1. Diet
2. Sleep
3. Exercise

Beth’s FREE 2 week challenge: http://2weekkickstart.getresponsepage…

Video sponsored by: www.MNfunctionalneurology.com

If you prefer audio only, here is that version:

Name: Ellen Marie
St. Louis, MO

Date of your TBI: 07/23/2016

How did your TBI happen: I fainted and hit my head on concrete.

What has been your biggest challenge post-TBI: Learning to take breaks and accept them as a necessary part of healing has been a big challenge for me. Coping with my pain has also been a huge challenge for me.

What has been your biggest blessing post-TBI: My biggest blessing has been the support of my family and friends. They are some of the best people in the world, hands down.

What is your biggest piece of advice to other TBIers and loved ones: Don’t sweat the small stuff. Even small things can be difficult with a brain injury. It’s really easy to get frustrated with this. Instead, try to focus on what you can do, even if it’s a really small thing.

What do you do to relax: To relax, I’ll listen to podcasts, do yoga, or drink coffee.

What do you do for fun: The epitome of fun for me right now is watching Married at First Sight, hanging out with friends, or reading books

What is your least-favorite household chore that stresses you out: All of them. Cleaning and laundry all involve moving around a lot in circles, which fatigues me.

Would YOU like to be featured on our blog?? Fill out this online form: https://goo.gl/forms/hgDam3WzvFrNQOaV2

Name: Lynn Julian
Boston, MA

Date of your TBI: 10.1.2006 & 4.15.2013

How did your TBI happen: The first was a stage accident while I was a professional musician and the second was a result of the Boston Marathon bombing

What has been your biggest challenge post-TBI: There have been too many challenges to list because TV is an invisible injury. I feel like I have been on trial with my doctors, my family and my friends from day one. Because there is no external injury for them 2 visually look at, you constantly feel judged and forced to prove that your injury and pain are real.

What has been your biggest blessing post-TBI: The biggest help I have found in treating TBI medically is Hbot, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which heals brain tissue and provided me with very noticeable and immediate results. CBD oil before bed has also made it so that I can now sleep through the night, which makes the whole day easier. The biggest blessing, outside of Medical Treatments, is finding and connecting with other TBI survivors. They understand you and validate you, which allows you to move forward and continue to heal.

What is your biggest piece of advice to other TBIers and loved ones: TBI tribe… find a purpose for your life. Figure out what you’re passionate about and what makes you feel useful. I volunteer with the US pain Foundation, Leaftopia and the Massachusetts resiliency Center. This makes me feel of Youth and good about myself. Loved ones…You must Trust your gut and support a person with an invisible injury just as you would a person who was bleeding. Your support is as crucial as any other medical treatment.

What do you do to relax: My secret guilty pleasure is watching mindless TV. I watch shows of No depth or value so that I do not have to think it all. I also go to the gym every day and find that helps me release anger and calm down.

What do you do for fun: For fun I like to go to events in Boston… Concerts, charity events and dinner with friends.

What is your least-favorite household chore that stresses you out: Anything that forces me to think really stresses me out. Who knew that thinking could hurt? Ie cooking worn recipes that involve any kind of math stresses me out.

Would YOU like to be featured on our blog?? Fill out this online form: https://goo.gl/forms/hgDam3WzvFrNQOaV2

Name: Jeff Squires
Mesa, AZ

Date of your TBI: 9/30/12

How did your TBI happen: A bicycle-car accident. I was on the Bicycle and helmet hit the rode at 25+ mph.

What has been your biggest challenge post-TBI: Staying calm in pressure, anxiety situations. Counseling has helped.

What has been your biggest blessing post-TBI: A helmet donation program recognized by Greg Stanton, the Mayor of Phoenix, AZ.

What is your biggest piece of advice to other TBIers and loved ones: It happened, you cannot change that, turn the negatives into positives.

What do you do to relax: Gym and floatation therapy.

What do you do for fun: I make everything fun.

What is your least-favorite household chore that stresses you out: I enjoy everything.

Would YOU like to be featured on our blog?? Fill out this online form: https://goo.gl/forms/hgDam3WzvFrNQOaV2

Amy Zellmer and Sam Black chat in this video about 5 Steps to Reclaiming Your Life After a Brain Injury

In this video they cover 5 basic steps:
1. Honoring your Body’s “Reset”
2. Embracing Tools
3. Balance Your Day
4. Grieve Your Former You and Love the You Now
5. Acknowledge the Beauty Around You

visit Sam’s website: http://www.groundedrootswellness.ca
visit Amy’s website: http://www.facesoftbi.com

Listen to the audio only if you prefer over video:

This fall I was approached by the Communications Department at Gillette Children’s Hospital in Saint Paul. She had heard from numerous patient’s about my book, and was interested in interviewing me for an upcoming feature article for their patient blog which would run sometime in the winter.

Yesterday morning I received an email that the article was live on their blog, and how it was completely ironic as the entire Twin Cities was covered in a sheet of ice that morning — and both myself and the other gal featured in the article sustained our TBIs as the result of slipping on ice! 

The article turned out wonderful and I am so pleased to be a part of it and help spread awareness. Young children who suffer a hit to the head are often overlooked. Either because they don’t understand that they actually injured themselves, or because no one knows how to react. I mean, children fall all the time, right?!

My biggest piece of advice to parents is this: YOU know your child better than anyone. If they aren’t acting their “normal” you need to get them to a doctor. If the doctor seems dismissive, TAKE THEM TO GILLETTE!! (or a hospital near you that specializes in children). Whether they seem “off” to you, or maybe their memory is really bad, or they keep running into things, keep a watchful eye on them. Younger children who are hurt NOT playing sports are often overlooked the most, as they oftentimes don’t tell anyone they hit their head.

You can read the full article HERE.

You can see more about my book and purchase HERE.

I wanted to take a moment to reflect back on all that I experienced and accomplished in 2016. It is sometimes easy to lose sight of all that we have done in the past 12 months, and I wanted to be sure I documented it all for my “memory”!

My year started off pretty amazing as I received a silver medal in the Midwest Book Awards for my first book “Life With a Traumatic Brain Injury: Finding the Road Back to Normal”.

I spoke to about a dozen different local Rotary groups about my experience in an effort to raise continued awareness about TBI.

In March I headed to Washington DC for Brain Injury Awareness Day at the Nation’s Capitol, thanks to my many donors through GoFundMe and offline who helped cover my expenses! I was joined by my fellow TBI friends — new and old. While I was in DC I took the opportunity to speak to about a dozen groups including Argosy University, the ADAPT Clubhouse, and Brain Injury Services. And of course, no trip to DC is complete without a day of fun touring the monuments (thanks Paul!). 

In June and July I took an incredible road trip out West where I spent some time with fellow survivor Peter and his amazing wife Sarah in Los Angeles. I spoke to a group in Ventura, before heading to Arizona for a few days where I spoke to the We’re Moving Forward group, Health South, and the Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona. (I want to make sure I take a moment to thank those who were generous enough to offer me a place to stay, take me out for meals, and help with many of my expenses on this trip ….. you all know who you are!) 

In September I began my journey back to wellness after I started treatment with Dr. Jeremy Schmoe at MFNC Brain Rehabilitation in Minneapolis. Within two weeks he had my vision, dizzy, and balance issues under control!

In October I was a presenter at the Minnesota Bloggers Conference talking about “Blog to Book”.

I launched my second book in November, “Surviving Brain Injury: Stories of Strength and Inspiration” which is an anthology — a collection of 87 stories written by survivors and caregivers from across the globe. This book was published in collaboration with 197 backers on Kickstarter who raised the funding needed to edit, format, design, print, and ship the book!!! 

In December I was a presenter at the Texas Brain Injury Symposium in Austin, Texas and met some amazing vendors and fellow survivors, as well as healthcare professionals.

Throughout the course of the year I continued contributing to the Huffington Post, and also had articles published in: Yoga Life Magazine, The Challenge, Wagazine, and I also contributed to three separate anthologies (2 on brain injury, and 1 by a NY Times best selling author!).

I was a guest on WCCO radio several times, as well as Sun Sounds of Arizona while I was in Phoenix. I had a television appearance on a local tv show:  “It’s a Woman’s World” and also had a lot of media coverage in local newspapers.

I was a part of four different online business summits, all bringing my experience of TBI, running my business, and writing a book — with the message of how to turn a trauma into something bigger than myself as an advocate.

In my business, I had numerous new coaching clients that I had the honor of helping achieve their goals, after not being able to work for almost two years!!

My podcast series has consistently had over 1,000 listeners each month, and I had some amazing guests on my show including Ben Utecht and Cyndy Feasel.

Overall, 2016 pretty much kicked ass. My TBI message is being heard across the world through all different mediums, and I know that if my story affects even just one person, I have done my job!!

Thank you all for your continued support and encouragement! It is because of YOU that I keep doing what I do, even when the haters start talking loudly and call me names. I know that I am doing good in the world, and won’t stop until the Universe tells me it’s time to turn over the reigns!!

Look out 2017: Washington DC or BUST!!
https://www.gofundme.com/help-amy-advocate-for-brain-injury

Name: Karla J. Stento
Fort Myers, FL