Welcome to the first installment of Notes from the Battlefield. It is our plan to share information we are discovering as it pertains to brain injuries and hopefully it is useful.
In addition to the info sharing we will be offering our perspectives and thoughts on the topics brought up as well.
This series will be available in both written and podcast form. Enjoy and let us know your thoughts.
#1- Game of Thrones is making a difference!
The ridiculously popular show entering its much anticipated final season has a star who is doing something significant to help. Emilia Clarke has come forward in recent weeks to disclose that she has had aneurysms twice while be a star on the show through an essay in the New Yorker. She has begun a charity to help young folks recovery from Brain Injury and Stroke
called Same You
She has said and I quote ” I want to break the silence on brain injury”
The courage and willingness to use her celebrity equity in this manner at the height of popularity and fame she currently posses is both admirable and selfless.
I appreciate the efforts as maybe this can be a launchpad needed.
Remember Cancer was once quiet and private until the famous started publicly standing up to it.
#2- Trek has a New Helmet
If you have followed our story up until this point, you know that Terry and I are fanatic about wearing you helmet. Terry’s first concussion was an accident with her bicycle and she is 100% sure that if she didn’t have it on and fitted correctly should would not be here today, or at the very least in much worse shape.
Truth of the matter is that many concussions grow out of bicycle accidents with and without helmets. It is a leading cause of concussions frankly.
In March 2019 Trek/Bontrager the bicycle manufacturing and supply giant introduced a new helmet with a technology they call WaveCel. The helmet supposedly mimics the brains protective fluid.
The honeycomb style insert absorbs rotational energy which is responsible for so many concussions while riding a bike. Trek says it is 48 times more effective than the standard foam helmets.
In my opinion there is much more third party research that needs to be done around this technology before we grow way excited about it. As is with many new technology items, the price tag is currently high.
However the fact that it is challenging the traditional 1960’s technology found in so many bike helmets is positive. Also, maybe it will transfer to helmets for other applications such as football and construction helmets.
Kudos to Trek for challenging the norm!
#3- Tools of the Trade
Late March we posted an article on A Battle Within listing all the tools Terry has used to aid her in the recovery process for her concussions and the PCS that has followed.
We wrote the article sort of as a “pillar” article because there has been questions around what she has done and we have noticed many in the online support groups asking these types of questions.
The list is intended to be a living list as we use and discover new tools, but we would like to hear about what we may be missing or what you have used that was helpful.
Let us know after checking it out at https://abattlewithin.com/toolsofthetrade/
I promise you will find things there that either you never thought of, or heard anywhere else.
#4-Proud of Terry
As most of you know, dealing with PCS is negative on so many levels. Aside from the pain, the sense of loss and the inability to do things you once could, comes emotional issues and concerns.
I’m proud of Terry because she is indeed different than she once was, but she continues to find ways of challenging herself despite her self acknowledged shortfalls.
This past week, Terry had the opportunity to speak and teach in front of 60 or so people.
Leading up to the presentation the anxiety she felt was intense. Mind you, the anxiety is new and part of the PCS for Terry. She literally made herself sick over it.
Never before did she have an issue in getting up in front of a class to teach.
That was who she was – a teacher and she identified as such.
The presentation turned out to be spot on and she did an amazing job! I was fortunate to be there as a support, but honored to be a engaged student as well.
I question if she could have done better before the injuries as she was so authentic. In fact the last injury actually lead to this opportunity.
The point I’m trying to make is this- Keep Battling, yes things are different, yes at times they really suck, and yes, you may notice that you are different.
Being pissed isn’t going to help, try your best to remain positive and find ways to challenge yourself. Life is for living make your best effort!
#5- Our Soldiers are Suffering Too
We deliberately end on this. The “Notes From the Battle Field” episodes are named to honor those soldiers affected with Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI).
I stumbled across an article from last year articulating exactly what is going on with our soldiers as it relates to Traumatic Brain Injuries. I knew about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), but not this.
The Department of Defense started documenting cases in 2000. Since then 380,000 soldiers have sustained some sort of brain injury. By 2007 they became the most treated injury of war.
It is believed that the 380,000 is understated because of the stigma that comes along with it and or because it is similar in nature to PTSD.
Long story short. Our military personal are suffering at alarming rates and at the same time are afraid to acknowledge it because of the judgement they may face.
How can we help? Who do we reach out to? Do you know anyone who served that may be suffering?
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