We were so fortunate to have some of the financial pressure we were under alleviated though the kind and generous donations of our friends, family, community and even strangers who have helped us in our times of need. Without getting into a lot of detail I can tell you that Traumatic Brain Injury does create various financial challenges for families involved. It is a layer of pressure that I try not to focus on, but can at times overwhelm me even with the support that we have had. I will share more about your where your giving has gone this year once I have a tally but for now I want to tell you about two special survivors that I would like to bring some holiday cheer too. Winnie and her mom Catherine were at Bryn Mawr when we arrived. Winnie suffered a devastating injury, and along with her TBI had other serious challenges. Her mother shares, “Winnie is now 21, her accident happened on November 9, 2012. The car accident left her with a TBI, oodles of facial scars, multiple bone fractures. She was med-evac from the scene to Temple University Hospital. Her initial surgery was 16 hours. She had a facial de-gloving. She spent 42 days in the SICU at Temple. She spent the next 3 months with the most fabulous people in the world at BMR! She continues to have outpatient PT that I pay for out of pocket. She has limited vision as a result of her TBI. She had a condition known as facial agnosia. She does not recognize faces. We live with my mother who was helping me care for Winnie until September 2, when she (my mother) suffered a stroke. Winnie is anxious to move back into our home and be independent. Her physical therapist has recommended a stationary bike.” Winnie and family are excited because she previously did not have enough range of motion to handle something like a bike. The other survivor is a young man named Garry. Garry is a little over a year out from his accident, he too, has made great strides. He is blind as a result of his TBI, which adds another layer of complication to the situation. His mother, Barbie, works third shift so that she can be with Garry during the day, or when he is not with his other caregiver. Garry is having difficulty getting into a doctor in our area…. lots of things come into play here and we have experienced the same issues. Garry needs to return to Bryn Mawr for follow up on his meds, but he is now out of network and this will be an out of pocket expense. This is an important appointment, and we would like to help fund it. Both of these survivors and their mothers are exceptional people. They have endured a lot, and it can be the little things that help. My friends and I have been trying to organize a fundraiser for them, but right now they have these immediate needs and I think we can help meet them. I know these families personally, and helping with these needs would mean so much. Please message me if either of these stories speak to your heart...every little bit helps and together we can make a difference in meeting two real needs. Together we can show them love wins!
Posted on: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 12:02:02 +0000