Experts estimate the condition affects more than 1.8 million people annually in the United States, and traumatic brain injury has become the signature wound of the military conflict in Iraq because of the rise of improvised explosive devices. Brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide.
The Brain Injury Survivor’s Guide, available on the authors’ Web site at www.braininjuryguide.org, is the brainchild of Arkansas residents Beth and Larry Jameson. Seventeen years ago, Beth suffered an anoxic stroke while in the hospital, devastating her memory and turning what was once rote and commonplace into monumental tasks. From making a cup of coffee and shopping for groceries, to applying her make-up and using an ATM, Beth had to re-learn just about everything. Online bookstores throughout the world now offer the book. Click here for Brain Injury Survivor's Guide on amazon.com.
Over time, however, the couple developed an effective system to acquire basic skills and cope with the dramatic change in lifestyle, a system that eventually helped Beth maintain a full-time job. Those strategies and how-to steps, designed to improve memory, cognitive skills and behavior, are what became the Brain Injury Survivor’s Guide. A small sample of these strategies includes:
- The BRAIN system: A mnemonic designed to recall a series of memory exercises that are essential for anyone living with an injured brain.
- Memory Seeds: Small pieces of information, such as those gleaned from looking at a photo album with a family member, which can grow into a fully formed memory.
- Lists, lists and more lists: From health insurance information to what to take when leaving the house (not to mention what goes into a cup of coffee), a chapter devoted solely to how-to and checklists prepares survivors for real-world independence.
In clear, easy-to-understand prose, the Brain Injury Survivor’s Guide provides insight not just for those surviving brain injuries, but also their families, friends, co-workers and anyone else who just wants to understand more about the experience of living with brain injuries from the patient’s perspective. It also provides information and guidelines specific to family members who find themselves in the new role of caregiver, and tips on how best to deal with medical professionals.
While brain injuries are always unexpected, unwanted and life changing, the Brain Injury Survivor’s Guide shows they don’t have to be life ending.
