Changes that happen to the lives of people living with brain injury their family and friends.
Celebration after brain injury Image by
Celebrations after brain injury can be tricky. This article is updated and reposted each year before the end of year. Timed for when Christmas, Hannukah, New Year and other celebrations abound. It acknowledges that managing celebrations after brain injury can be difficult. Filled with expectation and anticipation - it does not always deliver on the promise. It would be great to hear from you about your own experiences and strategies. Managing Celebrations after Brain Injury 2015 I do not want to be accused of being the Grinch who stole Christmas, so please let me start by wishing those of you celebrating Christmas a very special time. And for everyone I hope it is a wonderful new year. Why am I in danger of being called the Grinch? Well, in the middle of a major holiday celebration, I am about to suggest that birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, and celebrations after brain injury do not always go so well together. Expectations can be high and…
Posted 2014 and 2015 11th day 11th month @11am I have decided that until the issue of soldiers with brain injury, around the world, is adequately addressed I will repost this each Remembrance Day. First published in 2014. In November 2014 after several weeks of trying to prepare an article for Remembrance day: “traumatic brain injury in soldiers - a brief history” The writing would not flow. Everything I read made me cranky. It seems we have not learned all we could from history, about the lifelong support that many soldiers with brain injury and their families need. The 11th hour - of the 11th day - of the 11th month is a time when the end of World War I is commemorated. When the millions of lives changed by war, across the world, are remembered. Instead of my planned, commemorative, historical, piece I am now letting off steam with a personal ‘Rant for Remembrance Day’, particularly about the lack of…
‘Damage’ is a poem about traumatic brain injury by Stanley Smith. It is a powerful, impactful first person account of waking up and trying to make sense of what has happened. As I completed yet another clean out I found a copy of this poem in my archives from the early 90’s. I know, I know – I just don’t like throwing good resources away! And I am glad I did not throw this away. Eager to share ‘Damage’ with you, I was lucky enough to find, and meet up with Stanley again. After catching up on 30 years of life in brief, Stanley generously gave me permission to reprint ‘Damage’ here. Stanley was surprised at my interest in his work of so long ago. While happy to have this poem shared, he is concerned that his creative property be respected and not be copied without permission. (I am happy for you to CONTACT ME with any requests). WARNING –…
End of Life and a good death. Image by Chris Scott
Can we help to make our end of life a good death for ourselves and for others? What tips and strategies might contribute to having our needs and wishes met? To make our end of life a good death. The first article in this series To Talk or Not To Talk About: End of Life A Good Death describes a number of issues that lead me to this discussion about end of life a good death. The second article A Good Death: End of Life and Dying contains thoughts about why it is important to consider and discuss our needs beforehand. I remember many years ago in a local hospital a young husband and wife, both of whom were dying from terminal illnesses. Both had been, and continued to be rebellious and forthright. Many hospital staff were unable to cope. The couple challenged others owing to their black humour - jokes about who would die first; their insistence on wearing brief black clothing as they…
End of Life and Dying Image by Chris Scott
Why is it important to talk more freely about end of life and dying? Most of us hope for a "good death" when the time comes - but what is it? Last week I talked about what lead me to this discussion of end of life and dying and why it is important to talk more openly about end of life and dying. Today, I want to talk more about why it is important to consider and discuss our needs for our end of life and dying - before it happens. Why Talk About Dying and End of Life? It Is Inevitable A very cliched statement; I don’t know what else to do except repeat it “death is inevitable”. It’s a part of life, yet it is a part of life we often seem reluctant to discuss. It is important to talk about for ourselves, for those we care about, and those we have responsibility for. It Can Promote ‘A Good Death’…
End of Life: Fisheye view by Chris Scott
The time leading up to the end of life - after brain injury - or at any time, is a topic one should maybe leave alone. I want to talk about it. I believe we should all talk about it. I know it is thought to be a private subject, yet what happens at the end of our life while very personal, is also universal. We can easily forget end of life can happen at any age, not just old age. And one day it has to happen to all of us. So why not talk about it. I have always believed it needs to be talked about more openly and naturally. My own experience, early in 2014, when my father was dying made this even more important for me. So here, and for the next 2 weeks I am sharing my own thoughts, and resources I have discovered. My hope is to encourage more natural and fear-less discussion about end of life and…
Diagnosis of Dementia Photo of Anne Deveson Wikipedia Dman41689
I have just read an interview with Anne Deveson on her recent diagnosis of brain injury – more specifically Alzheimer's Disease. Anne describes an approach to a diagnosis of dementia that contains hope and strength, not just the devastation one might expect. It linked to a question that occupies my thinking - how would I respond in a similar situation? Anne is a person who has influenced my thinking over the years. A strong, articulate advocate on a wide range of social justice issues. I see that again now as she publicly describes her responses to her diagnosis of dementia. It provides a potential answer to my own question. Firstly quotes from Anne about her diagnosis from a recent interview, and a brief introduction to her work. Reflections on a Diagnosis of Dementia The following reflections are quotes from ‘National treasure Anne Deveson faces up to Alzheimer's diagnosis” by Fenella Souter in The Age Good Weekend January 13th 2015 [button link="http://www.theage.com.au/good-weekend/national-treasure-anne-deveson-faces-up-to-alzheimers-diagnosis-20150130-12mpwo.html" size="large" style="info" color="silver"…
Image by Chris Scott
Liminal and Traumatic Brain Injury. Moon Image from Zyntara I have learnt a new word: “Liminal”. It fascinated me because it seemed relevant to brain injury. I saw a link between the word liminal and traumatic brain injury. Let me fill you in on what happened: In Tasmania, Australia, each year there is a festival over winter solstice called Dark MOFO. The festival has many of the challenging, quirky, and wonderful works the museum MONA, - (Museum of Old and New Art) in Tasmania, Australia - is known for. Including a nude solstice swim in a freezing ocean. I was listening to Book and Arts Daily an Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) program that attended Dark MOFA. The host Michael Cathcart was interviewing composer, Nick Tsiavos. You can listen to the full interview here: [button link="http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/booksandartsdaily/nick-tsiavos/5542712" size="small" style="tick" color="silver" text="dark" window="yes"]Nick Tsiavos Talking About Liminal[/button] What's This Got To Do With Liminal? The interview began: “It's midnight on the winter solstice. In the…
Do you have memories of people in your life who have contributed to your lifelong learning? This week I was strongly reminded of two people who had contributed significantly to my own learning . Albeit they have no idea! Stella Young and Dr Charlie Teo are two people I had seen, heard, but not met. Yet they were two people who challenged and changed (and continue to challenge and change) my thinking. I clearly remember my first introduction to both, and my most recent reminder. It all happened on Monday. Stella Young I woke up Monday morning switched on my technology. I was shocked, speechlessly shocked, to discover Stella Young had died. It seemed impossible that a person with such a huge personality and so many talents, could no longer be around to hold a mirror (and often a very bitingly, funny mirror) up to our world. What randomly sprang to my mind was the ‘A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius’…
Soldiers Marching Wikipedia
Today you are reading the remnants of what was to be a grand and enlightening piece about soldiers with brain injury. You might ask - Well what happened? [unordered_list style="green-dot"] You can see the beginning last week in a "Rant for Remembrance Day". It was much, much, bigger and more complex than I thought. Brain injury - Post traumatic stress disorder - shell shock - the circumstances of war. It was more emotional and difficult than I thought. The human stories, the lack of support for veterans - anger, sorrow, guilt, disbelief, horror and more. I kept doubting I could. The more I read, the more I wondered - What did I really know about soldiers with brain injury and their lives? [/unordered_list] You might then ask - Why did I keep going? [unordered_list style="green-dot"] I was learning so much and I wondered if sharing what I found might interest other people. My belief that this story needs to continue to…