As a Christian and survivor of over 200 brain injuries, I found these words so encouraging. All kinds of Bible verses came to my mind as you shared your story so emotionally- praise be to the Lord my rock who trains my hands for (spiritual) war (Psalm 144).

Tracy, THANKYOU for being so courageous in telling your story. After my TBI I didn't know who or what I was. I recognized no one and literaly had a brain like a new born baby. It took me months to remember who I was and how to use my body and objects like a spoon. I am truly that blessed that my husband read countless books about TBI and one of the books written by a neuroscientist in Canada recommended a clinic in Provo Utah, CognitiveFX. In 5 days the therapists at CognitiveFX had me walking, talking, recognizing shapes and comprehending language. I was so blessed that my husband was so determined to find a clinic that could help me. During my recovery, he had a powerful word that he said when I told him that I couldn't do something. That word was "YET." You can't do it "YET." God Bless everyone on this journey and realize that everything is possible with a positive attitude, determination and asking God to help you through your challenges.

I love I ve kove u for this

The new me is now 5 years old and I miss the old me but like you say it's so misunderstood in the medical world .

I am in that dark tunnel right now. And things have been changing, some for better, some for worse, and i barely seeing a neurologist as it took a year & a half to get into the neurologist's PA. She thought i had a stroke, because of the Aphasia, but i told her it started right after the truck accident (which was my 2nd TBI in 3 months); now i see double and have all the pain/pills, migraines, basically 3 pages of symptoms. Still fighting for myself - daily struggle. I did buy a medical bracelet that gives my name, and who to call, should i be unable to speak; which has happened 3 times where i couldn't think of what to say and it frightened me so now that fear is put aside. This is a hard trial, but God is helping me fight.

I had a brain-thing a few years ago. After that, at a hospital, I remember that when sitting or laying down my legs felt completely fine, but when-ever I stood up my legs were like jelly and couldn't keep me up. So I had to be moved on a wheel-chair for a bit. It was soo stupid: at the hospital a nurse moved me, on a wheel-chair, to a new bed and she just told me to get off the chair and on the bed. I remember I moved like an infant, but I made it :)

Tracy and Cristabelle, I want to give you both a shout!!! I have just seen the best interview on “WHAT IT’S LIKE TO LIVE w/ a BRAIN INJURY and HOW TO BEST DEAL WITH YOUR DARKNESS - EVEN WHEN MOST PROFESSIONALS CANNOT OFFER YOU ANY HOPE”!!! At the end of the day professionals and others can go home to their families and loved ones, but the internal fight of the warrior is 24/7. Just as the disease is invisible, so is invisible villain that the warrior must FACE OFF AGAINST IN ORDER TO WIN THE FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL! Tracy made a point to emphasize: “Labels”. Whether other people put them on us or they are induced by the enemy. The caregiver must protect the MIND of a warriors from hearing these demeaning words (POSITIVE WORDS ARE A VITAL WEAPON FOR A WARRIOR!!!) Romans 12:2 (my fav)! Something as simple as hearing the word “Disability” can make a warrior give up. I changed that word to “This Ability” that I have. Just a little twist of a word, but it had such a profound impact on my mind. Tracy was so spot on when she distinguished the difference between “SURVIVOR vs WARRIOR”. [Survivor is the noun and Warrior is the verb]. One takes absolutely no action where the other is a fight for survival!!!

When you say "the new me is a better me" can you give examples because I feel the new me is nowhere near as good as the old me.

Just saw this and subscribed! As a fellow BI survivor I very much appreciate what you’re doing. I watched her PBS documentary and cried because I can relate so much with her and the panel. God bless : )

Thank you both for your time and contributions, it was a fascinating talk and i really appreciate being able to hear from both your perspectives

i have a brain injury i got it when i was 1 week old i stoped breathing the doctor said i would not make it but i did god saved me so i never know what it is like with out a brain injury i m 32 years old .

Does anyone ever feel stuck like wgen doing somthing or anything

Who is my community???

Pls help ,