I am here to serve you and help you transition to create the new normal we all need to find. I am a resource specialist and though I am not a doctor, lawyer, psychiatrist or counselor, I am a survivor that can guarantee help. If I do not know myself how to break down some obstacles you face, I likely have someone within my network of medical professionals, parents and survivors who can help.

First things first: BREATHE ~ You Are NOT Alone.

Next, follow these steps for survivors:

1. The first thing you tell a doctor is that you have had a traumatic brain injury, so the most effective protocol can be established. If your doctors do not have experience in treating TBI or currently treating patients, please, please take my advice and find one that does. This can save you time, money and often misdiagnoses.
   
   
2. Remember we know little about the brain: so don't be the patient a doctor uses to learn what TBI involves.  "TBI"-Traumatic Brain Injury, "BI"- Brain Injury, ABI- Acquired Brain injury- these are JUST recently becoming recognized. In the field of medicine, brain Injury as been treated symptomatically, thus not being treated or diagnosed properly.
   
   
3. Create a team and network-  you will need it to cover all aspects of your emotional, spiritual, financial and physical needs. A lot of care will be needed long term which usually a survivor and family are not prepared for or have the means. There are several areas in recovery that will not take just days or weeks, but years. This may be a lifelong condition, and you will need help.
   
   
4. Get as much knowledge so you are able to be your own advocate:
   NEVER go to the doctor alone. You need to ask permission to record or have someone take notes for you because you will forget. Caregivers and family: you will get overwhelmed and simply shut down, you always need to make a chain of events or a daily log. Doctors will change.
   
   
5. Make sure you always take notes and ask for a copies of your medical information so you can start understanding your brain, your injury, and your recovery.
   
   
6. Keep track of every thing you are feeling and recording even something as simple as "the air smells different today" is important.
   
   
7. Seek out and join a a local support group. GO! Introduce yourselves as friends caregivers, survivors,etc. It will be the BEST source for questions, support, connection both medicinally and emotionally.
   
   
8. Get a mentor so they can help facilitate and communicate care and treatments beyond the limited time a doctor has to spend with you. Often you go home after long day of tests and you can't remember what the doctor said and more importantly convey your recovery clearly and effectively so they can better serve you.