Brain injury can strike anyone at anytime

A snowboarder crashes face first on an icy slope. A teenage driver is in a violent car accident. A middle age man walks past a construction zone, slips, falls and his head hits the concrete. A Marine in a war zone is hit with shrapnel from a roadside bomb. These individuals sustained traumatic brain injuries and their recovery may take months, years or a lifetime. Theyll all need help.

A brain injury to a loved one is like an explosion in a family. Everyone is thrown into confusion or disarray. They must deal with fear, the unknown and anger. There can be marital stress, job-related issues, legal or financial problems and more. After insurance runs out, or progress from rehabilitation becomes difficult to see, or physicians say theyve done all they can do, the traumatized families are left to cope on their own. Spouses, parents and siblings may have to become caregivers while they are grieving.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant public health issue. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1.7 million people experience a TBI in the United States each year, which is eight times the number of people diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and 34 times the number of new cases of HIV/AIDS diagnosed annually.

Brain injuries can occur at any time without warning, and often require highly specialized treatment, including long-term rehabilitation.

Any injury to the brain can affect the way people walk, talk and think. Depending on severity, there can be severe physical and emotional problems. TBI can cause seizures, impaired memory or judgment, difficulty speaking, confusion, impulsiveness, depression, mood swings, loss of motor control and coordination, vision problems, difficulty concentrating, partial paralysis or weakness, chronic pain and more.

In San Diego alone, 11,000 residents are affected by brain injury each year, a number that includes both the survivors of the injuries and their families.

The CDC reports 124,000 people with TBI will have long-term impairment or disability from their injuries.

James Lewis of Santee suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident in 2002. It left him in a coma for 10 months and changed his life forever. He continues in therapy today. While he is regaining his speech, he has difficulty swallowing, has double vision and must use a walker. He may never live independently or have a drivers license, but he still pursues dreams and is exploring different career opportunities. He gives God and his mother credit for the progress hes made.

There have been state and federal legislation attempts to address the devastation caused by TBI:

President Obama signed the TBI Reauthorization Act of 2014 to improve data collection, prevention, research and service delivery for individuals and families affected by brain injury.

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Brain injury can strike anyone at anytime