Did you know your voice can make a huge difference? Today on Hope Survives® | Brain Injury Podcast Cristabelle shares about her experience advocating for brain injury in Washington D.C. and explains some of the specific asks for members of congress and senate. Brain Injury is invisible - so using our voice for awareness is even more important.
Significantly, this year the TBI Act is up for reauthorization. You can join the Brain Injury Association of America's letter writing campaign and ask your representative to join the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force! You can also meet with your representative's office if you want to make even more of an impact. Make sure to get the legislative issue briefs and get info from the letter template on the BIAA website - and if you need help contacting them, email me at [email protected] so I can help. We can make a difference together! More info: https://biausa.org/get-involved
Also, this episode includes a brief interview with 3 fellow advocates: Melissa Carmen (survivor), Tonya Nagle (caregiver), and Kevin Bingham (board member of BIAA)
Let's make a difference together! There is always hope!
Listen below or on your mobile device by subscribing on podcast platforms!
0:00 Intro
5:45 Brain Injury is Invisible
11:30 What You Can Do
13:45 Summary of TBI Act & Our Asks
18:45 Recognizing BI as Chronic Condition
20:20 Expanding Eligibility Criteria to all ABIs
23:30 TBI Model Systems of Care
27:30 Interview in DC with Melissa Carmen (survivor), Tonya Nagle (caregiver), Kevin Bingham (board member of BIAA)
34:10 Words of Hope
ABOUT CRISTABELLE:
Cristabelle Braden is an award winning singer/songwriter, keynote speaker, podcast host, brain injury survivor & advocate.
Connect: @cristabellebraden | cristabellebraden.com
About This Podcast
Have you or a loved one experienced a traumatic brain injury, stroke, concussion, or ABI? This podcast is for you. Sharing hope, support, and education for brain injury survivors, caregivers, and families. Hosted by award-winning TBI survivor, advocate, and singer/songwriter Cristabelle Braden, this is an uplifting podcast to bring hope to your darkest days. Subscribe and stay tuned for messages of encouragement, interviews with professionals, and survivor stories.
Join the online community & monthly zoom support group: hopeafterheadinjury.com/community
Brain Injury Bible Study | braininjurybiblestudy.com
This podcast is for education and informational purposes only, and not intended for medical advice. If you need specific medical advice, please consult your physician.
Pat Strenk
Listened to your podcast for the 1st time today. Thank you for igniting the desire to advocate again . I met you yrs ago originally at Good Shepherd, LVHTSG, then read my poem later at your "coffee house" session in Lancaster, BIAPA Conference. I was the Mont Co Ed Coor for ABIN-PA for it's 7? yrs in existance & on the Board. My 34th TBI/coma anniv will be the 18th & life has brought me back here again. Just had my last 🙏 surgical procedure in Jan (16 since 1990?), so ready to pursue issues other than my physical health. BI IS CHRONIC & PERSISTENT & never hit my head prior to my 3 a
wk coma! It was Acceleration/Deceleration & force crushing my pelvis that caused my TBI. Numerous undiagnosed concussions, issues from anesthesia/surgeries, & everyday trip ups all continue to contribute, but there's always HOPE knowing God's design for neuroregeneration with proper fuel/environment.
Christopher Zimmerman
I had a tbi June 13 2023. Short term memory loss. Can’t remember a persons name soon after I meet them. Waiting on disability pay. As a 30 year executive chef making 90,000 a year disability pay helps but doesn’t cover my past life. Jeep got roped from being in hospital. Living with a friend and her husband. Trying to get my life back to where it was. Disability pay takes 8-9 months for approval. How can I survive that long? I have 2 girls 1 is 21 other is 17. I couldn’t imagine this happening when they were babies. I’m a single father and have no vehicle, no money, no drivers license. Thank god I have a friend that’s helping me. I couldn’t imagine being homeless with this new way of life. Showering 5 times in one night cuz you can’t remember if you took one. So now I feel my towel if it’s damp then I know. Keeping constant notes to remember what I did that day or who I’ve met. Constant struggle. As a adult you try to find ways to help remember what you did the day before. I think I have gained a power to foresee the future. It’s forgetting what you recently have done then remembering. I have numerous stories of this. For example wondering how you know somone because you forget you just recently met them. I’m trying to survive but very difficult. I have 10 dollars to my name. No idea what the future has in store but it’s looking dry grim. Also does it ever get better? Hope so. God bless everyone with this issue.