INSPIRATIONAL STORIES
A brain injury is like a fingerprint, no two are alike
Kevin Pearce, former professional snowboarder, is an inspirational public speaker and co-founder of LoveYourBrain LLC. He is an advocate for the prevention of brain injuries and the promotion of a brain healthy lifestyle. Kevin catapulted onto the professional snowboarding stage in 2005 at age 18, rising above others in his division and quickly becoming the athlete to watch in the ever-evolving sport. In the 2009 Winter X Games, Kevin brought home the Silver Medal for Superpipe, making him a strong contender to win Gold in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. On December 31, 2009, while training for the Olympic trials in Park City, Utah, Kevin suffered a severe traumatic brain injury. Although he was wearing a helmet at the time, the injury left Kevin in critical condition and in a medically induced coma that would change his life forever. Post-accident, Kevin has become a passionate advocate for the prevention of brain injuries and the promotion of a brain healthy lifestyle for all people.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx
Loss of Friends and Family Resulting from Traumatic and Acquired Brain Injuries
Twenty-three years ago, when Teah Beglau was sixteen, she suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury. As is well known, many areas of life are disrupted from a brain injury. One area, however, that is often unknown by the public involves the social life of survivors after returning home from the hospital. All of her friendships were lost after she returned home from her own rehabilitation. Being a member of several brain injury support groups on Facebook has brought to her attention that it is one of the most common outcomes for a brain injury survivor.
Knowing this motivated her to produce a video to help stop this from happening. Her goal is for this video to be available to hospitals who can provide it to both friends and families of brain injury survivors before they return home from the hospital. It is to prepare the loved ones for the shocking outcomes and changes the brain injury survivor might have acquired. It gives an insight into things to help them adjust and handle the negativity that will come.
She has given us permission to share this video to the Villa Licci community in the hopes that it will spread this knowledge to anyone with a TBI survivor in their life. She strongly believes that if watched by others before the survivor begins to re-socialize as a different person it will be easier for loved ones to accept the “new” person. Friendships will continue and their life-long recovery will be less hurtful with the continued needed support.
Knowing this motivated her to produce a video to help stop this from happening. Her goal is for this video to be available to hospitals who can provide it to both friends and families of brain injury survivors before they return home from the hospital. It is to prepare the loved ones for the shocking outcomes and changes the brain injury survivor might have acquired. It gives an insight into things to help them adjust and handle the negativity that will come.
She has given us permission to share this video to the Villa Licci community in the hopes that it will spread this knowledge to anyone with a TBI survivor in their life. She strongly believes that if watched by others before the survivor begins to re-socialize as a different person it will be easier for loved ones to accept the “new” person. Friendships will continue and their life-long recovery will be less hurtful with the continued needed support.
