Winter 2010 - Brainstreams.ca

BRITISH COLUMBIA’S VOICE FOR THE BRAIN INJURY COMMUNITY
Winter 2010
MY LIFE NOW
Jamie Chubaty’s
Story Page 10
For the Love
of Mary
Story Page 13
Major ICBC Injury Claim Lawyers Who Care
DEALING EXCLUSIVELY WITH MOTOR VEHICLE CLAIMS FOR CLOSE TO 40 YEARS
“The hiring of your firm following our tragic MVA will be a time for
gratefulness & appreciation never to be forgotten”
Katherine V. (mother of a child who suffered a severe brain injury)
BERNIE SIMPSON C.M.
Member Order of Canada Recipient of the Queen’s Jubilee Medal
E. ANTHONY THOMAS
Dealing extensively with Motor Vehicle
Accident Cases for over 15 years
Choosing a lawyer to represent you may be the
single most important decision of your life!
We can help you get your life back on track.
Our firm handles motor vehicle
injury claims exclusively.
• Free consultation
• Low legal fees by percentage
• Reduced legal fees on major cases
• Home and hospital visits
• We handle all expenses
• Service in all languages including
support staff who speaks Punjabi,
Hindi, Cantonese, Mandarin,
Korean, Vietnamese, French,
Spanish, Italian
• No recovery, No fees or expenses
Head Office
Suite 1512 - 808 Nelson St.
Vancouver, B.C. V6Z 2H2
604-689-8888 (24 Hours)
Fax 604-684-1881
Surrey/Delta Office
604-591-8885
7253 - 120th St.,
Delta, B.C. V4C 6P5
www.simpsonthomas.com
BRAIN DAMAGE • QUADRIPLEGIA & PARAPLEGIA • WRONGFUL DEATH • HEAD INJURY • SPINAL CORD • WHIPLASH
headline 2
Message from the Editor
Janelle Breese Biagioni
Seasons Greetings!
In the next few months, given Premier Gordon
Campbell’s resignation, British Columbians will be
hearing a great deal about politics. Regardless of
one’s choice of political party, or what any of our
personal opinions about Mr. Campbell are, every
one of us has this responsibility… we need to keep
spreading the word about the good work that is
being done in the brain injury community and show
politicians how investing into services, supports and
resources for brain injury survivors is an excellent
return on tax payer dollars. Every association and
support group in this province knows someone
who has exceeded medical expectations and is an
inspiration in their community… call them up and
ask for a story that you can share with your local
MLA and start writing letters. We can continue to
make a difference in those living with the outcome
of a brain injury; however, it does require they have
access to programs and services and that requires
money. Do your part to keep the decision-makers
informed of what’s needed.
In this issue, Headline features an informative article
on the use of iPhones as a way to enhance day-today functioning for survivors. Written from the team
at Ergo Rehabilitation Inc., readers will learn about
the various applications to assist in scheduling,
budgeting, grocery shopping and even navigating
your way around town. The iPhone is not just a
phone; it is a very exciting tool for anyone to have.
Headline is also available
in PDF format.
If you would like a copy sent
to your email address
contact Mary Lou by email at:
[email protected]
Please add Headline to the subject line
This issue also brings information about the
continued good work of the Maple Ridge Brain
Injury Support Group and the Victoria Brain Injury
Society.
Finally, we are weeks away from the holidays. This
time of year can be extremely stressful financially,
emotionally, and physically. It is my hope that you
find ways to reduce stress and be conscious of
pacing yourself, be aware of your expectations, and
incorporate some fun into your life every day.
From our house to yours… we wish you a safe and
joyous holiday season!
Sudoku
The rules of Sudoku are simple. Place a digit
from 1 to 9 in each empty cell so every row, every
column, and every 3 x 3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.
8
9 1
8 4
4 7 4
5 3 9
1
8 5
5
8 9 1 3 6
9 2
4 3
9 3
7 8 5
9
5 2
2 6
4 7
3
4
2
8
9 1
1 3
8
Solution on page 19
headline 3
headline
is published quarterly by
Mike Rossiter
5851 Kittiwake Drive
Richmond, BC V7E 3P1
•
Editor
Janelle Breese Biagioni
2031 Gourman Pl
Victoria, BC V9B 6A9
Email: [email protected]
•
HEADLINE welcomes letters and relevant
articles for publication, and reserves the right to
edit any accepted submissions for clarity and length. A
signature, address, and telephone number are required.
Please contact Janelle Breese Biagioni
for copy deadlines.
•
Mike Rossiter and HEADLINE editors take no
responsibility for, nor do they necessarily agree
with, the opinions contained in articles, letters
or advertising.
Contact Janelle Breese Biagioni
at 250-592-4460 for information.
40981507
CHANGE OF ADDRESS?
We would like to keep our
mailing list up-to-date!
If you have moved or would like to
be on the mailing list, please
contact Mary Lou at: 604-274-1251
or email her at: [email protected]
(Please put HEADLINE in subject line of email)
headline 4
Helene Levasseur Charron
Twenty-one years ago, Helene Levasseur Charron
had an incredible career as a Trade and Consumer
Show Manager. She specialized in sales and marketing, and enjoyed planning events in places such
as the Vancouver Trade and Convention Center and
BC Place Stadium.
On August 20, 1989, while taking some time to
relax and enjoy a day of golfing, Helene’s life took
a bizarre twist. The golf cart she was riding broke
down. It rolled backwards and sent her careening
off the side of a mountain. She spent three weeks in
a coma following the crash
Helene’s first language is French. When she came
out of the coma, she no longer spoke her native
language. In fact, when her mother visited her in the
hospital and spoke to her in French, Helene asked
that she please speak in English. Helene reports
that her English was not very good; nonetheless,
she no longer could speak or understand French.
Helene remained in the hospital for three months
and remembers how scattered her thoughts were
and how unpredictable her emotions were. “I would
just start laughing and then crying… one to the
other.”
Helene also lost her senses of taste and smell.
“They are still gone,” she states. “I was extremely
fatigued and I lost my ability to focus and concentrate. My balance, vision and hearing were also
temporarily impaired and I lost my common sense.”
In essence, Helene had lost any filters that would
help her determine what was or was not appropriate to share with others. Helene was no longer able
to play the guitar or even sing the songs that she
had written. “I have since been able to relearn to
play the guitar and I do sing as well; however, I can’t
remember the words to the songs… I can sing the
tune, but I can’t sing the words from memory.”
When reflecting on the early days of her recovery,
Helene shared that she made one of the biggest decisions of her life during that time. She reconnected
with her childhood friend when he came to visit her
four months after the accident. He asked her to
marry him. Her response was simply, “Okee dokee.”
They married ten months later. “We just celebrated
our 20th wedding anniversary,” she happily chimes.
“It’s simply amazing, but we are still together!”
Helene is the organizer of Holy Wow Poets and a
member of the Maple Ridge Brain Injury Group.
To learn more about Holy Wow Poets, visit: www.
meetup.com/holy-wow-poets/
Maple Ridge Brain Injury Support Group
Maple Ridge and neighbouring Pitt Meadows occupy the northeast corner of Metro Vancouver.
Bordered by rivers and mountains, the area has
been somewhat isolated from the rest of Metro Vancouver and has retained much of its rural charm.
Growth has been rapid in recent years, though,
and the two communities together will soon be
approaching 100,000 residents. With new bridges
over the Pitt and Fraser rivers, access to the region
has improved. For those relying on transit, however, it is still a long journey to reach the facilities and
services not available locally.
The Maple Ridge Brain Injury Support Group has
been meeting monthly at various locations in Maple
Ridge for about the past 15 years. It is a self help,
peer support group for adult survivors of acquired
brain injury and their families. The purposes of the
group are to provide opportunities for socialisation, peer support, education, and referral to other
resources. Some members of the group attend regularly and meet for activities outside the group, others attend from time to time, and some just come
once or twice to receive information about ABI and
other resources. In addition to monthly meetings,
the group has occasional special events such as
bowling, barbeques, and trips to brain injury conferences. We have been fortunate to have a variety of
volunteer guest speakers attend the group. These
have included various healthcare and rehabilitation
practitioners, as well as representatives from local
recreational, educational, and religious facilities.
The greatest resource of the group is, of course,
its members. The support and understanding of
someone who has shared one’s experience is a
powerful thing. Survivors and family members are
often surprised and relieved to find that others have
gone through what they are going through, and can
take hope and inspiration from the example of others.
Our group is grateful to the many people and agencies who have lent us a hand. To mention a few:
the Maple Ridge Family Education & Support Centre has donated our comfortable meeting space,
ICBC has provided funding and referrals, and the
Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association hosted us for
Christmas dinner and has kindly helped out in other
ways.
As the Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows region continues
to grow, we are hopeful more services will be established locally in support of ABI survivors.
If you would like more information about the Maple
Ridge Brain Injury Support Group, please contact:
Maple Ridge Brain Injury Support Group
PO Box 52507 RPO Coquitlam Centre
Coquitlam, BC V3B 7J4
Tel.: 604 944-9030
You’re in Good Hands.
Our goal is to assist our clients by obtaining
funding for all of their immediate needs
in order to maximize their potential for
recovery, while we proceed toward
obtaining settlement or judgment that
allows a sustainable and encouraging
new future.
250.360.2500
Personal Injury & Insurance Law
www.hom-law.com
#1-505 Fisgard Street
Victoria, BC V8W 1R3
For more information, contact:
Barri Marlatt or
Lorenzo Oss-Cech
headline
JOB #H103-9643
CLIENT: HUTCHISON, OSS-CECH, MARLATT
INSERTION DATE : SpRINg 2009
pUBLICATION: HEADLINE MAg
5
Greg’s Diary Entries
Selected from twelve years of post-head injury diary
entries, this eclectic collection gives a glimpse into the
thoughtful post head injured mind at work. From startling honesty to lighthearted opinion, be inspired by this
thoughtful gift.
Among old cardboard boxes that obstructed my cleaning frenzy this winter, I was surprised to find my diary
that included several entries I made during my years of
traumatic head injury rehabilitation and recovery. After
reading some of the more memorable entries out loud,
I was convinced this was something other head injury
survivors could take part in and hopefully be inspired by.
Being uncertain about where my life was going at the
time, it is comforting to look back on who I was. My
story is not the whole story, only what I remember. I have
decided to begin this series of diary excerpts starting
with an entry from my wife at the time of the accident.
The included excerpt is her first one entered the day of
the accident, June 1, 1998. These entries now provide
me with a forum to share thoughts and experiences with
other head injury survivors.
June 1/1998
After returning from the concourse of my office building with my coffee and my muffin to start my Monday
morning, I received a phone call from Greg’s highschool
principal, Derek Kirkland, asking me if Greg was home
sick. It was 9:30am and Greg should have arrived at work
over an hour earlier. I knew immediately that something
was wrong. Greg is never late for anything especially
work. As I hung up the phone another call appeared on
my display, this one from the Ontario Provincial police.
I answered in a soft voice, unsure of what was about to
unfold; I had a feeling the situation was bad. The officer
immediately asked if there was someone else with me that
he could speak to. All he would tell me was that there had
been an accident involving my husband. My co-worker,
Leanne, took the phone from my shaking hand; the officer would not confirm whether Greg was going to make it
or not. While Leanne spoke to the police officer, I searched
my day timer to find my father-in-law Norman’s phone
number at his dental office. Cathy, my mother-in-law
and Norman’s hygenist, answered in a cheery voice and I
told them to promise to go to Sunnybrook Medical Centre,
that Greg had been involved in a very serious car accident.
The cab ride to Sunnybrook seemed to take hours. All
I could think about was the fight that Greg and I had
had the previous Monday night, and the awful words we
exchanged. I felt sick. How could I have said such horrible
things to the person I loved so much? Was I being punished
for taking this wonderful man for granted? I felt completely numb looking out the cab’s window, and prayed
to God for everything to be okay. I felt guilty for asking
God’s help- I seemed to pray only when I needed something, never to give thanks for all the wonderful things I
already had in my life. Leanne accompanied me on the
cab ride and along the way explained what the officer told
her regarding the accident. We entered the ER knowing that
a transport truck had hit Greg’s car and that he was in the
process of being airlifted to Sunnybrook.
Norman and Cathy met me in the small waiting room
designated for family and friends. Not being a religous
person, I found the presence of the Chaplain foreboding a
possible sign of Greg’s ultimate fate. The rest of our family
arrived in a state of shock and I could see the pain in their
faces; they would not break down, though determined to
stay strong and hopeful. As for me, I could not help seeing
myself reading a eulogy, remembering my husband the
way he was when I had fallen in love with him.
After coming out of a three day coma and now facing the
challenge of dealing with the many physical and communication problems of a frontal lobe injury, it was time to
move on to my next stage of recovery.
July 2/1998
I listen intently as my brother tells me the story of when
he did something that he had not done in years, “I cried”,
he told me when describing the pivitol day in my recovery
when he was informed that I was leaving Sunnybrook
Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit for The Toronto Rehabilitation Unit in downtown. Toronto
Sitting upright in my hospital bed, I remember shouting,
“I am going to get better, I will be tough and beat this, I am
leaving Sunnybrook. I am leaving Sunnybrook.” It is
then that my brother Leslie told me that tears of joy were
streaking down from his face.
Tears that he was happy to have.
A licenced group home offering residential services and transitional
rehabilitation for adults recovering from brain injury.
community therapists
Building skills. Empowering people.
Phone: 604-325-7911
Fax: 604-325-7191
email: [email protected]
7888 Thornhill Drive, Vancouver, BC V5P 3T5
headline 6
• Community Integration
• Driver Rehabilitation
• Cognitive FCE
• OTs, PTs, SLPs, RAs
• GVRD, Fraser Valley,
Van. Island, Sea-to-Sky
604-681-9293, Ext 153
#207-5740 Cambie St. Vancouver, BC V5Z 3A6
www.communitytherapists.com
When my grandfather was diagnosed with cancer, ironically he occupied the same room that I was in at Sunnybrook. Referred to as the glass room, specifically used to
insure privacy for patients’, we were both lucky enough to
eventually leave. I left to continue with my recovery. My
desperately ill grandfather, whom I called Ju-Ju (short
for Junior) left for Branson hospital to pass away peacefully and leave discomfort behind. He must have left a little
magic dust in that glass room for me.
Downstairs and at the back of Sunnybrook awaited an
inviting ambulance that would escort my brother and I to
The Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-I would be the only
one staying.
“The ride was very uneventful and quiet”, my brother explained. “As a matter of fact, you just looked out the back
window. I think you were excited about moving forward.”
After arriving in my room at the rehab centre, I remember
being very tired and then closing my eyes. I was going
to escape from this place for a while, via the dream. For
this to happen, I would decide on one of three places that I
would let my subconscious take me, if it still had the ability to do so.
I would escape to the waterfront in Bronte, Ontario where
I would enjoy thick hamburgers with ketchup and fried
onions followed by mint chocolate chip ice cream with
my new love (not sure who that will be yet). Or perhaps,
the zoo in High Park near Toronto’s west end where I loved
laughing at the knot haired animals is where I would go.
Perhaps, I would choose a venture to Woodbine Racetrack
with a soft vanilla scented mini cigar nudged between my
lips and a hot coffee with two creams nestled between my
jean covered legs. Oh, I would shout with excitement watching the majestic thoroughbred racehorses from the track’s
third level as they thundered down the stretch.
My inner voice would say to me, “You’ve got to concentrate so hard on one of these places that you can visualize
almost every important detail to yourself.” Then I would
plead with my injured head to take me there, if only for a
short while. When I woke up and if I could remember my
well planned dream, I was able to handle what the rehabilitation institute would demand of me. A full schedule
of physical and cognitive therapy was awaiting me. I am
sure that the rehabilitation exercises would make my body
tired and demand more sleep. Another chance to visit a
favorite destination was looked forward to.
To get more journal entries sent to you bi-weekly, free
via e-newsletter, just send your e-mail address using the
subscribe link button at: www.tbitalks.com
Learn more about Greg, book a presentation, order ‘The
Organ of Intelligence’ in book or audio CD format, or to
ask him a question just visit his website: www.tbitalks.
com
Editor’s Note:
Headline will publish a series of Greg’s diary entries in the
four issues of 2011. We are confident you will find his writing inspirational and enlightening.
28 years of experience
helping brain injured
victims and their families.
Joe Murphy, Q.C.
Wes Mussio
Derek Mah
Irina Kordic
Joe Battista, Q.C.
Steve Gibson
Kevin Gourlay
J. Scott Stanley
Brian Brooke
Angela Price-Stephens
T: 604.683.9621
Toll-free 1.888.683.9621
Fax 604.683.5084
E: [email protected]
2020 - 650 West Georgia Street
Box 11547, Vancouver Centre
Vancouver, BC V6B 4N7
headline 7
Brain injury is devastating. Lives are turned upside down.
We offer not just a house, but homes for people at all levels of abilities,
a foundation to build relationships and be connected to the community.
Our transitional and residential rehab programs are developed and guided
by rehab professionals, designed for each individual’s unique needs
and implemented on a daily basis.
CONNECT’s mission is simple...to make lives better.
In Langley call Janette Jackman
604-534-0705 [email protected]
In Lake Country call
Christy McKeating
250-469-9358
[email protected]
Please visit our website at www.connectcommunities.ca
headline 8
THE VICTORIA BRAIN INJURY SOCIETY
HAS NEW DIGS!
D & E 830 Pembroke Street, Victoria, B.C. V8T 1H9
(250) 598-9339
The Victoria Brain Injury Society (VBIS) moved into
its new facility on August 3rd, 2010. The society
has often dreamt of having a newer, bigger and
brighter space. A bottle crushing plant was about
to move next door, which gave us the motivation we
needed to realize our dream. Bottle crushing plants
and survivors of brain injury, with noise sensitivity,
would not make great neighbours! We were fortunate, that our hard working board raised special
funds enabling us to afford a nicer place.
We invite all former and new members to come and
check us out. We are open from Monday to Thursday from 10:00 until 3:00.
Our new offices are colourful and bright with a
lovely little kitchenette off of our drop in room.
Having more space, we are able to provide all staff
members with their own offices and some extra
room for additional staff in the future. We also have
another group room for small group activities. This
means we can implement even more of our great
ideas for new programs. The programs we now offer are: Case Management, Peer Support, ABI 101,
Coping Skills, Personal Enhancement, Creative Arts,
Recreation, Family Support Services (individual and
group) at VBIS and at Victoria General Hospital.
~Janelle Breese Biagioni
Another bonus to our move is that we are in a location that is more accessible for our members. We
are close to downtown, the Crystal Pool Recreation
Centre, a park and major bus routes. Comments
from our members have been: “Love it – it’s bright
yet soothing. I feel safer here. It’s warm and welcoming”.
Moving can be stressful and change difficult. There
is always loss and sadness when you leave a place
that holds so many memories. We have been
cognizant that the difficulty of these emotions can
be even greater for our survivors who have already
experienced so much change in their lives. But we
also know that change is part of life and “If nothing ever changed, there’d be no butterflies.” (author
unknown)
Carmen Burnay, Director of Client Services,Victoria
Brain Injury Society.
How Do You Rah…Rah…Rah…
When You Feel
Blah…Blah…Blah?
Everyone is entitled to have a bad
day. However, what happens
when your job involves motivating
a client and you could care less if
you got out of bed that morning?
Unfortunately, unless your ill, in
which case you shouldn’t go to
work anyway, you simply have to find a way to “park
it” at the door. You need to make a major attitude
adjustment before entering the workspace with your
client. Here are some things you can do that may
help you to feel better:
•Vent with a friend or supporter before going to
work
•Boost your energy (i.e. a brisk walk, jogging, deep breathing, yoga etc.)
•Journal how you are feeling
If a situation in the workplace is causing you stress
or affecting your attitude, then debrief with a superior or seek out a colleague who is willing to let you
work through your feelings and/or offer you feedback to help improve the situation. If the problem
is outside of work (i.e. relationship issues at home)
then consider working with a counselor. Sometimes
talking with a professional is all it takes to gain a
new perspective.
headline 9
My Life Now
Jamie Chubaty
Heel toe, heel toe, heel toe…...These are not the
words that most people wake to say to themselves
as they stumble down the hall to the kitchen every
morning. But they are the words I repeat to myself
daily while struggling to put one foot in front of the
other attempting to perform one of the first whole
body coordination movements we develop as a
child… the walk. Yet I am not a child, I am an adult.
That is my life NOW.
I am Jamie Chubaty, and I am 46 years old adult.
As a child I was diagnosed with ADHD (Attention
Deficient Hyperactivity Disorder), and continue to
live with it today as an adult. In my past I have been
dealt with the reality that I am an alcoholic, and
drug addict. Since understanding the reality of my
addictions, however, I am proud of the hard-earned
14 years I have maintained a clean and sober lifestyle. That is my life NOW.
Columbia Speech &
Language Services Inc.
Providing speech and language services to
children and adults throughout the Lower
Mainland & Fraser Valley since 1987
1316 - 750 West Broadway Vancouver, B.C. V5Z 1J3
T: 604.875.9100
E: [email protected]
Treatment aimed at community reintegration
headline 10
I may have had an eventful youth, but nothing was
more life changing than the day I was in a motor
cycle accident; March 30, 2007. As a result of the
accident I was unconscious and then induced into
a coma. After waking up from the coma, it wasn’t
until the end of June when I started to attempt
standing and walking a few feet with parallel bars.
It was a magical time for me in the first few days of
July of 2007, as I was finally able to walk my goal of
50 meters. I was discharged from Royal Columbian
Hospital on April 26, and admitted to Ridge Meadows Hospital for additional convalescent care until
I was finally independent enough to start rehabilitation and thus transferred to Eagle Ridge Hospital for
their inpatient Rehabilitation Program. I was finally
released to go home and start outpatient physiotherapy, Community Occupational Therapy, and
Speech Therapy on September 7, 2007, this was
a great day! In overall, due to the multiple injuries
I sustained, I endured several surgeries to aid with
the repair of a fractured pelvis, wrist, sternum, facial
bones, tracheotomy, and cranium. As a result of the
accident, I have had many injuries, but the worst of
them all was the extensive head injury I acquired.
I AM a head trauma SURVIVOR, and the consequences of the trauma I will have to deal with every
day from now on. That is my life NOW.
After spending over 6 months in the hospital, I still
continue to work on living with pain, stiffness, and
residual nerve damage. I continue to challenge
myself with improving the remaining difficulties that
I have with word retrieval, attention span, concentration, standing without support, balance, walking,
stability, memory, and many other basic physical
movements. One of the most frustrating aspects
is that everything that I try to do takes a significant
amount of time longer than it used to before the accident. I get confused about why I just simply can’t
do what I used to do. I am limited. That is my life
NOW.
This accident may have dealt me a tough hand
in terms of the physical aspects changed to my
body and the way it moves and functions, but the
emotional ramifications to acquiring a severe head
injury is the most difficult part of all. The way my
brain thinks, reacts, and computes is different now,
which is emotionally frustrating. It has been difficult
to express my thoughts, say what I think and want
to say…but most of all it has been really difficult
understanding I can’t simply do what I think I should
be able to do, like I did before the accident. That is
my life NOW.
Everyday I wake up, but it is my personal motivation that makes me get up! I have to push myself
everyday to continue, and I am so thankful I do, as I
have seen the difference perseverance makes. I am
now able to: attend active rehabilitation in the gym,
pool, and community; attend occupational therapy,
attend speech therapy, attend the food bank as a
Kirsten Madsen
community volunteer, and finally I have begun to accept myself and the accident and can attend psychological therapy too! That is my life Now!
In the next few years I hope to be able to walk each
of my 3 dogs, and help with the community brain
injury survivor support group, speak about my
experiences as a brain trauma survivor in order to
help others struggling with motivation. In overall, it
is my belief in myself, my personal motivation, and
supports from my friends, family and most of all- my
wife, Laurie, that together make each day worth living and working for. The 12 steps of recovery I have
learned over the past 14 years of sobriety have also
helped me everyday since my accident to live day
to day being thankful for the blessings provided to
me. That is my life NOW.
I would like to specially thank those who have
helped me in my journey to recovery. I would like
to thank all the staff at each hospital and clinic who
have helped me get to where I am today. I would
also especially like to thank those who I still work
with weekly, Sandi Caverly, Nikki (Jensen) Sloboda,
Dan Carlson, and Keith Saunders, and my inspiration to rehabilitation, Mike Coss. I have been gifted
in this life, to get the chance to live again, and I will
live thankfully each and every day. That is my life
NOW!
Steve Heringa
Brad Garside
WE WILL LISTEN AND WE WILL HELP
PERSONAL INJURY • BRAIN INJURY • SPINAL INJURY • DISABILITY INSURANCE
• Free Initial Consultation, hospital, home or office
• No fee until you collect • We handle all expenses
• Interpretation services available in any language
Call us now
604.683.1211 or toll free 1.800.669.8599
Email: [email protected] / www.PElawyers.com
Paine Edmonds L.L.P. - Lawyers
headline 11
This Time Let Kindness be Your Specialty
Larissa Szlavik
We are all guilty of making assumptions about
people we don’t know, it’s in our nature, a defense
mechanism if you will. It’s important to be mindful
of those you ought to be wary of; however, we are
often too quick to judge. Over the years of working
with people with brain injuries I have learned that
appearances and demeanor are very deceiving.
I have known many remarkable people with kind
souls who are greeted with hesitation and given society’s cold shoulder because people assume that
they are drunks, druggies, or thieves. It’s because
their clothes are tattered, their speech slurred, and
their movements shaky. It is all too easy to jump
to conclusions and misinterpret the symptoms of
a brain injury, mental illness, or the side effects of
serious pain killers.
Last week I was walking around Pandora and Cook,
near the Conservatory, where many of Victoria’s
homeless crack-heads congregate. Only those unfamiliar with the area don’t expect to be stopped for
spare change in this part of town. A man approaching me had the familiar walk and I was sure he was
a brain injury survivor. I even thought to myself how
he was probably a good man with a big heart, and
what a shame that most people would succumb
to their judgments and avoid his gaze. When he
Joseph A. Zak Kevin D. Cowan David J. Marr, Q.C.
“We care about your future”
A team of experienced professionals sensitive to
the needs of both the survivor and the family.
We travel to you
Suite 600-175 Second Avenue, Kamloops, BC V2C 5W1
T: 250.372.1221 TF: 1.800.558.1933
E: [email protected]
www.hmzlaw.com
headline 12
started with a question, his slurred speech was difficult to follow, and automatically my mind filled in
the blanks ... he was asking for change, I was sure.
Then the words “London Drugs” stood out. His intentions were not to swindle me for money; he was
in need of directions. With an open heart, I stopped,
made eye contact, smiled and told him exactly how
to get there. Thank goodness I caught those words,
otherwise I would have shaken my head at the man
while muttering “sorry, no change” and walked on
by.
It’s an awful feeling being the last one picked on
a team, missing out on an invitation or finding you
were the only one who didn’t receive a valentine.
Probably my worst nightmare would be to be
completely ignored. Imagine waking up after having
a stroke, a different person than you were before.
Somehow you don’t have the same sort of authority
over your limbs you once did, and you are surprised
at the slurred speech that comes out of your now
clumsy mouth. What would it feel like if people
didn’t take the time to carefully listen to you as you
struggle to articulate a simple question, or request?
If people were afraid to walk too close because
they thought your stagger and the shirt you couldn’t
button up properly were warning signs? Have you
ever had that dream where you open your mouth to
scream and are let down by the absence of sound?
Some people live this every day.
It’s only natural to make assumptions, and there’s
nothing wrong with treating strangers with caution.
After all, if you don’t look out for yourself, then who
will? But it certainly won’t endanger you to keep an
open heart, and conceal your suspicions with tact.
It was this quote from Abdu’l Baha that lived in my
wallet for several years: “May your heart burn with
loving kindness for all who may cross your path”.
Each day I adopt this as a mantra and attempt to at
least make eye contact and share a smile with every
stranger I pass. Many reject this warm expression
by awkwardly sending their gaze in the opposite
direction. Every so often, however, there is someone whose face brightens, and with strong sincerity
says “Thank you for the smile”. These are usually the most disenfranchised of people; the ones
who rely on soup kitchens for nourishment and the
streets for shelter. These are the people our mothers told us to avoid, who have been hardened by
society’s lack of concern. We all fear being shunned
by our peers, and no wonder solitary confinement
is among the harshest punishments in the western world. While brushing off persistent requests
for money easily becomes a nuisance, we mustn’t
forget the core of our humanity. Somehow a smile
becomes more helpful than a handful of change.
For The Love Of Mary
Twenty-two years ago,
Kathy Oxner and Mary
Benson, found their soulmate in one another. Not
unlike other couples, Kathy
and Mary started out as
friends and then became
life partners. They shared
many common interests,
especially in the outdoors –
camping, hiking, backpacking – they loved getting
out and exploring together.
Like other couples, they were in their relationship
for keeps… for better or worse, in sickness and in
health.
Eleven years into their relationship, Mary suffered a
brain injury due to an interaction from a prescription
drug. Kathy did not question for one second her
commitment to see Mary through recovery and to
rebuild their lives together. “Only one doctor really
had a problem with our relationship,” states Kathy.
“He was dismissive and would exclude me from
conversations and discussions about Mary.” Kathy
reported being treated more like a “roommate” and
she found that very frustrating. “It was finally Mary
who set things straight… she could barely talk and
she told the doctor that her father was dead and
her aging mother was unable to help. She told him
‘you need to talk to Kathy—we are going to do this
together’ and that finally started to change the attitude toward me,” Kathy said. G.F. Strong, on the
other hand, embraced Kathy’s involvement. She reports feeling very included in the care plan for Mary.
“I was invited to every team meeting, and in the first
couple of weeks attended Mary’s speech, O.T. and
physio appointments… they were really great.”
Kathy took an extended time off work after Mary
became ill. She remained at home to help Mary
through her recovery until Mary was strong enough
and felt safe enough to take the HandyDart bus
alone to and from G.F. Strong, where she attended
the outpatient program five days a week for a little
over 2 years. Kathy found the hardest part to be the
lack of information and resources in the weeks they
had to wait between being in hospital and getting
into the G.F. Strong program. “Initially the doctors
told me… she won’t get better and you should
consider putting her in a facility.” This was beyond
comprehension. Kathy replied, “She is 38 years old.
She is a young woman. I
will find the resources and
do whatever is needed for
however long Mary needs
it.”
The team at G.F. Strong
responded quite differently. They outlined all
of the services available
to both Mary and Kathy
and helped them access
community resources.
Their programs were very helpful. For example,
early in Mary’s recovery the team sent an Occupational Therapist to the couple’s home to assess
Mary. “I learned so much about Mary’s brain injury,
the brain itself, and how I could best support Mary,”
explains Kathy. “The assessment was very enlightening.” As an example, when the O.T. assessed
Mary, it became clear that she was unable to sequence. When asked to make toast, Mary could
not process or follow through with the necessary
steps that required her to go from getting the bread
to putting it in the toaster or what to do with it once
toasted.
Kathy had a tremendous support team not only with
G.F. Strong, but also with her close friends, spiritual community and her boss at work. There were
a lot of emotions and feelings that she had to work
through in those early days. For starters, their relationship changed. Kathy and Mary were no longer
equal partners in the relationship, sharing household tasks or planning activities. Kathy was more of
a parent and caregiver. Thanks to the support and
understanding from the counsellor at G.F. Strong,
Kathy quickly realized that she was grieving in much
the way that Mary was grieving and that this too,
was important to their recovery as a couple.
As Mary moved through her long recovery, Kathy remained committed to do whatever it would take to
rebuild their lives together. She was not interested in
building a life for herself outside this relationship. So
it was no surprise to anyone when five years ago,
after Mary discovered a passion for cross-country
skiing and began to train for the 2010 Paralympics,
that Kathy took coaching courses so she could be
a part of the process and support Mary in achieving her dream as best as she could. She also took
classes and trained as a Wax Tech so that she
headline 13
could prepare Mary’s skis on
a regular basis. She had the
fortunate experience during
her early days of training to
have Brian McKeever spend
an afternoon showing her the
ropes and trade secrets for
being a good wax tech. All of
this training eventually led to
Kathy becoming an assistant
coach with the Development
Squad for Team Canada, which
enabled her to travel with Mary.
This not only helped Mary as
she needs an assistant for travelling, taking medications, and
to act as a “memory companion,” but it also made it financially possible for them to pursue
this dream together.
Mary. “It was so moving to
be there that I couldn’t help
but cry.”
Since the Paralympics, Mary
has changed up her training routine and has turned
her focus to training for
the 2011 Canada Games
in Halifax. As well, she has
enjoyed several opportunities to talk with school kids
about children with disabilities and their ability to still
be a part of sports. “I share
the book Kids of Courage
with them and they gain
a whole new perspective
tler
Whis
at
y
Hale
Kathy, Bradan &
about kids with disabilities.
They see that although someone may be visually
impaired or have a physical disability that they can
still participate in sports, or in arts and culture.”
Mary did go on to compete at the 2010 ParalymMary is also looking forward to getting younger
pics. Although she was sick with a serious sinus inkids involved in skiing. And, just as it has been
fection, Mary was determined to race. She called on
from the beginning, Kathy is supporting Mary’s efthat same spirit that helped her pull herself through
forts all the way!
rehabilitation and she placed 11th and 12th. When
she attended the opening ceremonies, Mary knew
Mary and Kathy attended the Pacific Coast Brain
pushing herself was the right thing to do. “Walking
Injury Conference, Nov. 18 – 19, 2010 in Vancouinto the opening ceremonies to see 66,000 people
ver, BC. Mary presented a session titled: Healing
was an accomplishment of a dream for me,” states
Through Sport: My Paralympic Journey
headline 14
Government Resources
Regional Health Authority’s ABI Coordinators:
Fraser Health - Aquired Brain injury Program-604-520-4175
Interior Health Authority-250-870-4664,
Contact Name: Deborah Preston
Northern Health-250-565-2640,
Contact Name: Jana Pirsel
Vancouver Coastal Health Authority-604-714-4159
Vancouver Island Health Authority- 250- 370-8699,
Contact Name: Judith Armstrong
Enquiry BC-to locate Provincial Government Departments
• Lower Mainland 604-660-2421
• Outside Lower Mainland 1-800-663-7867
• Victoria 250-387-6121
Ministry of Advanced Education, Training and Technology:
Open Learning Information:
• In and Outside Lower Mainland 1-800-663-1633
Student Loan Information:
• Lower Mainland 604-660-2610
• Outside Lower Mainland 1-800-561-1818- select 1 then 5
Public Guardian & Trustee of British Columbia:
• 700-808 West Hastings St. Vancouver, BC V6B 3L3
Victim’s Info Line:
• 1-800-563-0808
Adult and Youth Addiction Services:
• Lower Mainland 604-660-9382
• Outside Lower Mainland 1-800-663-1441
Community Resources
BC Coalition of People with Disabilities
Advocacy Access Program for assistance with provincial
and federal disability benefits
Lower Mainland 604-872-1278
Outside Lower Mainland 1-888-663-1278
Bus Pass for Persons with Disabilities and Seniors
Lower Mainland 604-682-0391
Outside Lower Mainland 1-888-661-1566
Tim Readman, Executive Director
Stroke Recovery Association of BC
Phone: 604-688-3603 Toll Free: 1-888-313-3377
www.strokerecoverybc.ca
Cerebral Palsy Association of BC
Lower Mainland Voice and TTY 604-515-9455
Outside Lower Mainland 1-800-663-0004
Community Brain Injury Program for Children & Youth in BC
Toll Free 1-877-451-5511
www.cbip.bc.ca
Epilepsy BC
Lower Mainland 604-875 6704
Outside Lower Mainland 1-866-374-5377
Victoria 250-475-6677
Information Services Vancouver
604-875-6381
Resources
I
N
T
E
R
N
E
T
Headline is a proud supporter of
Learn
Connect
Find
Pacific Coast Brain Injury Conference
www.pcbic.org
BC Brain Injury Association
www. bcbraininjuryassociation.com
Campbell River Head Injury Support Society
www.crhead.ca
Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association
www.fvbia.org
Central Okanagan Brain Injury Society
www.cobis.org
www.protectyourhead.com
Comox Valley Head Injury Society
www.cvheadinjury.com
Nanaimo Brain Injury Society
www.nbis.ca.
Powell River Brain Injury Society
http://braininjurysociety.ca
Prince George Brain Injured Group Society 
www.pgbig.ca
Brain Injury Resources
www.braininjuryresources.org
Ontario Brain Injury Association
www.obia.on.ca
Brain Injury Association USA
www.biausa.org
South Okanagan Similkameen BI Society
www.sosbis.com
Victoria Brain Injury Society
www.vbis.ca
The Perspective Network
www.tbi.org
The TBI Chat Room
www.tbichat.org
G.F. Strong Rehab
www.gfstrong.com
BC Eplilepsy Society
www.bcepilepsy.com
Headway Centre
Howe Sound Rehabilitation Services Society
www.howesound.net
Northern Brain Injury Association
www.nbia.ca
headline 15
Using iPhone Apps to Enhance Your Day to Day Function
By Ergo Rehabilitation Inc.
250-385-5277
Introduction
s Rehabilitation therapists with Ergo Rehabilitation, we work with people who have sustained mild to
A
severe traumatic brain injuries through traumatic events such as motor vehicle accidents. Our goal is to
enhance a person’s overall function. We are excited about the new technology available to assist people to
increase their independence.
he iPod Touch (introduced in September, 2007), the new iPhone (January, 2009), and iPad (April, 2010)
T
have significantly changed our ability to help people to help themselves. Below are some examples of
the applications that we have found to be the most helpful with clients we see. Your therapist or life skills
worker can help you to set up your iPhone.
DO YOU HAVE DIFFICULTY REMEMBERING
APPOINTMENTS?
Calendars and Scheduling apps
• Appointments can be put into a calendar that can be viewed by the day, week, or month. There are auditory reminders (alarms) that can be set up
to remind you of upcoming appointments. For
example, if you create a doctor’s appointment at 11:00 am on Tuesday, you can set up an alarm
to alert you twice; for example, the day before as well as an hour before so that you have time to get there. This also works well to plan meals. Meals can be scheduled into your calendar. It is, in fact, like a prosthetic memory. You can sched ule appointments months in advance and can
have regular appointments repeat themselves
throughout the year. This app also helps with pacing your activities. You can schedule rest
periods in between your activities so as to man age your fatigue. CalenGoo can be synced to a Google calendar to enable appointments to be entered from a keyboard on a computer.
Name of app: Pocket Informant LITE
headline 16
Name of app:
CalenGoo
• Days Until – This application is free for both the iPhone and iPod Touch. It monitors and displays the days remaining until special events that you have entered into it.
• Borrowed Things – A handy app that allows you
to record all the things that you have borrowed
or lent.
• Date Recorder – This app allows you to record all types of small things that you want to remember, such as walking the dog, a friend’s party, meeting someone for dinner, etc.
DO YOU HAVE DIFFICULTY KEEPING TRACK OF
YOUR BANK ACCOUNT AND BUDGETING?
Budgeting and Banking
•These types of apps allow you to budget for expenses, track where the money was spent, and review how much is left. Amounts may be entered at the store with the device offline.
Name of app:
Spend – Budgeting
Name of app:
Ace Budget Lite
•Bill Tracker – This application will help you man age all types of bills, such as car payments, through a convenient user interface combined with an advanced internal database.
•Cash Tracker – This is another app that provides for an easy way of tracking your every expense, plus provides tools to analyze your spending.
DO YOU SOMETIMES LOSE YOUR WAY OR GET
LOST IN WHAT SHOULD BE FAMILIAR AREAS?
Navigation / Wayfinding
•Getting confused and lost, even in a familiar city, may cause anxiety. These apps make use of GPS
and will guide you from your current location to your destination.
Name of app:
MapQuest 4 Mobile
Name of app:
MotionX GPS Drive
•Car Minder Plus – Keep track of your car mainte nance needs and log repairs and fuel with this app. It will keep track of multiple vehicles.
•Take Me To My Car – One tap of this app saves your current position and when you next start the app it will provide walking directions to your car.
•Here I Am – This app creates an email that con tains a link to your location. Other iPhone users will see your location in their Maps application.
•Take Me Home I’m Lost – This app keeps track
of your home address and will provide you with directions to get home.
•Onetrip Shopping List – This app acts as an in terface to the Onetrip.org web site, which contains
your shopping list. This app is not available from
the Apple store, but it is free.
•Grocery Gadget – You can enter items you need
to purchase in the app or at Grocerygadgets.com. The app learns the order of items at the store
as you shop and puts them in order next time you
shop.
•Shopper –This app allows you to develop differ ent lists for different stores, records aisle layouts,
prices, budget tracking and coupon tracking. It
can also search through flyers and show you ad vertised specials.
DO YOU NEED MEMORY TOOLS FOR DAY TO
DAY INFORMATION?
Memory Tools
•dontFORGET – This app will help you to remem ber birthdays and other special events. It contains
two sections; one for your contacts and one for
custom events that you create.
•My Emergency Info – Key information that you
want to share with emergency technicians, such
as allergies and medical conditions, is kept within
this app.
•Dragon Dictation – This app is an easy-to use voice recognition tool that allows you to speak and convert this to text or email messages.
Personal Injury • ICBC
Medical Negligence
Free initial consultation
Percentage fees
available
Focused on your needs
Bill Morley
604 631 3127
Free home and
hospital visits
[email protected]
DO YOU HAVE DIFFICULTY KEEPING TRACK OF
GROCERIES YOU NEED? DO YOU FORGET TO
BUY ITEMS OR OVERBUY THEM?
Shopping Lists
•Make It @ Home Grocery List – This app allows
you to create and manage your grocery list on
your PC or Mac, and then sync it to your iPhone
or iPod Touch.
Vancouver Calgary Toronto Montreal
Quebec New York London Johannesburg
Tenacity Persistence Determination
headline 17
•Voice Memos –this enables you to record and
review personal audio messages. You can record grocery or to do lists, meeting notes, short and long messages, and name recordings.
•Speak It – This text-to-speech app utilizes a voice synthesis engine that converts text into spoken words.
• Simplenote – You can keep simple lists, notes and
ideas with this app that automatically synchro-
nizes with your computer.
• Kitchen Timer – An app that is a simple 60 minute
kitchen timer which is a perfect tool to use while cooking.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO WORK ON YOUR
ATTENTION, CONCENTRATION AND
SHORT-TERM MEMORY?
Cognitive rehabilitation apps
• Fearless Brain – This app will train your memory every day with a fast paced game and allows you to track your progress as your skills improve.
•Glossy Touch – This app displays a pattern of flashing colors, allowing you to repeat the pat-
tern by tapping colored buttons in the same order.
•Memory Exercise – This app improves your cognitive skills by displaying random single digit
Personal Injury
We can help
“If you’ve been seriously
injured by someone else,
we will achieve a fair
resolution to properly
compensate you.”
Mair Jensen Blair LLP Lawyers
700-275 Lansdowne Street, Kamloops, BC V2C 6H6
Phone: (250) 374-3161 | Toll Free: 1-888-374-3161
V i s i t o u r w e b s i t e a t w w w. m j b l a w. c o m
headline 18
numbers that you then try to remember and type
to the next screen. Correct answers advance you
to the next level.
• Memory Matches – This is an app where you flip cards to reveal a matching pair. It can be played as a single player or in multi-player mode.
•Anagram Game – This mimics the classic ana gram word game where you try to form as many words as possible from a group of letters.
•Brain Trainer by Lumosity – This app includes 7 brain games designed to enhance your cognitive abilities including memory, processing speed,
attention, flexibility and problem solving.
•Brain Challenge – This app has 43 games within it that help in the following areas: memory, math, focus, visual, and logic.
•Build Attention – A game where you press the squares displayed from 1 to 25 and your time is recorded, increasing your attention ability.
•Brain Up! – This app contains five categories of games in logic, calculation, memory, judgment, and music.
Summary
Endless applications exist for the iPhone, iPod
Touch, and iPad that can assist you in countless
ways. The above are only a small sample of what
is available for these devices. Many of the apps are
free, and other are quite reasonably priced.
iPhones, Blackberries, and other smart phones
are increasingly proving themselves to be useful
organizational tools for people with brain injuries.
Linda Glover, Community Coordinator at the Prince
George Brain Injury Group, is currently conducting surveys with people who find or would find this
modality an effective tool in their daily lives. Once
the survey is completed, she hopes to be able to
present her findings to companies offering these
phones in the hope that people with identified disabilities will be able to receive a reduced rate in
their purchase and/or contract fees if prescribed by
doctors and other health care professionals. If you,
or someone you know, is interested in completing a
survey, please contact Linda directly at:
Linda Glover, Community Coordinator,
Prince George Brain Injured Group,
1237 Fourth Avenue,
Prince George, B.C., V2L 3J5,
Phone 1-250-564-2447, fax 1-250-564-6928, or
email at [email protected]
How to Enjoy the Holidays without Spending Money
Celebrate Christmas and Holiday Season With Limited Finances
~Teresa Knudsen
With the economic downturn, many people have
little-to-no money for presents or food. Yet, Christmas honors the poor and humble, and holiday spirit
is free to enjoy.
One of the worst times to be poor or low on cash is
during the time when Christmas holidays are being
celebrated. All the advertisements imply that everyone has lots of money, many loving family members, and beautifully decorated homes with tons of
presents glistening under the tree.
Being low on money or without money can be especially difficult during this time as people struggle
to find ways to give friends, family, and co-workers
signs of holiday spirit. Here are ideas about finding ways to make these holidays happy memories,
even without money.
Honor the Meaning of the Holidays
This time of year is special for many people of
different beliefs. Whether one is celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, the Solstice, or any of the other
joyful and somber occasions, it’s important to make
time to honor the season.
This can be done alone, in quiet time, or with others. The important thing is to connect with the spirit
of the season. This costs no money at all.
Keep the Holiday Spirit
When under pressure from economic woes, it’s
easy to slip into sarcasm, bitterness, and anger. It
can happen to anyone. Yet, for the season, park the
negative, and let the positive light the season. Just
getting some time away from being negative can
provide an immense sense of relief.
Keep the Holidays Happy for Children
Staying happy is especially true for those with children during the holidays. This is their time to make
memories of the holiday and Christmas, memories
which will stay with them their entire lives. Children
can be deeply hurt and worried about fights and
money. Therefore, this is a time to protect them
from adult concerns, allowing the children to fully
enjoy the season.
Children have amazing insights, cute ideas, clever
ways of doing things, and genuine words of wisdom. As many celebrate the birth of a child on
Christmas, this holiday in particular honors all children. Give children a protected space to enjoy their
holidays, and experience this seasonal celebration
though their eyes.
Finding Free Gifts for the Holidays
It’s a challenge to find items that are free. Yet, it’s
not hopeless. Many second-hand stores have more
than they need, and offer channels to request assistance in filling Christmas stockings or presents
for under the trees.
Family and friends often have items they no longer
want, but which are too good to throw away, or
which someone else might enjoy. Asking can result
in receiving.
Listen to Music During the Holiday Season
There is always a way to find music during the
holidays. Cities, towns, and market places often
sponsor free caroling. Symphonies or bands might
offer free performances. Check the music sections
in local papers to find free music.
There’s also ways to bring music into a home.
Just singing holiday songs and Christmas carols
brings a sense of seasonal spirit to a house. These
songs can be sung over, and the words and music
become familiar. Even people who say they can’t
sing can join in with others. What matters is singing
together, and the magic it creates.
Take Walks to Enjoy the Holiday Season
Another free activity is to take walks. Being outside
can give another perspective of the holiday season.
Walking in city streets provides a lot of interesting
sights. Walking in the suburban or country areas
can provide views of trees, lawns, Christmas decorations, and animal life. This is a time to also dream.
If money does come, what will it be used for? To
buy a mansion? To take ice skating lessons? To
plan a trip, or an education? Let imagination flow.
Or just enjoy the views.
After the walk, it’s fun to write a short journal or
free-write about the walk. Include drawings or cutout pictures found in old magazines, newspapers,
or holiday greeting cards from previous years. Chatting about the walk, about ideas that came during
the walk, can enrich this holiday time.
2 6 9 1 7 8 4 5 3
8 5 3 4 2 6 7 1 9
Sudoku Solution
Page 3
7 4 1 5 3 9 8 2 6
6 1 4 8 5 2 9 3 7
5 7 8 9 1 3 6 4 2
3 9 2 6 4 7 1 8 5
4 3 6 7 8 5 2 9 1
1 2 7 3 9 4 5 6 8
9 8 5 2 6 1 3 7 4
headline 19
Connecting and Meeting
with Other People
Another way to enjoy the holidays without money is
to visit with others. Sharing a cup of tea, or of coffee, can give a relaxing feel to the season. Children
can have fun with other children, using their imaginations, and creating their own activities. Society is
always a nice way to spend time, and especially so
during the hard times
Another great way to connect with others during the
holiday involves sharing a meal. Eating alone can
be a treat, but during the holidays, it’s always nice
to share a meal. Maybe it’s a modest breakfast, or
a light lunch, an afternoon snack, or the evening
dinner. Eating with others creates a sense of community.
Reading to Find Holiday Relaxation
Read alone, or aloud. Find copies of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, or any holiday story. The
Night Before Christmas is another favorite. Reading is one of the best ways to relax and enjoy time.
Reading to others or to children, or having them
back, can fill hours with fun and interest.
No matter which way one chooses, the holidays
can be joyous and happy without spending a lot of
money. This is a time when the material is important, but the idea of the holiday is most important.
Reprinted with permission.
traumatic brain and spinal cord in j u ry
Regaining Your Quality Of Life is our goal. We work together
with your rehabilitation team to ensure that you receive the
best possible rehabilitation while at the same time securing full,
lifetime compensation for you and your family.
Our experienced team offers specialized expertise with a human
touch. Give us a call and then decide.
• Free initial consultation
• Serving clients worldwide
who have been injured in BC
• Flexible appointment times &
locations convenient for you
• Handle all legal expenses
Suite 1450
Tel: 604.687.8874
1188 W Georgia Street
Fax: 604.687.8134
Vancouver BC V6E 4A2
Toll Free: 877.687.8844
email: [email protected]
specialized
headline 20
expertise with a human touch
Heads Up
WHAT’S HAPPENING
AROUND THE PROVINCE
BULKLEY VALLEY BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION
(BVBIA)
BVBIA offers case management services, and assistance
with accessing rehabilitation programs, one-on-one emotional support, family support, and social and recreational
activities. For more information, call 250-877-7723.
CAMPBELL RIVER HEAD INJURY SUPPORT SOCIETY
(CRHISS)
CRHISS provides education, advocacy, support, and fellowship. For more information, call 250-287-4323.
COMOX VALLEY HEAD INJURY SOCIETY (CVHIS)
CVHIS hosts a weekly drop in luncheon for a nominal
cost to survivors and their families. For more information,
call 250-334-9225 or visit, www.cvheadinjury.com .
FRASER VALLEY BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION
(FVBIA)
FVBIA Brain Injury Association offers programs, drop-in
sessions and support groups. For more information on
FVBIA, call 604-557-1913 or (toll free) 1-866-557-1913 or
email [email protected].
KAMLOOPS BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION (KBIA)
KBIA offers many services and programs, including case
coordination and life skills support. For more information,
call at 250-372-1799.
NANAIMO BRAIN INJURY SOCIETY (NBIS)
NBIS offers rehabilitation and case management services, disability benefits assistance, and workshops focusing on issues ranging from trauma recovery to life skills
strategies and anger management. For more information,
call 250-753-5600 or visit their website at www.nbid.ca.
POWELL RIVER BRAIN INJURY SOCIETY (PRBIS)
PRBIS www.braininjurysociety.ca provides support and
services for persons with acquired brain injury, spouses,
family members and caregivers included. For more information, call 604-485-6065 or toll free 1-866-499-6065.
SOUTH OKANAGAN SIMILKAMEEN BRAIN INJURY
SOCIETY (SOSBIS)
SOSBIS provides the following services: Case Management, Psychosocial Recreation, Peer Support – Cognitive
Enhancement, Family Support, Stroke Recovery Support,
Education, Personal Support, Women’s Support and Prevention and Education. For more information, visit www.
sosbis.com
TRI-CITIES BRAIN INJURY SUPPORT GROUP
As months have gone by, Tri-Cities Brain Injury Support
Group continues to have its meetings every 1st Thursday
of each month from 2 - 4 pm. At our meetings, friends
get together and discuss interesting topics and do fun
activities. Most recently, before the end of summer, we
were able to go on an exciting sailing trip. We all met up
at Jericho beach and one by one were sent off to enjoy
the cool ocean waves. We meet at the Coquitlam Public
Library - Poirier Branch on 575 Poirier Street. For more
information, please contact Sandi Caverly at 604-9165027 or [email protected] or Martin Granger at martin_
[email protected]. New members are welcome!
VICTORIA BRAIN INJURY SOCIETY (VBIS)
VBIS offers individual and group programs to survivors
and their support system. Programs offered include:
Peer Support, ABI 101, Coping Skills, Personal Enhancement, Creative Arts, a Family Support Group and Education & Awareness seminars to community groups. For
more information call 250-598-9339 or visit www.vbis.ca.
Take a Break
SGO C O D T J E I S DE E R T R EH SAD I
T NR A G S A L I L N GD K A S A NT AME R
HA E R R I V Y E N G YS C A H R I J OYS T
GDC O M E A I E N G I S T C C O YO UYQ J
I VN L S Y G N O K N L C H F O R VV P ED X
L E A S L H Y G X G A DE O T RM A F KKRM
YND L E S N I T D X L E B L A N E T VRNW
E TO P D Y F N R R R MF C E D E Z T SUA B
NHC S D K K E E G S UQ W E L R RT RTMY
MJ U N L K D N N A K TD Z OM L EW ENWR
I BP O R N N I MM H QX O R N B SC I FO R
HL I W O O K T S Y O T J V L H S EN NXN E
C I D S D C S V I X E NM Y MP C SR DASM
V T E R O I N O R T H PO L E A H T X E YR E
GZ Y T RMK G N I D DU P E Z L FG E KN P
QE S H N F S E L B U AB P L K P I N R I F T
RNC P M I S T L E T OE Q KWQ GP PWN V
Find the following hidden words:
ADVENT
DANCER
JOY
TINSEL
RUDOLPH
MERRY
DONNER
CAROLS
VIXEN
SNOW
PINE
PRANCER
PUDDING
RED NOSE
BAUBLES
TOYS
SANTA
MISTLETOE
EGGNOG
CHIMNEY
WREATH
SNOWFLAKE
SNOWMAN
STAR STOCKING
DASHER
BLITZEN
TREE
SING
NORTH POLE
ELVES
CHRISTMAS
COLD
COMET
CUPID
REINDEER
LIGHTS
DECEMBER
CAKE
TURKEY
SLEIGH
PEACE
GIFTS
HOLLY
IVY
JINGLE BELLS
headline 21
Reflections
By Janelle Breese Biagioni
“It could be his head wasn’t screwed on just right.
It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight.
But I think that the most likely reason of all,
May have been that his heart was two sizes too small.”
~Dr. Seuss (How The Grinch Stole Christmas)
What child doesn’t enjoy Dr. Seuss? For that matter,
what adult doesn’t enjoy Dr. Seuss? Born, Theodor
Seuss Geisel, and simply known as “Ted” to his
family and friends, Dr. Seuss wrote many books for
adults and children. He was an artist, a poet, and a
gifted storyteller. His whimiscal stories of adventure
and fun have transcended decades and captured
the hearts of people around the world. Although
highly entertaining, Seuss’ books for children are
quite profound and deliver great messages of encouragement and hope.
Dr. Seuss’ poems often depict life’s challenges but
also remind us how special and unique everyone is
We wrote the book on
Functional Capacity Evaluations
OT CONSULTING/TREATMENT SERVICES LTD.
210 – 3438 Lougheed Highway,
Vancouver, British Columbia V5M 2A4
t: 604.215.3660 f: 604.215.3669
e: [email protected]
www.otconsulting.ca
headline 22
To order your book
“The Functional Capacity Evaluation:
A Clinician’s Guide”
visit our website at
www.otconsulting.ca
in this world. Moreover, he reminds us not to take
life too seriously! I know that sounds easy and for
many people the holiday season can be one of
those times when it is difficult to not be too serious. Some find the festive season disappointing,
overwhelming, and fraught with unwanted stress.
For those who have limited financial resources and
no family or friends to share the day with, the festive
season is challenging. Then there are those who
have ample funds to cope with the commercial demands and plenty of family and friends to share the
“Christmas Cheer” with… but they too, are miserable and cranky during the holidays. So what’s the
one thing that we can do regardless of our financial
means or social calendar that can help us to be part
of the joy and happiness this holiday season? We
need to simply open our hearts.
Don’t be the Grinch who stole Christmas! Don’t
make Christmas about what you have or you don’t
have. Make it about someone else. Make it about
reaching out and giving a “smile” or a “helping
hand” to every person you can. Make it about being
kind to yourself and to others. Make it about taking
time to slow down, reflect, and soak in the beauty
of this world we live in. Make it about connecting
with a senior, a child, a family pet, or those living in
shelters and eating at the local soup kitchen. Make
it about honouring and appreciating those who
‘live in service’ every day. There will be fire fighters,
paramedics, police officers, healthcare professionals and military members who will be serving their
community and country instead of spending the
holidays with their family. You do not need to do
anything out of the ordinary to show them appreciation for the work they do… more often than not
simply saying THANK YOU is the greatest gift of all!
Support Groups
BC BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATIONS &
*This list updated Winter Issue, 2010.
Abbotsford
Carol Paetkau
604-557-1913
Acquired Brain Injury Society of the Yukon Anne-Marie Yahn
867-668-5283
Alberni Valley Head Injury Society/Port Alberni
Linda Kenny
250-724-6772
Barriere/Merritt
Terry-Lynne Stone
250-372-1799
British Columbia Brain Injury Association
Jan Siwinski
1-877-858-1788
Bulkley Valley Brain Injury Association
Katherine Metz
250-877-7723
Burnaby Chinese Brain Injury Support Group
Angela Kan
604-877-8606
Campbell River Head Injury Support Society
Shelley Howard
250-287-4323
Caribou Brain Injury Society
Shilo Toews
250-392-7772
Central Okanagan Brain Injury Association
Laurie Denton 250-762-3233
Chilliwack
FVBIA
604-557-1913
COBIS - Vernon Contact
Stacie Gadsby
250-306-2064
Comox Valley Brain Injury Society
Dixon Hiscock
250-897-1255
Comox Valley Head Injury Society
Jeremy Coombs 250-334-9225
Cowichan Valley Head Injury Support Group
Barb Grantham
250-748-9338
East Kootenay Brain Injury Association
Dawn Widdifield
250-417-6220
Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association
Carol Paetkau
604-557-1913
Golden Brain Injury Support Group
Donna Madden
250-344-5688
Kamloops Brain Injury Association
Terry-Lynn Stone
250-372-1799
KBIA - Salmon Arm/Shuswap Contact
Teresa Wolfe
250-833-0369
KBIA - Barriere/Merrit Contact
Terry-Lynn Stone
250-372-1799
Langley/Aldergrove Brain Injury Support Group
FVBIA
604-557-1913
Maple Ridge Support Group
Ian Moore
604-944-9030
Mission
FVBIA
604-557-1913
Nanaimo Brain Injury Society
Mark Busby 250-753-5600
New Westminster Headway Gabrielle Pape 604.520.0130
B.R.A.I.N. (Brain Resource, Advocacy & Information Network) Tina Suter
604-540-9234
North Okanagan Shuswap Brain Injury Society (Salmon Arm/Shuswap)
Lori Wootten
Northern Brain Injury Association
Carmen Jose
1-866-979-4673
Peace Country Society for Acquired Brain Injury
Linda Proctor
250-782-7519
Powell River
Deborah Dee
1-866-499-6065
Prince George Brain Injured Group Society
Alison Hagreen
250-564-2447
Sechelt/Sunshine Coast Brain Injury Support Group Rita Grenville
604-885-8524
South Okanagan Similkameen Brain Injury Society
Dave Head
250-490-0613
Terrace Brain Injury Support Group
NBIA
1-866-979-4673
TriCities Support Group
Sandy Caverly
604-916-5027
Vancouver Headway Leah Pentilla 604.732.4446
Vancouver Survivors Support Group
Lillian Wong
604-873-2385
Victoria Brain Injury Society
Barbara Erickson
250-598-9339
West Coast Support Network
Wanda McAvoy
250-726-7459
West Kootenay Brain Injury Association
Kim Johnson
250-304-1259
TF 1-866-557-1913
TF 1-866-557-1913
TF 1-866-557-1913
TF 1-866-557-1913
TF 1-866-557-1913
250-833-1140
TF 1-866-564-2447
*Please email name and phone number changes to [email protected] to ensure this list is kept as up-to-date as possible.
headline 23
PM40981507
RETURN UNDELIVERABLE
CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO
5851 Kittiwake Drive
Richmond, BC V7E 3P1
Home.
An experienced
brain injury lawyer
can make it happen.
Winning complex brain injury
cases for more than 30 years,
Webster & Associates is a leader
in the field of traumatic brain injury
law. We help our clients and their
families reach their personal and
financial goals.
BRAININJURYLAW. CA
Call us. We can help.
Webster & Associates
Vancouver/Richmond: 604 713 8030
Victoria: 250 589 8030
Toll Free: 1 877 873 0699
email: [email protected]