After a stroke, look for ways to be happy! That is the advice from Silas Allen, who survived a stroke and is a reporter for the Fort Worth Star Telegram covering educational news for Tarrant County. He found several tools to assist in writing for work, e.g. GoogleDocs, Otter.ai, etc. Silas felt mentally challenged with fatigue, relearning how to drive, coping with demands from others, and resuming his work in a choir. As an optimist, Silas still believes that he will continue to recover, and alw...
May 23, 2024•26 min•Season 5Ep. 16
After brain injury, have you ever felt that you may need help in maintaining or strengthening your spiritual life? Talking with somebody like Chaplain Johnny Taylor may be the help you need. He has helped many with that process throughout his 28 year career as a chaplain and continues till this day as he now serves at UT Southwestern Hospital. Support the show New episodes drop every other Thursday everywhere you listen to podcasts. 🎙️ Do you want to support us? Give us some feedback, tell us w...
May 16, 2024•27 min•Season 5Ep. 15
Everyday is a challenge after a brain injury! Welcome bindwaves co-hosts Carrie & Kezia as they discuss common obstacles faced by brain injury survivors. The limitations each survivor faces vary due to the affected area. It is highly unlikely that two survivors would face the exact same challenges, e.g. relearning swallowing, speaking, walking, bathing, dressing, etc. Every brain injury is different. Every recovery is different. Support the show New episodes drop every other Thursday everywh...
May 09, 2024•27 min•Season 5Ep. 14
There are reasons why the Department of Public Safety (DPS) may deny your request to resume driving. Listen to Christine Nelson who is a licensed rehab specialist and a manager at PATE. Several reasons why a person may not pass a driving test are memory lapses, anger issues, spatial issues between cars, and the failure to execute certain strategies. Patients are encouraged to make use of any modifications such as turn signals, change of pedals, adjust mirrors for up and down movements. PATE has ...
May 02, 2024•19 min•Season 5Ep. 13
There is no substitute for real-life driving! Our guest today is Alice Petranek, an Occupational Therapist, who works at Rehab Without walls. She is a founding member of BIN board of Directors. She believes that resume driving is a set of sense skills in perception, vision, and coordination… all at the same time. Alice is clear that safety is the most important factor, especially when unseen injuries play a role. She takes a teamwork approach with her staff members so that her clients, brain inj...
Apr 25, 2024•26 min•Season 5Ep. 12
Be patient and take time to get your confidence back to drive. Welcome back Mr. Brandon Higgs, co-owner of H & T Driver Rehabilitation, which is a driving-specific occupational therapy business. They do clinical testing and behind-the-wheel evaluations designed to give survivors an idea if it would be safe to return to driving. They can do all of this from their office or meet you at your own home! Support the show New episodes drop every other Thursday everywhere you listen to podcasts. 🎙️...
Apr 18, 2024•25 min•Season 5Ep. 11
There is no right answer to this question, but Brandon Higgs will shed light on some of the issues in today’s program. He is a co-owner of H&T Driver Rehabilitation Specialists and is certified for comprehensive rehabilitation services (CRS). Brandon believes that occupational therapists are well suited to contribute to the decision to regain the independence to drive. They can help brain injury survivors decide to take the road and written tests to ensure their safety for others and avoid l...
Apr 11, 2024•25 min•Season 5Ep. 10
Listen to Chris B, who advises listeners to go slow when restarting driving after a brain injury. Chris is a member of BIND and volunteers at Heritage Farms in Plano. He has a supportive family, who encouraged him to start driving. Chris remembers the feeling of waking up and recognizing that his hands worked properly so that he could drive. It took 18 months for him to resume driving and to learn how to use his other foot for braking and accelerating. His primary doctors urged him to keep his d...
Apr 04, 2024•26 min•Season 5Ep. 9
As we dive into Brain Injury Awareness Month, we're re-releasing the most watched and listened-to episodes, packed with a highlight of hope, inspiration, and resilience. On today's episode, we are re-releasing “What happens Next After Brain Injury” with Bernard, a great example of willingness to relearn even with all the the frustrations. You will be hearing about his insights after first waking up and finding out that he had a brain injury and realising recovery is ongoing. And the relief he ha...
Mar 28, 2024•20 min•Season 5Ep. 8
As we dive into Brain Injury Awareness Month, we're Re-releasing the most watched and listened-to episodes, packed with a highlight of hope, inspiration, and resilience. On today's episode, we are re-releasing “Independence is Key” with Livia, a great example of determination and independence in the face of difficulties. You will be hearing her earliest challenges because of the brain injury to her latest triumphs. Stay tuned! 💚 Support the show New episodes drop every other Thursday everywhere...
Mar 21, 2024•20 min•Season 5Ep. 7
In honor of Brain Injury Awareness Month we are re-releasing our most popular episodes. On this episode, we talked with Amber Richarson who is an Occupational therapist and Community Relations Manager with Pate & Rehab without walls. We discuss all the many different options for brain injury rehabilitation therapy such as within a hospital, outpatient facility, or in the home along with community involvement. 💚 Support the show New episodes drop every other Thursday everywhere you listen to...
Mar 14, 2024•20 min•Season 5Ep. 6
In honor of Brain Injury Awareness Month, we are re-releasing our most popular episodes. Today you will be hearing our very first episode that was published on March 25th, 2021 “What is a Brain Injury?” You will re-meet Karl H. as a founding member of BIN and his knowledge on brain injury through 15 years of recovery 💚 🎙️ Do you want to support us? * Give us some feedback and tell us what bindwaves has meant for you by emailing us at bindwaves@thebind.org * Leave us a rating or review on Apple...
Mar 07, 2024•21 min•Season 5Ep. 5
Listen to these inspirational stories from two members at BIND. Kezia and Olivia who are both young stroke survivors. They will tell you that every experience is different, and how to recognize that many brain injuries are invisible. In the podcast, you will hear how they persevere and overcome fatigue, difficulty in speech and cognitive tasks, memory lapses, and networking in simple conversations. They both had to re-learn how to focus and concentrate with their challenges. Ultimately, they des...
Feb 22, 2024•26 min•Season 5Ep. 4
Enjoy listening to Gregg Grossman, Ph.D., who is a life coach, president of Beyond Perseverance, and author of Times of Perseverance: Hope and Healing on the Battlefields of Life. No stranger to brain injury, he had to recover from two car accidents over 10 years. Gregg explains how he uses mostly open-ended questions to build trust, spirit, and why they should even care about themselves. He finds ways to help clients to set boundaries, reframing their way to see things positively, and getting f...
Feb 15, 2024•28 min•Season 5Ep. 3
In today's episode Carrie and Kezia take the stage to offer their perspectives, not just as co-hosts but as stroke survivors and members of the Brain Injury Network. Reflecting on why BIN embarked on this podcast journey and the importance of providing a platform for survivors to break the silence surrounding brain injuries. They uncover the multifaceted layers of our mission and navigate the challenges, victories, and profound impact of our podcast within the brain injury community. Support the...
Feb 08, 2024•24 min•Season 5Ep. 2
Most members want to do a job well and improve what they do. This interview with BIND’s Executive Director, Brian White, explains the progress we have made in the past year, and looks forward to a bright future. Not only have we doubled our listening base with weekly podcasts, but we have been successful with our public events, efforts for fundraising, opening the new location, and setting plans for Fort Worth to open five days a week. Brian wants to continue high-energy projects, and plans to i...
Feb 01, 2024•22 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Chris, a member of BIN, believes that his disability cannot stop his destiny with his brain injury. He was born without sight but continued to study in college, worked, and lived independently before his brain injury. As his caregiver, his mom, Marilyn, joins us in the conversation to share her perspective. Support the show New episodes drop every other Thursday everywhere you listen to podcasts. 🎙️ Do you want to support us? Give us some feedback, tell us what bindwaves has meant for you by em...
Dec 21, 2023•14 min•Season 4Ep. 18
Kevan believes that any professional does not allow people to humiliate themselves in therapy, but rather, strives to obtain the most self-efficacy with the least intervention possible. These programs are varied, including testing, coaching, on-site observations, and specific skills such as art, speech, and computer instruction. Support the show New episodes drop every other Thursday everywhere you listen to podcasts. 🎙️ Do you want to support us? Give us some feedback, tell us what bindwaves h...
Dec 14, 2023•23 min•Season 4Ep. 17
Kevan Beijan brings more than 20 years of licensed professional counseling (LCP) experience. He was an original BIN board member for five years and was instrumental in the decision to create a clubhouse for brain injury survivors. BIN is now a recognizable brand within the DFW medical community. Support the show New episodes drop every other Thursday everywhere you listen to podcasts. 🎙️ Do you want to support us? Give us some feedback, tell us what bindwaves has meant for you by emailing us at...
Dec 07, 2023•19 min•Season 4Ep. 16
In his youth, Steve was a football player and still adores his home team! Today, as a BIND member, he shares his mantra that despite the challeges he has faced, never give up! Steve went through four different strokes with various symptoms, including fear, anxiety, balance, vision issues, blood clots, transfusions, and scary neck problems. One of the most difficult effects of the many strokes was the struggle with aphasia, but he did not quit and has strengthened his speech and is now on our pod...
Nov 30, 2023•19 min•Season 4Ep. 15
Enjoy our round table discussion for some holiday self care tips. What to avoid as a brain injury survivor and how your loved ones can help! We feel that these tools are useful for anyone during this time. We share what works for us and what we’ve learned since our brain injuries. We would also like to wish everyone a very Happy Holiday Season! Support the show New episodes drop every other Thursday everywhere you listen to podcasts. 🎙️ Do you want to support us? Give us some feedback, tell us ...
Nov 23, 2023•20 min•Season 4Ep. 14
Do you know what eating habits, foster good sleep, and build strength following a brain injury? Learn how to employ health lifestyles in Part 2 with Dr. Simon Driver and Jasmine Herrera - Martinez. Consider some tools to help survivors choose foods with quality oils, using elastic bands to exercise, getting additional rest, eating dinner early, and limiting sugars, sweeteners, and caffeine. Both of our guests acknowledge that it is difficult, but not impossible, to live with a healthy lifestyle ...
Nov 16, 2023•23 min•Season 4Ep. 13
What can we learn about healthy lifestyle choices after a brain injury? We listen to Dr. Simon Driver who directs a research program in Rehab and Jasmine Herrera - Martinez who is a brain injury survivor and is the administrator of the TBI Peer Mentor Program at Baylor Scott and White. Dr. Driver received his doctorate in Exercise Sciences which led to his interest in healthy lifestyles for brain injury survivors. As a brain injury survivor, Jasmine shares her experience living with TBI and how ...
Nov 09, 2023•23 min•Season 4Ep. 12
Have you ever wondered, who is working behind the scenes to coordinate your care in rehab? Meet case manager supervisor, Tonja Ohradzansky, who has been working with brain injury survivors for over 8 years at PATE Rehabilitation. Tonja shares her superpower - Coordinating the Chaos! Learn how she helps survivors & their families navigate life with a brain injury after rehab. Support the show New episodes drop every other Thursday everywhere you listen to podcasts. 🎙️ Do you want to support ...
Nov 02, 2023•21 min•Season 4Ep. 11
This week we hear from Becca, a BIND member, who tells us how she got out of her comfort zone to prove that she was on the right track in her recovery. Following her skydiving accident in 2013, Becca learned that she was not in control of everything. In her recovery she is retraining herself to work with other people and plans to add to her three degrees by communicating her experiences. Becca gives advice that the injury will get better, that it takes time to understand people’s needs, and reme...
Oct 26, 2023•19 min•Season 4Ep. 10
What happens when you go to sleep and wake up 6 months later? Meet BIND member Nate, who suffered a traumatic brain injury after falling down the stairs. This left him lying injured for an hour before he was discovered. He was in a coma for 6 months, then spent 6 more months in a vegetative state before being able to begin his rehabilitation. His do over is his second chance at starting life over. Support the show New episodes drop every other Thursday everywhere you listen to podcasts. 🎙️ Do y...
Oct 19, 2023•18 min•Season 4Ep. 9
For a lot of survivors, BIND is a lifeline to making new friends and accepting the “New You”. Listen to Michael who tells us that the most important factor for recovery is to keep an open mind at all times. He shares how the stroke affected him, how he is making progress each day, and how he is taking a bigger role and writing for bindwaves. Support the show New episodes drop every other Thursday everywhere you listen to podcasts. 🎙️ Do you want to support us? Give us some feedback, tell us wha...
Oct 12, 2023•19 min•Season 4Ep. 8
Today, we're thrilled to introduce Emily, our intern at BIND Plano Clubhouse. Starting with a brain tumor diagnosis at 41, Emily has navigated a labyrinth of surgeries and brain-related challenges in her survival story. And guess what? She's far from done. In fact, she's back in school, and on her way to becoming a counselor. According to Emily, “Sometimes, it takes showing someone a mirror so that they can see their own resilience.” Listen to hear her amazing story of resilience, patience, and ...
Oct 05, 2023•22 min•Season 4Ep. 7
Today Kezia and Carrie talk with Jeni from the Brain Injury Network of Dallas (BIND). She shares her experience of suffering two concussions while working as a teacher. Her journey for recovery included difficulties in memory and recall, balance, speech, planning, slowness in answering questions, walking, shopping, and other physical activities. Jeni acknowledges that she has a long way to go, but has acquired a keen interest in becoming a social worker, specifically to help others with brain in...
Sep 28, 2023•22 min•Season 4Ep. 6
It’s ok to not be ok, just don’t stay there!” says Leigh Richardson, the Founder and Clinical Director of the Brain Performance Center. We’re welcoming Leigh back for a second episode as we delve into the purpose of the Brain Performance Center. The center focuses on the behavioral health model and it’s not just for brain injuries survivors but for anyone wanting to improve their brain health. Learn about the 4 things that put the brain in a disruptive position. Mental health = Brain Health. Sup...
Sep 21, 2023•22 min•Season 4Ep. 5
