It's more than Caps and Gowns

Hi, I am Kezia, a stroke survivor and member of BIND. And

Hi, I'm Carrie, a stroke survivor and a member of BIND as well. And today we are welcoming Hannah or BIND's current interns, Hannah and Elizabeth, who have both been with us since January. And Hannah has actually been in both locations, but they're both studying occupational therapy and working on their doctoral doc, doctoral student capstone projects at Texas Women's University. And I know I totally messed that up, but I said that, right. So welcome Hannah and Elizabeth.

Hi. We're so happy to be here.

Yeah, I'm super excited.

We are too, to be like interviewing you.

All right. So since we have both of you, um, this one will go. Elizabeth first, and then Hannah, and then the rest, just kinda, y'all can just take turns, but so we, so Elizabeth, tell us a little bit about yourself.

Okay. Well, um, I'm 26. I have been living in Texas for most of my life. Um, but yeah, I went to OU for undergrad, so Boomer sooner. Um, and yeah, I'm married and just live in life. Awesome.

Yeah. I am Hannah. I am, uh, 24. I just got engaged last year.

Oh, exciting.

I love it. I, um, have a dog and then I did my undergrad at TWU so I've been a t TWU alum for a long time, so, yeah. Cool.

Oh, that's exciting. Um, so I know that you both are working on your degrees, and I know that you mentioned your undergrad and again now your masters. How long has that been taking?

Um, so undergrad was four years, and then it actually is a doctorate program that we started. Um, and so that is three years total, but I took a year off in between those. So it's been a while. It's been a long time coming. Yes.

That is so true. You did mention to me that now it's a doctoral degree, so that's pretty cool. Mm-hmm. That is super cool. So as like personally, what made you guys choose, um, occupational therapy as your degrees and your focus? Yeah,

So I have, uh, two cousins with Down Syndrome and so I kind of got to see how OT helped them from like a young age. And, um, when I went to observe, I realized that I actually really loved the adult population and I specifically loved working with, um, people with stroke. I took neuro classes, found out I love everything about the brain, and that's kind of how I fell in love with ot.

Yeah. Um, so a family friend of ours had, uh, brain cancer. Um, and it was kind of around the time when I was in high school and I didn't know what I wanted to do as a career. Um, and so I went with her to one of her therapy sessions and that's the first time I saw ot. Ever heard of ot. And I fell in love with it, just how holistic it is, how it really helps, um, just at all the different stages of recovery.

So that's really great that y'all found that at a young age and continued with it and stuck with it. And we love our OTs. Couldn't do 'em without you. And I teased everyone, Hannah, because they say, well, I started. Thinking about with kids, and then I'm met stroke survivors and brain injury adults. Mm-hmm. And I love working with them. You know, we're still just little children after we have our brain injury basically.

Yeah. So it's not over yet. Right. Um, we have to study for our boards next. Okay. And that's really just depending on how fast you study, how confident you are. Um, and then once you take the boards exam, you can start really looking for, um, for jobs. So that's how I'm gonna do it. I know some people do it differently, but I, I'm gonna study for the boards and then figure that out and figure it out as I go.

Yeah, that's good.

Um, I think I'm gonna look at jobs while I'm studying. I've already kind of put in some feelers out there to stuff I'm interested in because I know there's always a need for ot. So I think, um, once I finish this kind of g looking into what's out there, what's open while I'm studying for the boards too. So, yeah.

And are you guys thinking about, like, I know that as an OT and you mentioned with kids and. Stuff like that. Um, are you interested in continuing to work with adults and a brain injury, or is it something different that you got? Interested in?

Um, for me it's definitely adults. Mm-hmm. I've known that since going in. I just prefer working with adults more than children. Um, and so I definitely am interested in the neuro population. That's kind of why I wanted to do my capstone here, is to have more, um, experience in that area. But I had a rotation at a day neuro, and I loved it. Mm-hmm. So I really enjoy working with this population For sure.

Oh, cool. You did mention that before, uh, that you were doing in rehabilitation centers and like being like right in the first, um, Time of recovery. Mm-hmm. Like right after being in a hospital. So that's really interesting. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. And I, the same way I, I helped out with kids. I really tried. Um, I enjoyed working in the school system, but I think working with adults is where I thrive. I love hearing the stories and just being able to collaborate a little bit better. Um, so I'm gonna try to see neuro, um, I'm interested in day neuro, I'm interested in inpatient, just. Wherever they need me, I'm there. Sure.

Yeah. And I think you just mentioned too, like how you're in, like what motivated you and has helped you throughout this, this time of your, your school time. Um, what continues being like motivated for your career and like specifically about brain injury, what's the best that's keeping you interested and wanting to be an occupational therapist?

Can I say BIND? Yes. Just working with, yes, that's the number one. BIND has been so great, like seeing what it's like after, um, after therapy and stuff and knowing that there is an after therapy. Just knowing that we're the first step to real life again, so after, and it's a constant recovery, so yeah.

It's so true. If y'all both started in the day Neuro and got to see the right after and then to come here and see. What a difference it makes a couple years later. Mm-hmm. Someone like me, you know, 13 years later that it's, we need y'all, but yeah. Mm-hmm. There's a lot more to it than just repay, I mean, inpatient and rehab there, you know, it goes, it's forever rehabilitation, so. Mm-hmm. That's awesome. Um, I know, and we kind of, you kind of mentioned, you said BIND is the reason.

Um, so actually my mom knows Brian and so I came to the ice cream social last year and kind of asked about if I could do my capstone here. Um, cuz I've been in a volunteer a couple at different events with BIND and um, I just thought it'd be a great place to have my capstone project here, work with the members and gain that experience. So that's how I got connected. Oh, cool. Okay.

I have it. Before you answer that, I have a quick question, Uhhuh, because. I really don't know what this means, and I'm not sure that our listeners know what it means. Could you explain what Capstone is? Either one of you.

Well, yeah, that's a good question. Yeah. Um, yeah, so this is kind of our, it's a new program that is implemented with a doctorate degree. And so we're the first class going through it with t w, um, but it kind of is up to the person, what site they wanna be at, what kind of, um, focus area they would like. So we both kind of did program development. Um, but you can do research. You can do. Um, I'm not sure.

I think there's policy, um, development. I think there's looking into, um, different models of occupational therapy and improving on like an already existing model of occupational therapy. That's another one. Mm-hmm. And I think there are six different options, but those are the three that I can think of right now.

Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, wow. Okay. And within doing the, um, I can't say the right word right now. What were you guys just saying? Cap? The capstone. The capstone. The capstone. I can, I swear in my mind, I can see it spelled, but I couldn't say it out. Um, you doing that here at BIND, your capstone, what have you learned from BIND members? Um, I mean, you guys saw a lot of different members here and different positions of recovery, right? Mm-hmm.

Learning is different for everyone. Every brain injury is different. That's what I've learned. Um, like when I was in an orthopedic clinic, when you have a broken bone, there's like a certain way that it's gonna heal. And there's this process, right? But with brain injury, it depends on where the brain injury was. It just depends on how long they've had the brain injury. So each individual is completely different and you have to adjust your teaching skills for that individual.

Yeah. Mm-hmm. And what about you?

Um, for me, kind of similar, um, yeah, every brain injury presents uniquely. And so it's really cool to get to know someone and see their areas of strength and some areas that they may need to work on. Um, and that's why I love this population so much because. Everyone is so unique and you don't really know until you get to know that person where their level of function is.

Yeah, I definitely, I can see that especially, um, I was doing a presentation to other occupational therapists about my experience, and as I was saying it out loud, I just remember, oh my God, I've had occupational therapists through my whole recovery, but every single time I had a new one. Totally different. I went from folding clothes to giving presentations to like a hundred people, right? So it was just so different. So I, I definitely can see that.

Well, you can see that just right here. I mean, we both had a stroke, both on a different side of the body and we're totally different. I mean, well, except for the fact that we're both loud and like to talk a lot. Talk a lot.

Now, now I can talk alot. Right?

So, yeah. So I'm gonna have a question thinking about it now. Um, The, like she said, you know, we've had OTs our whole time. Um, I'm gonna, hopefully, I'm not gonna lose this thought if I do keep that, but real quick, I wanna go ahead and tell our member or listeners, go ahead and click that light button, that share button and continue listening. But, so like, I don't know if my original OTs were doctorates or just Masters or OT.

There really isn't a difference. Um, I know for O T D, um, the real difference is that you're able to do more research. Okay. So there's more research opportunities if that's kind of the route that you wanna go. Um, I think also it's just having that extra experience in school. Um, but really there's no difference between an OT with a Master's and an OT with a doctorate.

Okay. And just a fine click. Don't think. I think my original one was an OTD. Now that you say that, but yeah.

Yeah. And how much, so both of you are here from Texas, right? Mm-hmm. Yes. Okay, cool. And how long have you guys been like really in. Involved. I know that you mentioned you have been part of a other, other, um, organizations and kind of really involved, but both of you guys have really been interested in becoming occupational therapists here. Um, how has it been, like your whole life here, like been involved with other programs and other people other than BIND?

Oh, that's a good question.

That is a good question.

Well, I was kind of thinking like about your mom. Mm-hmm. Like I know you said mom knows Brian. Yes. So why, how does your mom know Brian?

Yes. So, um, my mom, uh, she mean with our family friend who had brain cancer, kind of got really involved with the brain injury. Um, just community in the area. Yeah, and so she helped bring the head for the Cure 5K race to the North Texas area. Um, I think it was in 2011, so I was pretty young. Um, so I've been involved with that every year they've had, uh, the 5K in May.

So, yeah. Yeah, I think that's, um, I think. While being on the podcast, that's just some, a certain time I don't think would've been really involved in my life had I not had a stroke at a young age. Mm-hmm. Because, I never knew anything like, I mean, I did know stuff, but stuff is stuff, right?

Yeah, so I've been, mine was focusing on computer skills, so I wanted to be able to, uh, focus on computer skills and being efficient and mostly just being confident. So I did a huge literature review about confidence and activities and brain injury. So that was what I wanted to focus on. I made how-to sheets, Where I broke down tasks. I have these how to videos, um, where they can follow along. And so that was mostly my project and I had surveys on confidence levels, so yeah, it was, yes,

lots and lots of surveys. Just teasing my, just teasing. We have as brain injuries survivors, we always have lots of surveys to take, so we know we have. Yeah.

How, what was yours?

Um, mine was looking at a focus on leisure activities, so kind of, um, just looking at social participation and out in the community. And so it was looking at resources that can help members. Kind of help with the initiation and planning of events. Um, just keeping organizational steps with visual cues, um, breaking down those tasks. Um, just help them be able to plan activities that might not, might seem daunting at first. Um, that way it just helps them get out in the community.

Yeah. And I think that like, um, What you guys are doing just continues to promote what Binds purpose is. Mm-hmm. Like to be able to work within the communicate and feeling back to back or even better of who we were before the brain injury, right? Mm-hmm. So I think that was super cool and super helpful and definitely like helps not only BIND, but future members and to really know that therapy doesn't just mean that we sit down and like, You know, either follow homework or something.

It was really cool. And I know I, I haven't watched all the how to videos, but I did watch the other members watching the videos and accomplishing the tasks that you helped, helped us as a group on our work order day actually complete. And the other members that maybe weren't always that excited about going and getting on the computer or making that phone call or whatever it might be, but they would watch the video. And they would work and they would ask questions.

Yeah, that's true. And then with the time that you guys have been here, do you have any like the. Special or what you have known now as a student and now as an um, oh my God, I can't say the word. It's with an I. Intern, intern. Oh my, as an intern. This is me. Like I really like

if we played categories together Yeah.

With Kezia you play scattegory all the time. Um, but like as an intern and your education and all the time and now so close to your career goals being reached, what do you give as a tip to upcoming or like people that have just had a brain injury or caregivers or people that have probably have no idea about brain injury?

Yeah. And you know, what kind of advice would you give? Let's do it. We'll do two part. What kind of advice would you give to someone that doesn't have any experience about brain injury on how to communicate or deal with someone that has a brain injury? Like first time I'm meeting someone with a brain injury, well, how do I treat you? What should I do? Yeah.

Just treat them normally. Mm-hmm. Like, uh, listen and respect everything. They will communicate with you what they want and. Their respect is what they want. So that's something I've learned and, uh, everyone around me, it's just listen to that individual, that individual has boundaries and, uh, just like any other person. So just listen to those boundaries and respect that. Mm-hmm.

I mean, yeah, she covered it because I mean, they're still a person with, you know, Rights. And they're, they're, no, they're no different than any of us. They just have a brain injury. And I, so I think treating them like that and, um, just getting to know them and seeing, I mean, they'll, again, like she said, they'll tell you their needs or you know, what they need from you. And I think just respecting everyone where they're at.

And for the newly acquired brain injury, what's one piece of advice you'd like for our listeners out there that maybe are recently brain injured or their caregivers just to motivate and encourage, what would you. I dunno.

I would, that's a good question.

I would say there are other people out there try to seek out others, um, and get advice from other brain injury survivors. That's what I've found is that community and knowing that you're not alone, cuz I know a lot of times, um, there's a lot of reports of isolation and feeling like they don't know what to do. And so reaching out to those communities and really getting other. Other words from other people who have survived. It really helps us from what I've observed.

Yeah. Well, and we do tell all our therapists when we go out and say, tell no, y'all have all the books marked. You know, everything you've been taught about a brain injured, but nobody gets a brain injured. Like a brain injured.

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

That's true.

Have any good words of wisdom?

I mean, she hit it on the head with that. Cause like you said, that therapy can help so much. Um, and I think sometimes, For people, especially in like having newly acquired brain injury, it can almost feel defeating sometimes in therapy because therapists are looking at, okay, where's your deficit at? How can we then work with you to improve that or just, um, increase your level of independence? And I think sometimes if that's all you're getting, it can almost feel defeating.

That's great. And so put you on the spot, but you know, it's really just Kezia and I, the others will hear this after you're gone. Anything you wanna say to our members?

Oh, that's a good question.

Just I know what all the members will say to you guys, we are gonna miss you so much.

Actually, what they're gonna say is you'll be back. You think that you're just an intern, but you'll be back.

You'll be back. We're gonna see you at some point.

Oh my gosh. Yeah. I would just say thank you so much for accepting us and letting us work with you guys, and it's just been a pleasure. Every single day was entertaining and fun, and I would just go home with a smile on my face. So just thank you for accepting me and getting me more excited about Neuro in my future.

Yeah, I would also say a huge thank you. Um, I mean, without them we wouldn't have a project, we wouldn't have something to work on. We wouldn't have this experience. So it's been really fun and sweet getting to know all the members and um, just the camaraderie between you guys. Um, I agree with Hannah. I always left with a smile on my face and looked forward to coming the next day, so I'm really gonna miss coming here every day. It's been a great 14 weeks for sure.

Well, great. And we are so excited. We're gonna miss y'all too, and we thank, thank you for everything you've done, like with your presentations. We're wonderful and we're excited to put it all to good use. Like I said, leave your phone number on the way out. But thank you again for joining us today on the podcast and letting. Our listeners know that, you know, it's not just brain injured here. That learned. We also help educate our future providers of tomorrow. Yeah. So thanks again.

Yeah, thank you. Thank you guys. It's fun.

And thank you so much, Hannah and Elizabeth. We are gonna continue thinking of all our listeners, and we just wanna make sure to contact us so you guys can contact us via email at BIND Waves the BIND dot org. Follow us on Instagram, make us help us reach that goal at BIND Waves, and then visit our website, which is the BIND dot org Wait hashtag or. Whichever one, bind waves. Oh my God.

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