Month: August 2017

Special Saturday Night Edition .. Growing Up with a Brain Injury ..

Simon Says II – Neuro Fatigue and Chronic Pain Can Make Us Feel Insane!!

Shortly before her injury, Jaime Thibodeaux was featured in National Audubon magazine for volunteer work for a local chapter, the Mississippi Headwaters Audubon Society. Professionally she was an ecologist specializing in health of streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands and led a very active life prior to her concussion and neck complications.

In 2015 Jaime sustained a concussion and corresponding neck injury playing adult recreational ice hockey. She sought care from medical experts across the country, including the Mayo Clinic, functional neurological chiropractor, and a specialized concussion clinic in Canada. But, no place was able to explain why she felt so terrible and appeared to be getting sicker. Jaime became an advocate for active, whole-body management of concussions and post-concussion syndrome as co-founder of the facebook group: Post Concussion Support-real support for all Concussion Types along with Kristin Thomas Cooperstock. Kristin also is a survivor, former caregiver, who understands that trauma to the head most usually strongly effects the neck, because it’s all connected.

Jaime’s personal savior has been a physical therapist trained by the Postural Restoration Institute in Lincoln, NE. See posturalrestoration.com. The therapy has saved her from the darkest depths of sickness. The Postural Restoration Institute trained therapists use breathing and posture to reduce your fight-or-flight response, bring your head and body into alignment, and increase over-all oxygen supply to the brain. You can find physical therapists trained by the Postural Restoration Institute on their website.

Heather McNally, MD is passionate about bringing hope, education and motivation to fellow brain injury survivors as they work to optimize their lives. She is a former Physician and brain injury survivor who has transitioned to a career as a Brain Recovery Coach. Dr. McNally’s desire is to utilize her personal life experience, past medical background, counselling and coach training to help fellow survivors.

Her background includes 20 years of medical practice after her brain injury working in a wide variety of medical of settings. Her extensive training includes a BSc in Biology and Psychology, MD in Family Medicine, and experience in Counselling, Cognitive Therapy and Geriatric Medicine. Several years ago, illness put an end of her medical career, so she retrained as Life Coach. She believes her experience makes her uniquely qualified to help fellow survivors get their lives on track faster through better knowledge, empathy and mastery of concrete goals to live the best life possible for them. Visit her website at abbicoaching.com