Month: November 2018

In this Simon says segment, Kim & Simon discuss the stressors (both challenging & joyful) that come with the dash through the holidays. Gifting, Entertaining, Wrapping, Shopping, Traffic, Lines, Weather, Holiday Events, Friends & Family from afar .. OH MY! Then there’s often some sadness, regret, loneliness, and fear of what the next year will bring. Whether it’s the joy, the pain or perhaps a dash of each, join us as we discuss the post Thanksgiving kick off to the space between now and the New Year!

Lyn O’Callaghan was born and raised in an idyllic small town, to amazing parents, three brothers and a sister. She played competitive sports until 21, earning her degree in Human and Community Studies. Lyn was married and taught middle school for four years, while simultaneously running two family businesses. It wasn’t long before her son Connor was born, and then came daughter Maggie, as well as two Foster children.

Lyn Volunteered for Little League for nine years, and volunteered as manager for her son’s hockey team, going on to manage Double A baseball teams that her son was on. Her perfectly planned out family was jolted into unfamiliar waters when her son suffered a traumatic brain injury during a basketball game at school. Join us to hear how all of their lives were impacted after his injury.

Moshe Mark Ittleman, M.S., CCC/S:P is a Senior Speech Language Pathologist who has worked in some of the nations’ best rehabilitation hospitals.

Ittleman specializes in complex speech language pathology which includes diagnosis and therapy for aphasia, apraxia, dysarthria, and dysphagia while also providing speech therapy for adults and children.

He is the author of The Teaching of Talking which helps caregivers and speech pathologists learn simple speech and language stimulation methods to help loved ones and clients talk better. Ittleman saw a need to train caregivers and therapists in the methods that were developed throughout his career. He realizes that complex speech difficulties in most cases cannot be remediated by just going to therapy a few times a week, especially now that skilled care is only provided by insurers for a very limited amount of time.

He believes caregivers when trained in the methods of speech and language stimulation within a conversational framework can greatly accelerate the speech recovery process.

Moshe Mark Ittleman and his wife are currently touring communities throughout the Western United States and sharing the Teaching of Talking. Ittleman also guest lectures graduate students in speech language pathology and provides online mentoring for caregivers and those with aphasia. They also travel internationally consulting with Colleges, Universities, private individuals, and families.

Guest Donna O’Donnell Figurski is a lot of things, but first is a caregiver for her husband David. When David incurred a severe TBI, their lives changed course forever. Many caregivers succumb to the task at hand only, and forget they have needs beyond that of caring for their loved ones. If Donna ever had her moments like that, she overcame them to become a successful advocate for Brain Injury Awareness. Not only helping survivors and their caregivers, but allowing herself a chance to be creative and empowered by a host of other skills which she possesses.

Donna is a wife, mother, granny, multi-published writer, blogger, accomplished actor, director and playwrite, teacher, published author of a Brain Injury Anthology, Host on Brain Injury Radio Network – A list longer than my notes here allow, but has finally arrived at a pinnacle .. The release of her own book and intimate story. Prisoner Without Bars: A Survivor’s Tale chronicles challenges of caregiving, while still maintaining a sense of self. Many can’t imagine how one could achieve a synergy like that! How does one serve so many roles, and strike the balance that facilitates happiness?

For more on Donna and how to buy her book see: Website: donnafigurski.com and check out her reflections at: Blog: survivingtraumaticbraininjury.com