No, it’s NOT the last Wednesday of the month, but Co-Host Simon Lewis joins Kim to discuss the importance of BALANCE and Brain Injury. Balance includes the Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual elements of life after injury, and learning the new parameters tolerable for each of us .. including diet, activities and interests, relationships, commitments, and more. New link on the effects of Obesity and Brain Thinning discussed as well .. May want to hold off on that Yummy Dessert as you age! Finances and the Cell Phone Scam discussed too. Tune in, should be a thought provoking show!
Millennium – TBI Project A Paradigm Shift
Dr. Mark Gordon has been a strong advocate of Integrative and Functional Medicine and the promotion of wellness medicine thought the correction of underlying hormonal deficiencies. He was instrumental in promoting the recognition of Traumatic Brain Injury as a cause of hormonal deficiency in the hallmarked presentation on ESPN’s Outside the Lines in 2007. His book, The Clinical Application of Interventional Medicine, is recognized by his peers as a primer for the standards of care and assessment for Interventional Endocrinology (anti-aging medicine). He has served as Medical Director of CBS Studios, and has also participated on projects with HBO, ESPN, CNN, FOX, Good Morning, and a number of international news programs. In 2014, Dr. Gordon appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience, where the discussion on Traumatic Brain Injury and hormonal dysfunction generated national and international interest. One episode included Jason Hall, the screenwriter for American Sniper and ex-petty officer and Navy Seal Corpsman Matthew Gosney who spoke at length about his blast trauma, gunshot wounds, surgery, depression and 16 different medications that did nothing to prevent his attempted suicide. He shares his experience of being evaluated by Dr. Gordon and starting a hormonal replenishment protocol that lead to his stopping 14 medications within 6 weeks and the resolution of his deep depression.
His book Traumatic Brain Injury – A clinical approach to diagnosis and treatment, was launched along with a workshop attended by an international array of medical specialists seeking advanced training in diagnosis and treatment of TBI. Dr. Gordon continues to work with veteran’s and Active Military groups providing funding for those with injuries received while in the theater of war. Dr. Gordon is owner and Medical Director of Millennium-TBI, in Encino California. See: tbimedlegal.com
Simon Says: The Heat is ON-Temp Sensitivity & TBI
While not a lot of research has been done, it seems a well known fact among the TBI community that weather strongly impacts survivors of Brain Injury. Be it these blistering summer temperatures, the deep freeze of winter, or simply barometric pressure changes .. Many of us can predict weather better than the “professionals”. Kim and Simon will discuss the impacts of weather, and other current topics of interest, such as Hurricanes, Floods, Earthquakes .. Oh my
Caren’s Journey & Hope TBI
On January 4, 2014 Caren Robinson was involved in a catastrophic head on collision with her youngest son. Caren’s seatbelt failed and she was ejected approximately 10-15 feet from the vehicle and sustained an initial loss of consciousness for an unknown amount of time before EMS arrived.
Caren suffered a complex high energy blunt polytrauma with multiple injuries. Some of those injuries included multiple orthopedic fractures, closed traumatic brain injury, and soft tissue injuries, along with other medical challenges.
Sharing what she learns through her recovery journey, self-led research, self-advocacy, and survival experiences have become her way of coping and healing on the inside, while her body healed on the outside.
Caren created a Web Site and Blog to help take the struggle out of finding resources and information when someone is faced with a Trauma – from a Polytrauma or Brain Injury. www.hopetbi.com
From Flawed to Fantastic and Now a DREAMER Too
DREAMER is based on the true-life events of Frank Johnson, a former Kodak engineer who was tragically impaired in a fire. For over 40 years Frank has shown perseverance and courage as he fought his inner most demons to overcome his disabilities and become a motivational speaker and friend to others like himself. He is the author of the book, From Flawed to Fantastic, How I Turned my Disability Into an A$$et. He was also one of the people written about in the Chicken Soup for the Soul Book: Recovering from a Traumatic Brain Injury. Frank continues to be an inspiration to all people. See: ffhero.com
Joe Janowicz, creator and writer of DREAMER Comic book, and long time friend of Frank will be joining us too. This story is dedicated to Frank, a comic book fan who is a “real dreamer” in his own life, but also influencing the lives of others. Joe, an accomplished writer himself, wanted to work with Frank to create a Comic Series featuring the plight of people with disability. Photo of Ken Wheaton, artist of the DREAMER comic shown. For more information on the exciting new DREAMER Comic release see: dreamercomicbook.com
Brain Health As You Age with Jodi Lyons
Jodi Lyons is an eldercare expert who helps older adults and those with special needs find the care they need throughout the country. An ardent patient advocate, Ms. Lyons helps people navigate the complicated, often convoluted system, identify what they need, and learn how to create an action plan. With more than twenty years’ experience in the nonprofit health-care arena, she has been a leader in national and international organizations representing health-care and long-term care service providers. She was on the Executive Committee of the Alzheimer’s Association/National Capital Area and an Alzheimer’s Association Ambassador to Capitol Hill. Lyons is a writer for and industry advisor to Telemedicine Magazine. She also wrote the award-winning book The Smart Person’s Guide to Eldercare to empower and educate consumers, to make sense of a complex system, and to highlight some of the humor that can be found even in the most challenging times as we grow older. Jodi also co-authored the book Brain Health As You Age-A Practical Guide to Maintenance and Prevention See More at: brainhealthasyouage.com
Independence Eve! TALK & TUNES-OPEN MIC NITE
Help me put this show together by calling in and sharing your thoughts, feelings, hopes, disappointments, dreams .. Thoughts about Independence in your life, as well as that of our Country as we stream live on the Eve of the 4th July! My studio will sound like a war zone from neighboring fireworks, so it’ll be all about you, or the music carrying the show. May be a short show .. hahaha I was going to play a tape, knowing the noise would be prohibitive .. But I can mute my Mic, and let you enlighten us!! Join me and make it a Happy 4th of July 🙂
Simon Says: Independence is the Path to Freedom
Kim and Simon discuss Independence as the Path to Personal Freedom. Whether it’s a Societal Revolution, as we recognize coming up on July 4th .. Or a personal decision and subsequent action, that results in more personal autonomy. Freedom is the result of a desire for change, which takes sacrifice, courage, determination, commitment, and a sense of the visionary.
Independence helps us shed the chains that bind us to a sense of total control from other people, places, things, or institutions. Be it certain departures from the effects of our disability, or the desire to legally (or through revolt), create or become a legal citizen of a more adaptable nation.
Nose Over Toes with Janet Sutherland-Madden
In 2004, Janet Sutherland left work early to walk her dog Bogie after a grueling day knocking door to door selling radio ads. She was suddenly struck with the worst headache of her life. Sutherland had suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm.
On March 22, 2004, as friends and family sat at Janet’s bedside, she was given a three percent chance to live. For weeks her co-workers raised money for her family, joined her battle, and prayed she would survive. 15 years later, Sutherland has miraculously recovered. NOSE OVER TOES tells the story of her recovery and includes research from The Brain Aneurysm Foundation. The book includes a portion of my Dad’s journal which he maintained during my aneurysm ruptures surgery and recovery. My Dad died a year ago in June and I told him I would write this book, he wanted it to help survivors and caregivers.
See: noseovertoes.com for more on Janet and the book! A portion of the book proceeds go to BAFOUND.org
Special Edition: Alisa’s True Colors
Alisa Marie will be joining Kim for this Special Edition Episode of Recovery Now! Jimmy will be back in 2 weeks 🙂 Alisa is a MULTI Survivor, who will share her experience, strength, challenges, and hope with us.
She has not only survived Brain Injury, but as the years have passed, so much more. Recently I posted about the Monsanto/RoundUp Suits, and then saw her intriguing post about MRI Contrast Dye (Gadolinium) and the scary prospects associated with that! Lots of scans needed in our community, so I invited her to tell us more. That, and how someone who has been so much, can still land on her feet. Many survivors (not without challenges, sweat equity & time/imagination), go on to create their own business. Long as we’re breathing, there’s always hope! See: alisastruecolors.com and be inspired 🙂 Special Surprise in time for the 4th!