Kim’s Radio Shows

HAPPY BOXING DAY!! Kim and Simon discuss how all fared for the holidays, and look ahead at goals for the New Year! Join them as you rest after the Mad Dash of the Holidays, and prepare to move forward into a New Year, with new beginnings. Join them. 🙂

We’re here with you .. Great holidays, or not so much .. Call in and share your season, your heart, your feelings with Kim and Matt.

Dr. Chrisanne Gordon is a physician, author, filmmaker, innovator, and advocate for the successful reintegration of veterans with traumatic brain injury. Her book, Turn the Lights On! A Physician’s Personal Journey from the Darkness of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) to Hope, Healing, and Recovery, was published in January 2018, and documents her own TBI recovery and the research and resources available for TBI diagnosis and treatment.

She founded Gray Matter Innovations, a company focused on creating digiceutical solutions for the treatment of TBI, especially in military veterans.

Dr. Gordon was called to action, beginning with a part-time position at the Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic in Columbus, Ohio, where she performed second-level screening for the Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suspected with traumatic brain injuries. These experiences led to the production of a documentary to educate the military world about the signs and symptoms of the injury and to educate the civilian world about the difficulties with reintegration our heroes were experiencing as a result of their service.

The film, Operation Resurrection, was completed by Patton Productions in 2013, and demonstrates solutions for health care, education, and employment for our returning 450,000 veterans with TBI.She also founded the non-profit Resurrecting Lives Foundation (RLF), which follows through with the solutions set forth in the documentary, promoting collaborative efforts between military and VA resources, and the civilian community. RLF continues to serve as a voice for our heroes with TBI and the families who struggle to care for them.

Dr. Gordon was invited to discuss the necessity for civilian collaboration in the reintegration of our service personnel in many relevant venues. For more, see website: resurrectinglives.org

Dr. Tim Conway earned his PhD in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Neuropsychology from the University of Florida. His background as a clinical research scientist produced publications on dyslexia, learning disabilities, aphasia, alexia, fMRI, auditory working memory and various cognitive disorders. Dr. Conway is the Director of The Morris Center clinics in Florida, and The Morris Centre Trinidad and Tobago, which serve national and international clientele by providing a transdisciplinary team approach to the assessment and successful treatment of language, learning, motor, sensory, mood, anxiety, behavior and executive function difficulties or other Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Dr. Conway is the CEO of the Neuro-development of Words – NOW!® company, an online EdTech company that provides evidence-based and research-based online tutoring with highly-trained eTutors using the four NOW! Programs™ (reading/spelling, comprehension/memory, grammar/writing and mathematics). For more see: themorriscenter.com

There are a LOT of Holiday geared programs around this time of year. One that I’ve watched every year of my life (REALLY long time), is Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. I began to consider what messages that show was sending. Hmmm .. I guess I could relate to the underpinnings of a few of those differences from a young age. Worse since my brain injury when I couldn’t recognize myself, or communicate “the new me”.

One message is that people who are “different” are less desirable. They are judged, manipulated and controlled. They are lonely and isolated. Thus, holding a perception of not fitting in with the status quo. Even easier to feel like that issue is rubbed in this time of year. Before my brain injury, I took those differences as being “unique” or “out of the box” compared to most folk, as a good thing. That was a special, freeing feeling. There was nothing to measure up to, because being ME was enough. There were no comparisons, because there is none. We are each unique, not to be compelled to conform to someone else’s notion of “normal”. Was that a dream? Some place “different” took on a new meaning, that equates with something bad, ignored or frowned upon. Reasons for being banished from people or groups, realizing fears and insecurities once foreign to me. A challenge of self confidence. We all have our abominal snow men.

In the movie they face their fears and move forward, with all the pieces falling into place. The pain morphs into the happy ending everyone craves, as the screen goes blank. Negative minds were changed. Confidence was restored. The we changed from a bullying sort of dynamic, to a appreciative love and acceptance ever more. So is it only like that in the movie? Can real life mirror the art? Join us, share your take.

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

Tricks, a Few Treats and the issue of Overcoming of Fear this Halloween Night! Join Simon Lewis and Kim Justus as they opine about these topics, the meaning of Halloween and more. Grab your treats and tune in 🙂 Don’t forget to wear your costume. We are!