It’s a big day. Impact is going out into the world after years of work. It carries with it the hearts of 21 writers who share what their lives are like after their concussions and traumatic brain injuries. I am so grateful to each and every writer who made this book possible and offer special thanks to my co-editor, E. D. Morin. I could not have a better partner in this work.
Our thanks also go out to the Canada Council for the Arts for supporting the creation of this work and the University of Alberta Press who believed in it and have done so much to make this dream come true.
Join us for our launch tonight if you can. It will be recorded and available on the University of Alberta Press website.
Also please view and share our videos about the project. They are amazing and another labour of love by the participating writers and by our film editor, Junyeong Kim.
Break a leg dear Jane!
Dear Jane and Elaine:
I have just finished reading “Impact” 2021. As a mother of a daughter (now 29) who has had at least three concussions, I am SO APPRECIATIVE to gain insight and perspective on different women’s experiences with concussions.
I have grasped that there emerges a new person with different tolerances. Goals and routines need to be adjusted. I should be asking her what would SHE like to see for a five year plan.
Something I would like to ask each of these writers – what helped and did not help in the recovery? Anna Swanson wrote of finding joy in water and its benefits. For example, it was discovered a few years after a ski accident that my daughter had no peripheral vision. Doing a series of exercises, like catching a soft light weight rubber ball thrown from behind which had to be tracked by her peripheral vision helped to bring it back.
There are so many parts to the puzzle. Many trial and errors. Others may recognize the same symptom and read of a new therapy idea to try.
In my own experiènce my daughter was living in a different city so I only got glimpses and communication was frustrating.
Once again, a very useful and constructive book. Very valuable for everyone!
Many thanks,
Nancy
What a kind note, Nancy. Much appreciated. We are so glad IMPACT has been helpful. Your realization that a new person emerges is, I think, something many of the writers would agree with. As for your question about best treatments, everyone would have different answers. For me, like your daughter, the thing that helped the most was neuro optometry. I happened upon it accidentally at the right time. Like your daughter, I had no peripheral vision. But the strange thing is, I didn’t KNOW I had no peripheral vision until the neuro optometrist told me. By “the most” I mean it was one treatment that made a big difference. Everything I have tried has helped in some way.
One thing that one doctor told us was that what most people forget about is just regular old therapy. Talking to a therapist about how to deal with your new reality and all the symptoms can be really helpful.
As we put this together, we didn’t want our writers recommending treatments because none of us are medical experts, just experts in our own experiences. I think many people did talk about what did or didn’t work for them, “for them” being the important words. One doctor we heard talking about concussion said, “If you’ve seen one concussion, you’ve seen one concussion.” I think that’s really true.
It’s been six years for me next month. I still haven’t given up on getting progressively better. I still try new things. But as you have learned, it is a real puzzle.
I wish your daughter well, and you too. Caregiving from a distance is hard.
Thanks again for the kind words,
Jane