Liz's Story

I am a traumatic brain injury survivor who volunteers at the Headway office. With others, I speak to different groups, and relating my experiences after my injury and talk about some of the coping skills that help me fuction everyday. Just because I look the same as before my injury, doesn't mean I'll ever be the same. Part of me has died with the injury. The really importatnt thing now is to figure out who the new person is and how to get on with life.

There are a lot of benefits to volunteering. I get out of the house at least one day a week, with something useful to do. I have made new friends and I get a feeling of satisfaction when one of the projects I've worked on is a success. 

Some of the things I do include compiling information for grants, helping with the Fall and Spring fundraisers, and reviewing various publications. There is always a need for extra hands to help with mailings. Of particular interest are the in-service presentations that we do, trying to give some insight to professionals such as lawyers, social workers or home health aides about traumatic brian injury. We talk about some common problems such as short-term memory loss (I didn't take my medicine because I forgot, not because I'm defiant) or I fell on the stairs not because I was going too fast, but because my depth perception is off. We discuss the need for routine and organization in the household as a good coping mechanism after injury.

The most rewarding thing is that after our presentation a number of people will thank me for giving them a new perspective o brain injury and how it affects the survivor and their family. Sometimes one of the best ways to help your self is to help other people.

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