Gentle ADVICE FROM ONE FAMILY TO ANOTHER
IN THE EARLY MOMENTS
Be gentle with yourself. Whether this new life journey you are on is yours personally as the patient or someone you love dearly, such a tragic incident will come with big emotions. One minute you might feel "just fine" considering the circumstances, in control and ready to take it all on with a smile but then as the moments and days go by you start feeling angry, bitter, depression, anxiety, severe exhaustion... It's OKAY! Be gentle with yourself.
Take the pictures. The easy pictures, the hard pictures. When you don't want to take the pictures...TAKE THEM. Everyone's journey is very different, but no matter what the outcome is, eventually you will wish you had the pictures you didn't take. We are blessed that Addi is where she is recovery wise but looking back there are still pictures I wish I would have taken. Her older Sisters with her, her ICU nurses caring for her etc. Now it would aid in her recovery but if our story was different looking back would I still wish I had done more in the picture department? Absolutely.
Start taking notes immediately. From medical comments, resource ideas. Addi's fire crew brought Jeff and I not only new clean pajama's the night of the accident but they also brought a journal and pens for me to write with. I thought it was a sweet gesture but it didn't hit me until the next morning just how NEEDED that gesture was!!!!
Load up on resources. Find an advocate, even if it's just as a resource avenue.
Don't allow yourself to turn into Dr Google. For the first time in my 24 years of parenting, when Addi's neurosurgeon told me to stay off Google, I listened. There will be a time and a place to educate yourself ... In first few days , our advice is to stay offline and let the Drs tell you what you need to know. (With the exception of the Brain injury association!)
Valuable resources
When you find yourself or your loved one adjusting to life with a traumatic brain injury, one thing you can never have enough of is RESOURCES. From educational materials, to tools, to emergency resources.
Survivors and Family | Brain Injury Association of Arizona
If you are not located in the state of Arizona, google search the Brain Alliance Assocation for your state. From caregiver support to survivor support of all ages, events, education The Brain Injury association is absolutely a resource that you want to remember.
Brain Alliance of America
Family Caregiver Alliance