I didn’t meet Jason through an in-person support group, but purely by chance—through a video he shared in a Facebook Traumatic Brain Injury Support Group we’re both part of. I’ve been in that group for a while, but coming across Jason’s content was entirely new to me.
The moment I watched one of his videos, I was captivated by how powerfully and honestly he explained what life is like from the inside—from the perspective of a survivor. One video quickly turned into nearly two hours of binge-watching everything I could find from him. I even started searching online to learn more about who he is.
Even though Addi is a pediatric survivor, and our situations are different, I’ve always felt that the one thing I strive for as an advocate is to not only meet parents, spouses, caregivers and beyond where they are—but to truly understand and get as close as possible to what survivors themselves experience. I want to be completely approachable and informed, in every sense. Jason’s content offered me a window into that world—a perspective I wouldn’t have otherwise seen.
It was deeply moving. The more I watched, the more I felt this overwhelming wave of empathy and sadness—knowing I’ll never fully understand what it’s like to live inside a body changed by TBI, but wanting to understand as full and deeply as possible.
In just two hours, I felt like I had gained more insight—more meaningful understanding—than I have in two years of reading medical texts and resources. It hit me just how essential it is for families, friends, caregivers—anyone who loves someone living with a traumatic brain injury—to go beyond the clinical facts. We need to listen to the voices of survivors. People like Jason, who dedicate their lives to helping others understand what this life truly feels like from the inside.
Yes, the medical information is SO important. But when you have the chance to hear it in the raw, honest words of someone living it every day?
That’s priceless.