Dharma & ArtChina Goodhue’s

Passion Page 6

Your Brain: An Untapped Source of Neural Stem

CellsPage 8

A Run To RememberStory Page 12

BRITISH COLUMBIA’S VOICE FOR THE BRAIN INJURY COMMUNITY Winter 2011

“Simpson Thomas is truly a legal dream team and they rose to the occasion given the legal challenges facing the case. No other �rm could have fought this case as it takes a lot of resources to �ght a case of this nature.”

— COMMENT BY THE CLIENT IN THE WEDDING ABBOTSFORD JAAGO TRAGEDY AS REPORTED IN THE LINK NEWSPAPER DATED MARCH 12, 2011.

• Brain Injury• Paraplegia• Whiplash• Quadriplegia• Spinal Cord Injury• Death• Amputations

BERNIE SIMPSON, C.M.Member Order of CanadaRecipient of the Queen’s Jubilee Medal

E. ANTHONY THOMASExtensive experience in motor vehicle cases for over 17 years

Reduced legal fees on catastrophic cases

WE HANDLE ALL OF THE EXPENSESFREE Consultation. If no recovery, no legal frees or expenses.

Helping brain injury victims and their families for over 30 years.

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Surrey/Delta Office7253 – 120th Street, Delta, BC

Ph: 604-591-8885

Vancouver Office808 Nelson Street, Suite 1512, Vancouver, BC

Ph: 604-689-8888

TOLL FREE: Throughout BC 1-800-668-3788(24 hrs Emergency Service)

LOW LEGAL FEESWith over 40 years’ experience handling exclusively motor vehicle injury claims

SudokuThe rules of Sudoku are simple. Place a digit

from 1 to 9 in each empty cell so every row, every column, and every 3 x 3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.

Solution on page 22

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Message from the EditorJanelle Breese Biagioni

Greetings!

Headline is also available in PDF format.If you would like a copy sent to your email address contact Mary Lou by email at: mlr@telus.netPlease add Headline to the subject line

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Cheshire Homes Society of British Columbia

Acceptance, Empowerment, Independence, OpportunityProviding Transitional, Slower Stream and Apartment Based Rehabilitation Programs for Acquired Brain Injury since 1984.

Cheshire Homes Society of BC, Head Office #202 – 625 5th Avenue New Westminster, BC, V3M 1X4 Phone: (604) 540-0686www.cheshirehomes.ca a member of the Leonard Cheshire Disability Global Alliance

Wow… where has this year gone! 2011 has moved at an amazing pace. The world has been fraught with disasters, economic downturns, and unbeliev-able weather; we seem to be undergoing constant changes and coping and adapting as necessary. As the end of the year comes to a close, it is the perfect time to think about change in your personal life. What would you like to do differently in 2012? Set some goals and move toward them, one day at a time. There is no time like now to make important changes and be all that you can be. Dream big!In this issue, we have our final segment on David McGuire’s Run to Remember, which concludes approximately December 9th in Victoria, BC. I

encourage everyone to visit www.braintrustcanada.com and click on Run to Remember to check out David’s schedule. If you are near an area that he will be running through, get out and cheer him on. He is in the home stretch and he is doing it for all of us. David will also be speaking at the Pacific Coast Brain Injury Conference in February 2012. Be sure to register early at www.pcbic.org. Finally, we are weeks away from the holidays. This time of year can be extremely stressful financially, emotionally, and physically. It is my hope that you find ways to reduce stress and be conscious of pa-cing yourself, be aware of your expectations, and in-corporate some fun into your life every day. Don’t fall into the demands of the holiday season. Do it your way, on your budget. Most importantly, stay safe!From our house to yours… we wish you a safe and joyous holiday season!

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headlineis published quarterly by

Mike Rossiter5851 Kittiwake Drive

Richmond, BC V7E 3P1

•

EditorJanelle Breese Biagioni

2031 Gourman PlVictoria, BC V9B 6A9

Email: headlinenews@shaw.ca

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HEADLINE welcomes letters and relevant articles for publication, and reserves the right to

edit any accepted submissions for clarity and length. A signature, address, and telephone number are required.

Please contact Janelle Breese Biagioni for copy deadlines.

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Mike Rossiter and HEADLINE editors take no responsibility for, nor do they necessarily agree with, the opinions contained in articles, letters

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at 250-592-4460 for information.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS?We would like to keep our

mailing list up-to-date! If you have moved or would like to

be on the mailing list, pleasecontact Mary Lou at: 604-274-1251

or email her at: mlr@telus.net(Please put HEADLINE in subject line of email)

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Government Resources

Regional Health Authority’s ABI Coordinators:Fraser Health - Aquired Brain injury Program-604-520-4175Interior Health Authority-250-870-4664,Contact Name: Deborah PrestonAcquired Brain Injury Program, Northern Health Call 250-565-7393Vancouver Coastal Health Authority-604-714-4159Vancouver Island Health Authority- 250- 370-8699,Contact Name: Judith ArmstrongEnquiry BC-to locate Provincial Government Departments• Lower Mainland 604-660-2421• Outside Lower Mainland 1-800-663-7867• Victoria 250-387-6121Ministry of Advanced Education, Training and Technology:Open Learning Information:• In and Outside Lower Mainland 1-800-663-1633Student Loan Information:• Lower Mainland 604-660-2610• Outside Lower Mainland 1-800-561-1818- select 1 then 5Public Guardian & Trustee of British Columbia:• 700-808 West Hastings St. Vancouver, BC V6B 3L3Victim’s Info Line:• 1-800-563-0808Adult and Youth Addiction Services:• Lower Mainland 604-660-9382• Outside Lower Mainland 1-800-663-1441

Community Resources

BC Coalition of People with DisabilitiesAdvocacy Access Program for assistance with provincial and federal disability benefitsLower Mainland 604-872-1278Outside Lower Mainland 1-888-663-1278

Bus Pass for Persons with Disabilities and SeniorsLower Mainland 604-682-0391 Outside Lower Mainland 1-888-661-1566

Tim Readman, Executive DirectorStroke Recovery Association of BCPhone: 604-688-3603 Toll Free: 1-888-313-3377www.strokerecoverybc.ca

Cerebral Palsy Association of BCLower Mainland Voice and TTY 604-515-9455Outside Lower Mainland 1-800-663-0004

Community Brain Injury Program for Children & Youth in BCToll Free 1-877-451-5511www.cbip.bc.ca

Epilepsy BCLower Mainland 604-875 6704Outside Lower Mainland 1-866-374-5377Victoria 250-475-6677

Information Services Vancouver604-875-6381

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Just for Laughs!1. What do elves learn in school?2. What is the difference between the Christmas alphabet and the regular alphabet?3. What Christmas Carol is a mom and dad’s favourite?4. Why does Santa have 3 gardens?5. What do snowmen eat for breakfast?6. What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire?7. What did the ghost say to Santa?8. How do sheep in Mexico say Merry Christmas?9. What do you get if Santa goes down the chimney when a fire is lit?10. What is the name of Santa’s cat?

The weather is changing all over the world and the seasons are not predictable anymore. We could have a mild winter, and then again, it could one of the worst yet. Don’t wait for the blizzard of 2011 (if there is one) to catch you off guard. Prepare now!Transport Canada has identified the top ten tips for driving in the winter. They are:1. Get your vehicle ready for winter in the fall. 2. Install four matching winter tires. 3. Pack an emergency kit. 4. Learn and practice winter driving techniques be-fore you need them. 5. Plan your trip, check road and weather conditions. 6. Remove all snow from your vehicle before each trip. 7. Give yourself extra travel time in bad weather. 8. Avoid using overdrive and cruise control on slip-pery roads. 9. Travel with a fully charged cell phone. 10. SLOW DOWN and wear your seatbelt.Transport Canada’s brochure on winter driving in-cludes the recommendation of The Canadian Auto-mobile Association (CAA) of what to keep in your car in the event of an emergency. CAA recommends carrying a shovel, sand or kitty litter, chains, com-pass, reflective vest, extra clothing and footwear, booster cables and flares. Blankets, flashlights, an ice-scraper, non-perishable food (protein bars), juice boxes, water and extra batteries are also useful items to include.Finally, be sure that your vehicle is roadworthy and prepared for the harshness of winter driving. Get your car winterized, be sure the battery is fully charged, and that your lights and brakes are all working before heading out on a road trip. Be sure to have good (matching) snow tires. If you need information on tires, visit www.betiresmart.ca.Most importantly, check the weather reports and give yourself plenty of time to travel.For more information or to read the brochure in its entirety, visit: http://www.tc.gc.ca/media/documents/roadsafety/WinterDrivingBrochure_EN.pdf

WINTERS ARE UNPREDICTABLE:

PLAN AHEAD TO BE SAFE

Answers:1. The elf-abet2. The Christmas alphabet has No L (Noel)3. Silent Night4. So he can hoe, hoe, hoe!5. Frosted Flakes6. Frostbite7. I’ll have a boo Christmas without you!8. Fleece Navidad!9. Crispy Cringle10. Sandy Claws

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What do art and Dharma have in common? Dharma is a spiritual practice based on Buddha’s teachings, which has the ability to awaken and transform lives. Art, a creative discipline, may also be considered spiritual as it has the ability to awaken and transform lives. For the purpose of this article, the commonality between the two is China Goodhue.China is a bright, lively, accomplished artist who was injured in a car crash when she was fifteen months old. She is beautiful both on the inside and on the outside. China’s life may have been fraught with astronomical challenges; however, she has no com-plaints, expects no favoritism, and strives to make a difference in this world every day.China was in a coma for several weeks after the crash. Before the crash, she was able to walk, talk and feed herself. Those abilities were wiped out due to a severe brain injury. When China awakened from the coma, she had to be tube fed. Over time, she was taught to feed herself, walk and to talk again. There was no denying that her recovery was going to be complex and could take many years.China parents, Joanie and Richard, were also in the crash. She is grateful they did whatever they needed to do and took her wherever she needed to go to ensure that she received the best medical treatment possible. Her mom and dad are also artists. They followed their creative instincts to expose China to as many state-of-the-art treatments, educational and social opportunities as possible, world-wide. As an example, China had serial casting done on her legs by Dr. Rick Beauchamp in New York. Serial casting is used to treat spasticity, which is caused by the brain sending an excess of messages to the mus-cles telling them to tighten. The Vancouver Neurological Centre was another im-portant agency where China received services in the

early days following the crash. Julia Zarudzka, Direc-tor of Education at the time, worked with China and became a lifelong friend. China explains, “I am very blessed to have Julia as a friend. She has helped me in many ways over the years.” All along, Joanie and Richard held a wider view of who their daughter was; they saw far more potential in China than the diagnosis allowed. They afforded her every opportunity possible they could and they did what was required to adapt to China’s needs. For example, China’s education was both traditional and unconventional. She attended regular school until Grade 6 when her mom started home schooling her because of the negativity being expressed towards China by other kids in school. “My mom knew me best and she knew how to best teach me,” explains China. Joanie and Richard took China to France, Italy, Spain and England. It was in London that China at-tended the internationally acclaimed Bobath Centre (www.bobath.org.uk). The Bobath Centre specializes in working with children who live with cerebral palsy and adults with neurological conditions, such as brain injury. The basis of treatment for their clients is to “improve their activity, participation and health and thereby their quality of life and that of their families.” China also attended Ruskin Mill College in England (www.ruskin-mill.org.uk), which focuses on a wide range of impediments and is an alternative to con-ventional schooling. China had been exposed to the arts from an early age, so while at Ruskin Mill Col-lege, she focused on the arts to develop her poten-tial and talent as an artist. As an artist, China enjoys using acrylic pigments. She paints on both canvas and fabric; however, her talent as an artist using rich, bold colours on cotton is truly amazing. China has been painting on fabric since she was 16 years old; over half of her life!

Dharma and Art

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28 years of experience helping brain injured victims and their families.

T: 604.683.9621 Toll-free 1.888.683.9621 Fax 604.683.5084E: murphy@murphybattista.com 2020 - 650 West Georgia StreetBox 11547, Vancouver CentreVancouver, BC V6B 4N7

Joe Murphy, Q.C. Joe Battista, Q.C. J. Scott Stanley

Wes Mussio Steve Gibson Brian Brooke

Derek Mah Kevin Gourlay Angela Price-Stephens

Irina Kordic Eric L. Goodman

The blend of China’s Dharma practice and her discipline in art is interesting. “Dharma is my internal practice. It gives me the ability to open my mind and the rituals provide focused creative ways for me to engage in life. Dharma helps me to stay calm and tranquil. My art is really an external expression of my Dharma practice,” explains China. Dharma has also connected China with new people and afforded her life-enhancing opportunities. For example, in the 70s, China received a blessing on the top of her head from the Dalai Lama. When asked what she felt about meeting the Dalai Lama, she stated, “It’s about love, kindness and compas-sion. He reminds me to stay present and aware.”China’s future as an artist has no limits. Recently, her personal assistant, Kathy Peddlesden, intro-duced China to a friend who owns a store and sells handmade furniture. He was looking for artists to show their work in the store and Kathy knew China was interested in displaying her art publicly, so it was a happy connection. China has six pieces of fabric art, in the form of banners and panels, and t-shirts and bags on display from November 5, 2011 through to Christmas. When asked to share with readers how she inter-prets her art, China was quick to explain. Pointing to her Open Door painting (see photograph) she states, “These open doors represent to keep on go-

ing. Don’t stop. Keep opening the doors until you get what it is that you want in life.” China’s artistic future is bursting with colour, inspira-tion, and spiritual wisdom. In 2012, she will continue to seek opportunities to display her work in coffee houses and art galleries. She is hoping to have an exhibit of painted fabric at the One of a Kind Trade-show in Vancouver next fall. To contact China for a short portfolio, e-mail her at chinafreetibet10@gmail.com.

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For the past four years I have worked as a support worker for brain injury survivors. It has afforded me the privilege of being invited to share in many personal stories. What surprises me time and time again is how often people I just met, outside of the work setting, open up to me about their brain injuries as soon as they find out what I do. Those who are less attuned to the invisible disability may not realize the prevalence of brain injury. It is among the great-est contributors to death and disability worldwide. Despite modern science’s best attempts, we are still eluded by the ability to stimulate regeneration of lost neuronal tissue (brain tissue responsible for func-tion). Recent studies provide evidence that the brain may make its own attempts to do so. Here I would like to discuss this phenomenon we call injury-in-duced neurogenesis, and what modern science can learn from this.Few words have held as much weight and contro-versy in the past decade as “stem cells”. While we are used to hearing about embryonic and umbilical cord stem cells, I’d like to focus on an untapped source of stem cells: your brain. Likely you were told at some point in your life that you are born with all the brain cells you will ever have. There is something unsatisfying about this statement when you consider a person’s ability to grow and learn with experiences is boundless, how could the organ responsible for driving our behaviours, thoughts and feelings be static? It turns out your brain is the most dynamic organ we know. The term “brain plasticity” is how we describe the ability of the brain to modify its connections by changing their strength, reorganizing the neural branches responsible for making them, and los-ing and producing new neurons. There are discrete populations of neural stem cells that are maintained throughout adulthood. These special cells have the ability for self-renewal, and multi-potency. That is to say, they can give rise to other neural stem cells, or any of the 3 main cell types of the brain (neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes). When neural stem cells give rise to neurons, we call this process neuro-genesis. It is believed that your brain generates thousands of neurons each day. Of these, only about half survive and integrate into functional networks. Researchers theorize that adult neurogenesis is involved in the process of committing new information in the brain. There is still much we don’t understand regarding

the significance of this process. Maintaining popula-tions of stem cells is energetically expensive, and the body has a tendency to work in a cost effective way. One may consider the advantages of having a “back-up” of new neurons in terms of enhancing plasticity. The same way a sculptor requires more clay to modify his masterpiece; the brain may need to generate more cells to increase plasticity. Most dramatically, after brain injury (when a substantial pool of neurons are lost) there is an enhancement in plasticity. Surviving neurons generate new branches and work overtime to compensate for the loss. But there is only so much these survivors can take on. The end result is a loss of function in the brain injury victim. Interestingly in animal models of brain injury, the process of adult neurogenesis is amped up. Adult neurogenesis is restricted to regions in the olfac-tory bulb (smell perception), and the hippocampus (learning and memory). It was thus surprising when researchers found that some of these cells were migrating to sites of injury outside of these two areas. Could this be an attempt to regenerate lost neural tissue? There is great debate without any consensus. Most of this evidence comes from ani-mal models; however, recent studies using human post-mortem tissue from stroke survivors show that this migration may have a clinical relevance. Al-though not significant enough to functionally replace large volumes of injured neural tissue, this speaks mounds to how much we underestimate the brain’s innate capacity to heal itself. This is where regenera-tive medicine steps in. Scientists are working around the clock, worldwide, to understand these process-es, and identify pharmaceutical targets for regenera-tion.Given that on a regular day, the brain produces thousands of new neurons, is it a far stretch to say we could one day coax it to regenerate itself? I’d like to remind nay-sayers that there was a time when the idea that the brain could change was ludicrous. The Dalai Lama once said: “the mind is like a parachute, it works best when it is opened”.About the AuthorLarissa Szlavik is currently a Master’s student with the Division of Medical Sciences at the University of Victoria. Her research focuses on understanding neural stem cells. She can be contacted at lszlavik@uvic.ca.

Your Brain: An Untapped Source of Neural Stem Cells.~ Larissa Szlavik

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Brain injury is devastating. Lives are turned upside down.

We offer not just a house, but homes for people at all levels of abilities, a foundation to build relationships and be connected to the community.

Our transitional and residential rehab programs are developed and guided by rehab professionals, designed for each individual’s unique needs

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In Langley call In Lake Country call Janette Jackman Christy McKeating 604-534-0705 250-469-9358 janettej@connectcommunities.ca christym@connectcommunities.ca

Please visit our website at www.connectcommunities.ca

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Most of the details are gone as my thoughts can now disappear as fast as they emerge; however, the big picture remains clear and continues to unveil my true abilities. They can’t explain why I woke up when so many others suffer, but as a result of this awak-ening I not only laid the path I needed to discover my own traumatic brain injury, I realized a lifetime.

I have no memory of leaving on my motorcycle that morning back in 1985; what I remember is this dark vast space and the white light. Each time I turned and looked the light was bigger closer and more intense. On the third glance it fully consumed me when I received this amazing feeling of love. I opened my eyes long enough to see them putting a cast on my arm before slipping into a coma.

The broken bones healed, but the following 16 years were an emotional rollercoaster as I bounced from job to job and ultimately moved to BC to find some-thing. In a one year span I invented The Immobilizer.ca, lost my girlfriend to cancer and then met my wife to be two weeks later. The year after we mar-ried it happened again, a second accident and a second head injury. This time I knew something had changed. This conscious thought had awoken like never before. I felt so incredibly aware and every-thing seemed so obvious. I noticed things associ-ated with right brain dominance taking over in my day-to-day life; it wasn’t until I resumed 10 pin bowl-ing that I would start to put the pieces together.

YESTERDAY FOR TOMORROWBy RT Downey

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healthGroup Homes Support Home Sharing Rehabilitation

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Bowling was something I knew. My dream had been to license my invention and become a professional bowler. When I returned to practicing it was all gone. I could walk up the lane and throw the ball, but all the details I’d learned in life had vanished. How I would put just enough spin on the ball to make it turn into the pocket for a strike? Where I would stand to spare any remaining pins?Over the past 8 years as I built Todco Innovations Inc. and rebuilt my bowling game, I’ve endured five seizures. Each episode took a little piece of yes-terday, yet in some strange twist of fate opened up more and more of tomorrow. It was two steps forward then one step back as I struggled to build some kind of framework from which to perpetuate from. Loosing yesterday has an impact on both your

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February 15 – 17, 2012 Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Register online for

Real People with Real Lives: It takes a villagePACIFIC COAST BRAIN INJURY CONFERENCE

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Thank you to our Sponsors

To be a sponsor please contact Rosemary Casson at 604-984-6449 or sponsor@brainstreams.ca.

Satellite conferences held simultaneously at the Universities in Victoria and Kamloops via a two-way audio and video feed with a local speaker each

presenting live to Vancouver.

Dr. Ryan D’arcy, National Research Council

CanadaCo presenting:

“Neuroplasticity, MRI and Recovery”

Val Lougheed, Med, RSW, CCRC, MCVP,

ACE, RRP“Trauma, Rehabilitation and

Recovery – It Takes a Village”

Dr. Gabor Maté,Physician and Author

“Brain Injury and Addictions: What

is the Causal Relationship”

Dr. Catherine Mateer, University of Victoria

Co presenting: “Neuroplasticity, MRI and

Recovery”

Lois McElravy, Brain Injury Survior“Navigating through the Complexities of

Life and Brain Injury”

Cary Kruger, Kruger

Neuro-Rehabilitation Inc.“Wherever You Go,

There You Are - The Art of Goalsetting”

David McGuire, Brain Injury Survivor

“A Run to Remember”

confidence and your opinion. The ideas are easy but how to implement the action step then maintain the details is a challenge as every experience leads to another truth. I’ve been on the Dragons Den and recently on The Pitch and have come to understand how important purpose and validation is; it’s what guides us, drives us, and even makes us cry. I start-ed Todco Innovations as a product design company to facilitate both my vision and new found purpose in life. As I began this quest I set out looking for a mentor; as a result of bowling, I truly learned what it means to be one. I volunteer my experiences and insight to coach the Jr. Bowling program at XCalibur Bowling Center in Surrey. I not only teach them how to bowl; I show them how to succeed.

The secret to success is effort.

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Wednesday November 2, 2011 - 6,837 km - David McGuire officially enters the ‘Best Place on Earth’ aka. British Columbia. (the sign clearly states that BC is the best place on earth so who are we to argue?) It was an emotional and exhilarating mo-ment to finally reach the last province, our home province, and to get a true glimpse of the mountainous road which leads to the end of this journey. David recalls in his blog, “It was quite the moment when I hit the BC border. It’s been a long journey and it’s almost over. Just over 30 days and I will be in Victoria dipping my feet in the other side of Can-ada. It was a great day. It was a lot more emotional than I expected. It’s just a roadside marking and a mark on a map. However for me it means I am that much closer to being home.”If this is your first introduction to this inspirational journey here are the quick facts:Runner’s Name & Age: David McGuire - 38ABI: Subdural Hematoma - 2005Starting Date/Location: March 31, 2011 - St. John’s NLEnding Date/Location: December 9, 2011 - Victoria BCEstimated total km: 7230km

A Run To Remember Welcome to

“The Best Place on Earth!”~ Melissa Wild

Since we last checked in with the Headline read-ers we have finished run-ning through the province of Ontario, crossed an-other 3 prairie provinces in less time than it took to cross Ontario and met dozens of awesome people. Here are a couple highlights from the last few months...September 9, 2011 - Kenora, ONExcerpt from David’s Blog

“The best part of the day was as I am running down a highway I can see a guy lying on top of a big rock on the side of the highway. It’s kind off odd and I am curious I have met some fantastic people like this along the way and my interest was perked up.Dana is hiking the Trans Canada Trail and he had heard about me and actually saw the RV the other day. He new I would pass him so he decided to have a nap on a big rock on the side of the highway.”September 23, 2011 - Winnipeg, MB Excerpt from David’s Blog

“I don’t know how to describe today. “Wow” comes to mind. “Overwhelming” would work. “Exciting, energetic, informative, fun, informational......” Pic the word, they would all work.

A Run toRememberDavidMcGuirei

s

raisingawareness

acrossCanada

StoryPage6

Neurogenesis: Hope for

Regeneration?Page10

BRITISH COLUMBIA’S VOICE FOR THE BRAIN INJURY COMMUNITY Summer 2011

Columbia Speech & Language Services Inc.Providing speech and language services to children and adults throughout the Lower Mainland & Fraser Valley since 1987

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Raincoast 

Community RehabilitationServices where you live, work and play

2392 Kingsway tel: 604.444.3770Vancouver, BC fax: 604.444.3729V5R 5G9 toll free: 1.800.535.9988info@raincoastrehab.ca www.raincoastrehab.ca

After running with the girls [Pat and Diane] I was then off to Elmwood high school to be there at noon.I was not expecting this

however....[a picture is worth a thousand words...or a thousand kids!]”A huge thank you to the Win-nipeg media and Elmwood High School for the celebrity welcome!

November 3, 2011 - Golden, BCExcerpt from David’s Blog

“A special thanks to there coaches and supervisors for not only understanding the importance of preven-tion of brain injury but for taking the initiative to bring the teams out to the run. Golden has some great adults who really care about there kids. That was

awesome. I want to give a very spe-cial thank you to the East Kootenay

Brain Injury Association and to Debbie who works for them.” Debbie from EKBIA coordinated a FANTASTIC wel-come for David in Golden. Thank You Debbie!!! It is moments like this that remind us how amazing the brain injury community truly is!

The journey across Canada has been nothing short of a true adventure and it is not over yet. David will be running through the Rocky Mountains throughout the month of November, entering the Lower Main-land the first week of December and finally dip-ping his toe in the Pacific Ocean in Victoria, BC on December 9th, 2011 (if all goes well and the snow doesn’t slow him down!) To read more check out runtoremember.com to see where David is or where he is going to be and join him in this amazing inspir-ational run for change in Canada.Every 3 minutes someone sustains brain injury; that is a lot of Canadians just in the time it has taken you to read this article. Be a part of the movement and inspire change in Canada. Make a donation! Become a sponsor! Share your story! Donations can be made in the following ways:online through PayPal at www.runtoremember.comby mail to BrainTrust Canada11-368 Industrial Ave, Kelowna, BC, V1Y 7E8in person to the run team en-routeor at any Scotiabank across Canada* Please quote account # 801500051020*Share your story: email run@braintrustcanada.com To read more of David’s daily activities visit our web-site www.runtoremember.comor find us on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Flickr by searching username: r2rcanada Brain Injury Key Messages and Stats...Brain injury is occurring in epidemic proportions and is a leading economic, social and health challenge in Canada. It is the leading cause of death and disabil-ity under the age of 44. Over 170,000 Canadians incur brain injury each year - that is 465 people every day - one every 3 minutes. AWARENESS and PREVENTION are the key.

ROBERT PRYER

BRAIN INJURY LAWYER

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PAINE EDMONDS LLP - PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS

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604.683.1211 or toll free 1.800.669.8599 Email: law@paine-edmonds.com www.PElawyers.com

February 22, 2000

Johnny was my lift to school in the mornings. My journey home is taken care of by a gentleman named An-gelo. A heavy set but neat and distin-guished professional who owned his own limousine company with a total of two cars in his fleet. Willy often gave him some assignments when he didn’t have enough cars to service all of his clients on a specific day.

Angelo, as always, picked me up on time, in front of the High School in a ten passenger stretch limo. It was all that was available and the only type of car that he had to use. I am get-ting very popular amongst the stu-dent population. The students went wild every time Angelo pulled up. It was like they were getting picked up

Greg’s Diary~Greg Goldberg

for the spring formal every day. I am now known as the “Rich Teacher”. At times, I feel that is so far from the truth. The principal of our school even asked one Friday if he could get a lift home from the “Famous Rich Teacher” (my name was getting lon-ger). He only lived two blocks away from the school. So I requested my driver Angelo to stop at our guest’s house on the way home. He replied, “Certainly Sir”, with a little sarcastic smile.

Angelo’s stretch limo had everything. A bar, a VCR, a television, selection of daily newspapers and an assortment of magazines, even a Playboy, rested on the leather seats.

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Pacific Coast Brain Injury Conferencewww.pcbic.org

BC Brain Injury Associationwww. bcbraininjuryassociation.com

Campbell River Head Injury Support Societywww.crhead.ca

Fraser Valley Brain Injury Associationwww.fvbia.org

Brain Trust Canadawww.braintrustcanada.comwww.protectyourhead.com

Nanaimo Brain Injury Societywww.nbis.ca.

Powell River Brain Injury Society www.braininjurysociety.ca

Prince George Brain Injured Group Society www.pgbig.ca

Brain Injury Resourceswww.braininjuryresources.org

Ontario Brain Injury Association www.obia.on.ca

Brain Injury Association USAwww.biausa.org

South Okanagan Similkameen BI Societywww.sosbis.com

Victoria Brain Injury Societywww.vbis.ca

The Perspective Networkwww.tbi.org

The TBI Chat Roomwww.tbichat.org

G.F. Strong Rehabwww.gfstrong.com

BC Epli lepsy Societywww.bcepilepsy.com

Headway CentreHowe Sound Rehabil i tation Services Society

www.howesound.netNorthern Brain Injury Association

www.nbia.ca l ist www.thinkfirst.ca

www.brainstreams.ca

Headline is a proud supporter of

Learn Connect Find

I N T E R N E T

ResourcesHowever, one thing that didn’t work in the car was the self-rising auto-matic barrier between driver and passenger. I could unfortunately hear Angelo speaking to me the en-tire way home. Angelo was a talker.

Every ride home he always gave me tips on the standardbreds that were running at Woodbine racetrack that night – along with a vast description of other contending horses running in the province of Ontario that night as well. Between touting horses and bragging about his latest lawsuit that he is involved in from a traf-fic accident (it certainly was not his fault) that was soon to be settled in small claims court, his voice box was working overtime. He never shut up! Angelo constantly told me what to expect from the court proceedings and insurance companies on my way to a settlement. Of course, he had experience and he wanted to share it all with me. On top of his constant verbal diarrhea, he spoke in a deep accent (English mixed with Italian) that was hard to understand.

I knew that I should not have been so friendly. I arrived home with a ter-rible headache again today from his non-stop talking. I determined that this could not be any good for my presently healing brain. I called Wil-ly right away and demanded anoth-er driver to take me home from work. I was in control and Willy was cer-tainly not going to let this account slip away. He told me that Jerry, not Angelo would be there tomorrow to pick me up.We would like to thank Greg for his contributions to our 2011 editions of Headline. Greg’s diary entries are now available in video at www.brainstreams.ca. If you would like to subscribe to Greg’s newsletter, The Write Hemp-ishpere, to receive the diary entries via e-mail, write to Greg at greg@tbitalks.com.

The Great Harvest Festival

What’s better than puddle jumping when you are three years old? Puddle jumping in a pumpkin patch! On October 28, 2011, members of the Blue Sheet Club wrapped up the community garden project with a spectacular Harvest Festival, which brought together several programs of the Cridge Centre for the Family, including the daycare centre. Although the weather brought black clouds and torrential rains an estimated 100 children and 50 adults and volun-teers participated in the fun.The festivities began with children meandering down the path to receive a balloon hat from Master Huff ‘n Puff, graduate of the Huff ‘n Puff Balloon School. From there, volunteers directed the children to the pumpkin patch where they chose a pumpkin to decorate and take home. Next stop was to visit the Blue Sheet Club’s scarecrow and to vote on a name for him. And finally, it was time to warm hearts and fill up tummies. At the main building of the centre, children and volunteers huddled under tents to enjoy delicious homemade pumpkin soup and cheese scones, lovingly prepared by Chef Nik and his staff in the Cridge kitchen. The children decorated cupcakes with yummy icing and a wide choice of sprinkles and colourful decorations for a sweet ending to a won-derful festival!Many thanks go to the Blue Sheet Club members and to all the volunteers and program participants from the Cridge Centre for the Family Brain Injury Services, Daycare Centre, Women’s Program, Food Services and Administration. The highly successful event brought many smiles (and muddy boots) to everyone involved.

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Scotch Shortbread CookiesIngredients:1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened1/2 cup sugar1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour1/4 cup cornstarchDirections:1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (190 degrees C).2. Cream butter and sugar. Slowly add flour and cornstarch. Mix well.3. Press dough into a 10x15 inch jellyroll pan, score into bars and prick with a fork.4. Bake 15 to 18 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown. Homemade French Vanilla Coffee MixIngredients:½ cup instant coffee (regular or decaf)½ cup non dairy creamer½ cup Splenda or sugar1 Cup coffee whitener1 box instant vanilla puddingDirections1. Measure all ingredients into a blender.2. Pour mix into an air tight container.3. To serve, mix 1 tablespoon of dry mix into 6 ounces of very hot water.

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This book published in 2011 by Expert Author Publishing in Canada comes five years after Michael Coss’s car acci-dent and resulting brain injury. In these five years, Michael has had a variety of unusual experiences due to this unfortu-nate incident.From coma to reawakening and relearning to walk inch by inch, Michael has been determined to regain his full health - all while keeping a smile on his face.While Michael is passionate about Hyperbaric Oxygen Ther-apy (HBOT), which he credits with re-awakening him from his coma, he has also spent countless hours pursuing other therapies to regain normalcy in his life. Additionally, many hours have been spent raising funds for the Rick Hansen Foun-dation (for spinal cord injuries), and beginning his own foundation to help pay for HBOT for children. Sales of his book are being directed to the Michael Coss Brain Injury Foundation for this purpose.This book covers a bit of his experience with Watsu, Speech Therapy, The Lokomat Machine, and Spe-cialized Kinesiology. Most of these therapies are not yet well known. Additionally he mentions his energizing experiences with ‘Discovering the Power In Me’ from the Workman’s Compensation Board of BC program, “Stand Up for Mental Health”, and “Wheelchair Curling”. Michael also shares informa-tion about his experience living in a group home environment and the help and support he received there. Michael includes words of advice to other TBI survivors as well as their families. It took a few years to complete, yet, letter by letter on the keyboard, Michael crafted this book. It paral-lels the way he has gathered a team of therapists and pieced together a life where he includes sailing, horseback riding, and celebrating special events with his friends and family. Most recently he set a goal to train for and complete a one kilometre walk for the Terry Fox event and He Did It in under one hour!!!I have always believed Michael could walk again, even when he wasn’t able to YET. What I wasn’t

prepared for was the incredible inspira-tion he has become for so many. I would recommend this book if a brain injury has affected you or someone in your life. While the therapies he mentions may not be convenient to your location, they are worth knowing about! Meantime, what you can do is model Mi-chael’s process:- Keep exploring. - Commit to something and really work at it. - Build a team that works well with each other’s therapies. - Have an inspiration that keeps you get-ting up every morning too! - And most of all, BELIEVE that things can improve. Every inch adds up!Review by Denise Cambiotti, Specialized

Kinesiology Practitioner located in Coquitlam, BC. (604) 936-5463 www.denisecambiotti.com

BOOK REVIEW: “The Courage to Come Back - Triumph Over TBI - A Story of Hope”

By Michael Coss, Traumatic Brain Injury Survivor

The Courage to

Come Back

Triumph Over TBI

A Story of Hope

Michael Coss Traumatic Brain Injury Survivor

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“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the

obstacles which he has overcome.” Booker T. Washington

Obstacle: something that makes success difficult.Success: a favorable outcome of an attempt. Survivor: a person who lives through, and con-tinues to exist, after a difficult experience.“Survivors, are you ready?” This question is asked repeatedly on the reality show, Survivor. Contestants face daily challenges, competing for a prize, and ul-timately to be the last one on the island, the survivor. It is vicarious entertainment to briefly escape our own reality, but now switch channels to the reality of life. Chances are if you are reading this article your life has been touched in some way by a brain injury survivor. They may be client, friend, loved one or someone you just met. If you are a survivor reading this, let me honor you for the courage and determin-ation that you demonstrate living with a brain injury. You are the heroes as you go through each day and cope with your reality—physically, emotionally, socially and cognitively. Living with a disability is not easy. When your dis-ability does not show on the outside the challen-

ges can be extreme. I know. I live each day with an acquired brain injury from a vehicle accident in 2001. Chronic insomnia, constant pain and fatigue, balance and vision issues, and cognitive difficulties make everyday living a marathon. For years it was easier to be a victim of a brain injury than a survivor. However, looking in the mirror one day, I thought, “this has to change!” I needed to stop, rethink and refocus. I began reinventing myself by renewing some fundamental truths. I looked at who I was not what the world defined me as. I didn’t want to be labeled and written off as a disabled person, but seen by my potential. Prior to my accident, I owned my own upwardly mobile and successful company, Accent Consulting. I was a trainer and motivational speaker with a focus and passion to encourage and empower people to be the best they could be no matter what their pos-ition in life. I attempted to keep my company going, but had to cancel contracts and eventually close my business. I spent three months in a wheelchair and then used a cane for a year before being able to walk without aid. The road back, compounded by a subsequent ac-cident in 2005, was filled with extensive physiother-apy, numerous assessments, litigation, and an un-successful trial at the Supreme Court of Canada. My marriage, already tenuous, began to crumble even

Rethink, Refocus, Reinvent, Renew~Debbie Abma

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email : ddoig@daviddoig.com

Suite 1450

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Vancouver BC V6E 4A2

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more until it finally dissolved leaving me to navigate the labyrinth of legal issues, custody and financial devastation all while trying to cope with a brain injury. I was homeless, living with various friends or in a shelter, carting my important papers around in bags and boxes.While being sidetracked by some pretty major events, I was blessed to have people who poured love, faith, hope and joy into my life. They taught me to stop and find the beauty in what was a beastly scenario, to endure cruel and unusual situations and to hold my head up high. They taught me to believe in myself, to love life, to celebrate, and to laugh again—they taught me to rethink my thinking. For this I will be eternally grateful.I let go of the safe harbour and ventured into the unknown. Along the way I stumbled, cursed a lot, had a crisis of faith, lost family, friends, my home and had a HUGE identity crisis, but I am proud to say that now life is getting a lot sweeter. I am living independently again with support from the Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association’s rent supplement program. Rebuilding following a brain injury is a process that cannot be rushed; rather it moves at its own pace taking shape while moving. In my case, it is following a modified path of my former life. I am redeveloping my training business calling it “Speaks Out...!” This

name reflects my zeal for training and encouraging people to discover the best in themselves, but also underscores my passion to speak out about access-ibility and credibility for those unnoticed.This life is the only one I’m given. I will live it well. I will do all I can to make the most of each day, each minute, each moment. I will not say, “I wish,” “what if” or “maybe someday.” Instead of sitting and waiting for good things to come, I will stand up and create them. I will not lead a life of quiet resignation. Mine will be loud, bright, passionate, intense … a master-piece! Be true to yourself, and what is within your heart. There you will begin to discover what motivates you, inspires you and moves you forward to the next ex-citing stage of your life. You will discover that you are stronger than you ever imagined, braver than your greatest fear and more capable than you were told you were. My hope is that from this moment on you will replace fear with love, panic with peace and feelings of fail-ure with success; that you will think differently. See yourself not as a failure, but as a strong, confident and creative human being — a survivor.*To discover more about our core values, partners, services, workshops and speaking engagements visit www.speaksout.ca

Rethink, Refocus, Reinvent, Renew~Debbie Abma

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Take a BreakV B K Z S Y O I P S G T K S N H K F OS L R D F M R M Z E V A R E Y A S E CK J E L C U U R P I Z S E Q T N H T OA A B O Y I D C A R E G E K R U H X XE S M C L S O H L O L N D V E K R X TK T E A I N L R L M F I N Z E K P E SA N C N M O P I O E T K I G M A D N YL E E D A W H S G M O C E U I H O E EF S D Y F M M T M S Y O R U A I K F BW E N C I O S M C T C T L F T R L A GO R K A Z B A A A L N S R A U W S X GN P G N L I J S W U Z I R T Q N K H OS H V E L L D Z E E E O M U O T O D NG C M O M E U H G N C E Q W Q L X V GR A W K W B A Y D E R I R S I L H K GM B A U B L E S D Q M I H D I D V I EN Z J M M E S L E I G H A W I G R B QT J S R A E Y W E N Q Y K J D Z W K YJ N P O T X F B T O S Q M T T X T F N

Find the following hidden words: baubles family Rudolph candy cane friends sleigh Christmas Hanukkah snow cold Holidays snowflake December memories snowmobile decorations new year stockings eggnog presents tree elf reindeer turkey

Each year the pressure of the holidays seems to drop suddenly into our laps. It isn’t that we don’t know it’s coming every year; it just seems to be here quicker than the year before. It’s easy to get caught up in all the preparation and planning; however, often our expectations of how the holidays should be can get a little skewed. We think all the decorations have to match, the baking and the meals need to be perfect, people should get what they ask Santa for, and everyone should get along… perfectly! The trouble is that kind of holiday describes a television family’s life, not a real per-son’s life. In the real world, decorations made of macaroni and hand painted by a child are as precious as glittering gold baubles, the budget for the shopping rarely matches what we would like to have or be able to give, the meal looks barely touched after everyone has feasted, and arguments often ensue among family or friends. It’s life. This year don’t aim for a magazine type festivity, in-stead aim for fun and comfort. Here are some things to consider:4 If loud and noisy is not your style, then go for quiet and small. Don’t set yourself up for a spike in anxiety thinking that you have to do it all. You don’t. Know yourself and do what you can do without pushing the limits.4 Pace yourself. The to-do list in prepping for the holidays is usually longer than Santa’s gift list. It’s not uncommon for people to get sick around the holidays because they have depleted their energy resource. If you need help, ask for it. If you insist on doing it yourself then break the tasks down into smaller steps and do a little every day.4 Go easy on the “moose milk.” Alcohol often sparks an argument in gatherings or situations that are not comfortable or people are not proud of. If it is safe for you to drink, do it in moderation and take a taxi. 4 Spend some time with seniors, those who are hospitalized or in a shelter… being aware of how

little others have (no family, no money, poor health) can help you to appreciate what you do have.4 Be silly and have fun. Play in the snow. Watch comedies. Enjoy carolling or playing board games.4 Express your gratitude for all that you have and for all who continue to be your cheerleader.4 Love yourself… there is no one like you!Remember… the holidays don’t have to be perfect… it’s more important for it to be memorable!

The Holidays Don’t Have to be Perfect

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Heads UpWHAT’S HAPPENING

AROUND THE PROVINCE

BULKLEY VALLEY BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION (BVBIA)BVBIA offers case management services, and assist-ance with accessing rehabilitation programs, one-on-one emotional support, family support, and social and recreational activities. For more information, call 250-877-7723.

CAMPBELL RIVER HEAD INJURY SUPPORT SOCIETY (CRHISS)CRHISS provides education, advocacy, support, and fellowship. For more information, call 250-287-4323.

COMOX VALLEY HEAD INJURY SOCIETY (CVHIS)CVHIS hosts a weekly drop in luncheon for a nominal cost to survivors and their families. For more informa-tion, call 250-334-9225 or visit, www.cvheadinjury.com .

FRASER VALLEY BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION (FVBIA)FVBIA Brain Injury Association offers programs, drop-in sessions and support groups. For more information on FVBIA, call 604-557-1913 or (toll free) 1-866-557-1913 or email info@fvbia.org.

KAMLOOPS BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION (KBIA)KBIA offers many services and programs, including case coordination and life skills support. For more infor-mation, call at 250-372-1799.

NANAIMO BRAIN INJURY SOCIETY (NBIS)NBIS offers rehabilitation and case management services, disability benefits assistance, and workshops focusing on issues ranging from trauma recovery to life skills strategies and anger management. For more information, call 250-753-5600 or visit their website at www.nbid.ca.

VICTORIA BRAIN INJURY SOCIETY (VBIS)VBIS offers individual and group programs to survivors and their support system. Programs offered include: Peer Support, ABI 101, Coping Skills, Personal En-hancement, Creative Arts, a Family Support Group and Education & Awareness seminars to community groups. For more information call 250-598-9339 or visit www.vbis.ca.

POWELL RIVER BRAIN INJURY SOCIETY (PRBIS)PRBIS www.braininjurysociety.ca provides support and services for persons with acquired brain injury, spouses, family members and caregivers included. For more information, call 604-485-6065 or toll free 1-866-499-6065. SOUTH OKANAGAN SIMILKAMEEN BRAIN INJURY SOCIETY (SOSBIS)SOSBIS provides the following services: Case Manage-ment, Psychosocial Recreation, Peer Support – Cogni-tive Enhancement, Family Support, Stroke Recovery Support, Education, Personal Support, Women’s Sup-port and Prevention and Education. For more informa-tion, visit www.sosbis.com

TRI-CITIES BRAIN INJURY SUPPORT GROUPAs months have gone by, Tri-Cities Brain Injury Sup-port Group continues to have its meetings every 1st Thursday of each month from 2 - 4 pm. At our meet-ings, friends get together and discuss interesting topics and do fun activities. We meet at the Coquitlam Public Library - Poirier Branch on 575 Poirier Street. For more information, please contact Sandi Caverly at 604-916-5027 or stcaverly@shaw.ca or Martin Granger at martin_granger2007@hotmail.com. New members are welcome!

Personal Injury • ICBC Medical Negligence

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ReflectionsBy Janelle Breese Biagioni

“Family is the most important thing in the world.” ~ Princess Diana (July 1, 1961 – August 31, 1997)

Sudoku Solution Page 3

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6 3 4 7 1 8 9 5 2

5 7 1 6 8 3 4 2 9

4 9 8 5 2 7 1 6 3

3 2 6 1 4 9 5 7 8

We all know that family is considered to be one of the greatest treasures to have in life. However, not every family member is accessible to one another. Not every family is supportive and loving. Not every family is made up of biological flesh and bones. Sometimes a family is comprised of a miriad of friends and confidantes. These people, who love us unconditionally, do become our family and deserve the acknowledgement and appreciation that our blood brothers and sisters do. The holiday season is a time when families come together for celebration and to enjoy one another’s company. While more often than not, wonderful

memories are made each year, there are equally as many families who fracture because of financial pressure, substance abuses, and unresolved differ-ences. It can feel more like living in a timebomb than in a whimsical snowglobe. Yet, you may try every year to make it work and it doesn’t. If this sounds familiar, then commit to yourself that this year you will do it differently. Do what you want to do… be with people who make your heart sing and appreci-ate you for you. Don’t make the festivities about what you have or you don’t have. Choose to smile or give a helping hand to everyone you see. Make the holidays about being kind to yourself and to others. Make it about taking time to slow down and reflect. Make it about connecting with a senior or a child, or those living in shelters and eating at the local soup kitchen. Make it about honouring and appreciating those who ‘live in service’ every day. There will be many firemen, para-medics, police officers, healthcare professionals and military members who will be serving their commun-ity and country instead of spending the holidays with their family. You don’t need to do anything out of the ordinary to show your appreciation. Simply saying THANK YOU is the greatest gift of all!Happy Holidays to you all… may the season be blessed and rich with love and warmth and may all your dreams in 2012 come true!A team of experienced professionals sensitive to

the needs of both the survivor and the family.

We travel to you

Suite 600-175 Second Avenue, Kamloops, BC V2C 5W1

T: 250.372.1221 TF: 1.800.558.1933E: hmz@hmzlaw.com

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David Marr Q.C. Tara Decker Kevin Cowan Corey Lencovic Joseph Zak

“We care about your future”

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Abbotsford Carol Paetkau 604-557-1913 TF 1-866-557-1913

Acquired Brain Injury Society of the Yukon Anne-Marie Yahn 867-668-5283

Alberni Valley Head Injury Society/Port Alberni Linda Kenny 250-724-6772

Barriere/Merritt Terry-Lynne Stone 250-372-1799

British Columbia Brain Injury Association Deborah St. Jean 604-465-1783

Brain Trust Canada Laurie Denton 250-762-3233

Brain Trust Canada - Vernon Contact Marcie McLeod 250-307-6064

Bulkley Valley Brain Injury Association Joan LeClair 250-877-7723

Burnaby Chinese Brain Injury Support Group Angela Kan 604-877-8606

Campbell River Head Injury Support Society Shelley Howard 250-287-4323

Caribou Brain Injury Society Stacy Turcotte 250-392-7772

Chilliwack FVBIA 604-557-1913 TF 1-866-557-1913

Comox Valley Brain Injury Society Dixon Hiscock 250-897-1255

Comox Valley Head Injury Society Jeremy Coombs 250-334-9225

East Kootenay Brain Injury Association Susan Barth 250-417-6220

Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association Carol Paetkau 604-557-1913 TF 1-866-557-1913

Golden Brain Injury Support Group Donna Madden 250-344-5688

Kamloops Brain Injury Association Terry-Lynn Stone 250-372-1799

KBIA - Salmon Arm/Shuswap Contact Teresa Wolfe 250-833-0369

KBIA - Barriere/Merrit Contact Terry-Lynn Stone 250-372-1799

Langley/Aldergrove Brain Injury Support Group FVBIA 604-557-1913 TF 1-866-557-1913

Maple Ridge Support Group Ian Moore 604-944-9030

Mission FVBIA 604-557-1913 TF 1-866-557-1913

Nanaimo Brain Injury Society Mark Busby 250-753-5600

New Westminster Headway Gabrielle Pape 604.520.0130

B.R.A.I.N. (Brain Resource, Advocacy & Information Network) Tina Suter 604-540-9234

North Okanagan Shuswap Brain Injury Society (Salmon Arm/Shuswap) Robyn Coatta 250-833-1140

Northern Brain Injury Association Carmen Jose 1-866-979-4673

Peace Country Society for Acquired Brain Injury Linda Proctor 250-782-7519

Powell River Brain Injury Society Deborah Dee 1-866-499-6065

Prince George Brain Injured Group Society Alison Hagreen 250-564-2447 TF 1-866-564-2447

Sechelt/Sunshine Coast Brain Injury Support Group Susan Goddard 604-885-8524

South Okanagan Similkameen Brain Injury Society Dave Head 250-490-0613

Terrace Brain Injury Support Group NBIA 1-866-979-4673

TriCities Support Group Sandy Caverly 604-916-5027

Vancouver Headway Leah Pentilla 604.732.4446

Vancouver Survivors Support Group Lillian Wong 604-873-2385

Victoria Brain Injury Society Barbara Erickson 250-598-9339

West Coast Support Network Wanda McAvoy 250-726-7459

West Kootenay Brain Injury Association Kim Johnson 250-304-1259

*Please email name and phone number changes to headlinenews@shaw.ca to ensure this list is kept as up-to-date as possible.

BC BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATIONS &*This list updated Winter Issue, 2011. Support Groups

PM40981507RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO5851 Kittiwake DriveRichmond, BC V7E 3P1

Home.An experienced brain injury lawyer can make it happen.

Winning complex brain injury cases for more than 30 years, Webster & Associates is a leader in the field of traumatic brain injury law. We help our clients and their families reach their personal and financial goals.

Call us. We can help. Webster & AssociatesVancouver/Richmond: 604 713 8030

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email: webster@braininjurylaw.ca

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