Holistic Rehabilitation For Traumatic Brain Injury Survivors:

One Woman’s Journey

Jennifer Lee Galvin College of St. Catherine,

Minneapolis Master of Arts in Holistic Health

StudiesMay 2008

*How I was brought to this Research Project

*The concept of “Holistic Rehabilitation”

*My personal Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and experience as a survivor

Introduction

December 13, 1995Herpes Encephalitis

DVD from Hospital: Where and Who I was 12 years ago.

Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain. It may be caused by a number of different factors. One of the most common causes is direct infection of the brain by a virus or bacterium. Inflammation can also occur as a complication of some other disorder, such as mumps or herpes simplex. About two thousand cases of encephalitis are reported in the United States each year (eMedicine, 2008).

February 19, 1997

Hodgkin’s Disease

February 19, 1997Hodgkin’s Disease

Hodgkin's disease is a cancer of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system consists of blood vessels, tissues, and other structures that carry lymph through the body. Lymph is a bloodlike fluid that carries substances from cells to blood vessels. The cause of Hodgkin's disease is unknown. Many experts believe that genetic and environmental factors work together to cause the disease (eMedicine, 2008).

• Chance to share my story and success in hopes of inspiring others

• An opportunity to find new perspective from my story, from the place I am at today.

• The concept of holistic rehabilitation can be applied to any adversity, not just TBI.

Opportunities that have emerged and can

emerge as a result of this research project:

Why This Topic?

TBI is defined by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control as an

injury caused by a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain. Not all

blows or jolts to the head result in a TBI. The severity of a TBI may range from “mild,” i.e., a brief change in mental status or

consciousness to “severe,” i.e., an extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia after the injury (2007, p. 2).

* 1.4 million Americans sustain a TBI each year.

* 5.3 million Americans currently have a long-term or lifelong need for help with daily living tasks and activities

Literature Review

Research•CAM Therapies and Holistic Rehabilitation

•With medical appointments, meetings with counselors, change of employment and lifestyle, along with new struggles in every day living tasks, many TBI survivors find relief from these stresses through CAM therapies.

•Research indicates the most popular CAM therapies used in TBI rehabilitation today are: acupuncture, biofeedback, and energy healing modalities (Grout, 2001).

•TBI changes one’s life drastically: How my life changed

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)and Holistic Rehabilitation

• With medical appointments, meetings with counselors, change of employment and lifestyle, along with new struggles in every day living tasks, many TBI survivors find relief from these stresses through CAM therapies.

• Research indicates the most popular CAM therapies used in TBI rehabilitation today are: acupuncture, biofeedback, and energy healing modalities (Grout, 2001).

• TBI changes one’s life drastically

• My personal story: Living with TBI

• My experience with CAM therapies as a TBI survivor

Research

My Memoir*The gift of sharing my story*An Opportunity to heal myself and others

My Memoir

Process•Reviewed 2 books on the process of memoir writing•Reviewed websites on memoir writing•Meditated before writing

•Revisited essays written in the past•Reviewed past journal writings•Reviewed cards and letters given to me•Gathered inspirational quotes

•Writing schedule and format: Authentic

•Organized memoir

•Proofread •Feedback by memoir author•Edited, edited, edited

•The writing continues…

Description of Memoir•The Memoir is titled, “Finding My Way: A Memoir”•Total of 72 pages•Begins and ends with inspirational quotes•Broken into 2 parts: The Path That Was Taken and Lessons Acquired On The Path

•Disclaimer•Font•Inspirational Quotes•Letters and cards arranged by date•Journal Entries

Description of Memoir•Part 1 has a total of 12 chapters, consisting of different phases of my life in the past 12 years:

•My Awakening•Back To School•My Support Team•Adolescence•My Rehabilitation•My Second Awakening: Cancer•High School•The Next Step: College•Bethany Lutheran College•Augsburg College•Luther Seminary•College of St. Catherine

•Part 2 has a total of 5 chapters made up of categories that I consider lessons gained as a result of my experiences. Those include:

•Spirituality and Faith•Organization and Compensation•Resilience•Overcoming Adversity and Finding Meaning•Life Purpose and Paying It Forward

Description of Memoir

Method

•There are few resources, such as memoirs, for the TBI community that come directly from TBI survivors•Self-reflection and spiritual processing•Served as a type of closure •Can be shared with other teenage TBI survivors

Rationale, Importance and Relevance:

Method

MethodStrengths:

•An open and honest account of 12 years of a personal journey, trials and triumphs, pain and joy.•Through the eyes of a survivor •Applicable for anyone facing adversity

Limitations:

•This is just one survivor’s story•Each TBI is unique•I don’t have all of the answers•TBI memory impairment

DiscussionFindings Supported By The Literature:*CAM Therapies: my experience *Resilience*Faith

Unexpected Findings: *The emotions of re-living the experiences*Lessons and themes emerged through the writing process *Healing through writing my story

DiscussionEvaluative Feedback:*Feedback provided by: Eleanor Lincoln, author of Memory and Memoir: Self-Knowledge Through Writing Your Memoir (Good Ground Press, 2006)*Encouragement to write more*Complimented on my style of writing and the ease in reading my Memoir

DiscussionImplications For Practice*Inspiration and a teaching tool on rehabilitation

Implications For Community*Any community that provides services to individuals with disabilities or life challenges*Professionals in the TBI community and Rehabilitation community *CAM Providers who serve individuals with disabilities

Implications For Further Research*This concept is still a fairly new idea *Teenage population *Relationship between spirituality and vocational calling after disability

How My Life Has Changed Due To Holistic Rehabilitation

*College graduate!

*Independent woman *Able to maintain full time employment and full time school

*Organizational skills

*Ability to manage stress

*Increased spirituality and acceptance of life circumstances

Finding My Way: A Memoir*DVD Presentation

Conclusion

Questions?

“So often we look at a calendar of days as merely a symbol of the passage of time. We forget why we are on this earth. We forget that there is a reason for all of the pain and all of the struggle. We forget that we were put on earth to learn something. If everything were perfect in this life, we would never learn anything new. We would not be able to elevate our spirits through the events that happen to us.” ~ From Walk In Balance By Lynn V. Andrews

Acknowledgments and Dedication I thank my professors, Mari Ann and Carol, who supported me through this journey of writing and personal exploration. Their guidance, leadership, insightful feedback, and most importantly , patient encouragement, aided this research project in innumerable ways.

And I thank my fellow classmates for their friendship and support throughout this journey. I will forever be grateful for walking this path together.

This project is dedicated to my parents, who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. Who loved me unconditionally during the most challenging time of my life and their lives. I would not be where I am today without their guidance and love.