PCBIC 2010 Mary Benson: Healing Through Sport

8/7/2019 PCBIC 2010 Mary Benson: Healing Through Sport

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MY PARALYMPIC JOURNEY



! Initially noticed some confusion:bus stop

! Word finding difficulties

! Word Substitution “stove becamea door”

! Work incident “Earthquake”

! Stopped medication: only thing

different in my life! Weekend of nightmares: Short

term memory impairment: table,bank and pancake stories

! Hospitalization



! Initial Impact:! Extreme Fatigue! Poor Concentration! Unable to understand simple things like

the sequence or humour of a TV show! Short-term memory impairment! Frustration: losses; minimization by others! Fear of everything! Heightened sound sensitivity

! Ongoing Impact:! Isolation – could not leave my home

without help! Loss of self as I knew me! Loss of employment! Anger! Perseveration! Weight gain! Relationship challenges & changes! Loss of friends & peers! Loss of meaning & purpose in my life



Vital Support Systems to Recovery

Family

Friends

Rehab Team (GF Strong)

Medical Team (VGH & UBC)

Community: Parks & Rec, Adaptive

Programs like Tai Chi, Swimming,Crafts, Gym, & otherprogramming

Transportation: Handi-Dart

Spiritual Circle



TherapeuticRecreation

Family &Friends

SpeechLanguageTherapy

Physio & OT

Medical &Counselling



! Improved Physical Well-being

! Able to walk independently

with a cane! Improved eye-hand

coordination! Able to do daily living

activities

! In-home OT support wasinvaluable

! Decreased risk for injury! Learned to keep a calendar!

Memory board



! Sanity! Safety! Learned to problem solve! Learned to Read & Write again

! Helped to understand Thought Processes! Speech improved significantly



! Medical Team helped explain Acquired BrainInjury and kept exploring new ways andmethods to treat the symptoms once adiagnosis was unable to be reached.!

Medication Stabilization: helped severeneurological nerve pain! Treatment of Depression! Mood stabilization

! Counselling helped with the ongoing falloutand learning new coping strategies.! Family support!

Increased Understanding i.e. Role changes! Coping with Loss



! Physical, Spiritual & Emotional Support! Companionship! Safety! Love! Connection to my Past!



FROM TREATMENT TO INDEPENDENCE

GF StrongRehabPrograms

Community

AdaptivePrograms

IndependentRecreation &Leisure



CHRISTMASCRAFT FAIR



Thank youChallengedAthlete’s

Foundation



! DEVELOP A PLAN OF ACTION

! USE A LEISURE BUDDY

! TRAVEL COMPANION

! ESTABLISH WEEKLY SCHEDULE

! RECRUIT HELP FROM SOMEONETO ASSIST ME WITHORGANIZATIONAL TASKS

! ATTEND CLASSES @ COMMUNITYCENTRES

! ART

! BRAIN TEASING GAMES LIKE

BANANAGRAMS!



! First time onsnow afterMary’s brain

injury.

! At Cypress,snow-shoeing

trip with GFStrong group

! 2005.



FROM REHAB TO THE

PARALYMPICS!



Earnedmy 1st Team

Canada jacket



2007 Nationals

2008 WhistlerOlympic Park



Raceday.



France & Germany

8th Place Sprint Finish & 10th Place 5K Finish



Vuokatti Training

Tunnel



World Cups2009

BC FerriesCelebrates

Team Canada



Signing sport cards atPancake Breakfast afterTorch Parade in WhiteRock.



Lactate testing.

Silver Medal Finish2010 Nationals



Thank you TRProgram for

your generousdonation.



Whistler BC

Paranordic Cross-Country Skiing



TeamCanada’s Trip

to Whistlerfrom YVR



GOCANADA!



Kate from Poland Team Canada’s Brian McKeever



Go Mary Go!



Cheering Section



Brian McKeeverpicking up his

skis.



I hope shedoesn’t

catch me.



Thank you Sharon fromC’aren for Your Hair



Mary’s Road toRecovery.

PCBIC 2010 Mary Benson: Healing Through Sport

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