Brain Injury Association of Maryland (BIAMD):
Annual Conference
Resilience and Recovery
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Resilience and Recovery 〰️
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Survivor | Speaker: The Power of Peer Support | April 2025
What happened?
I was a passenger in a motor vehicle accident in 2022, after which I was hospitalized for several months and began my modified pursuit of high-performance and contentment.
The most severe of my resulting injuries was a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), which continues to impair my mobility, primarily. Doctors and surgeons delivered me to Health by immediately treating a plethora of other injuries (below), minor by comparison.
Disclaimer: Clicking “Remove” erases the listed condition from the tracking application. It does not free the patient of its symptoms.
Unsurprisingly, my injury had less-than-medical consequences as well.
I was incentivized (read: had no choice but) to move from New York to my family home in Maryland for countless streams of rehabilitation.
I lost many friendships and my then-partner, but I gained a stronger sense of self, as recovery —for me, unlike others— is not optional.
My sphere of pastimes became limited to fully stationary activities. No mini-golfing, no bowling.
Eventually, an unsupportive work-environment led me to resign from a role as a Product Manager, a title that I aim to reclaim.
What now?
Now, we adapt.
We practice patience, a gene that our moms insist that we did not inherit.
We share our discoveries with attendees of BIAMD’s annual conference on April 3, 2025.
At one point, my condition required continuous medical intervention, but I now qualify for outpatient care. Today, medical intervention is sporadic; my at-home investment in my recovery is constant. These principles guide my movements on a daily basis:
Repeat to learn.
Repetition is actively avoided in professional settings, but repetition is encouraged when attempting to move conscious processes to the subconscious —like staying upright.
So, every morning, I repeat a set of exercises prescribed by my Physical Therapist, no matter how difficult they are at times.
Stay active.
Running marathons is ruled out in my present state, but I prioritize creating impact through other avenues.
I keep my neurons firing away —and, moreover, have verified that my capabilities are not reduced but altered— by engaging myself as CCMD’s Big Red Bookcase Coordinator and Zia’s English tutor, both roles taken on after my injury.
Be goal-oriented.
Diamonds now take a backseat to purpose on my list of best friends.
Whether it’s a goal to buy nail polish remover today, to finalize my Personal Statement this week, or build stamina for BIAMD’s 1-Mile Walk, goals concentrate my efforts and prevent hurtful speculation.
Lofty goals like traveling to Japan are acceptable!
