MOBILE, Alabama — On March 1, the Alabama Head Injury Foundation kicked off Brain Injury Awareness Month with a Mobile Traumatic Brain Injury Citizen Advocacy Training Day, in which 25 participants learned strategies for using their experiences to potentially influence public policy.
The event was part of the foundation’s ongoing mission to improve the lives of traumatic brain injury survivors, spinal cord injury survivors, and their loved ones.
In 1980, Andy Anderson and Jean Fischer, who each had a child who survived a brain injury, initiated the Alabama Head Injury Foundation, which became incorporated in 1983.
When Anderson’s oldest daughter, Rene’, received a traumatic brain injury in an auto accident, he found few resources or information to help their family until he learned of the National Head Injury Foundation and began working with other families whose loved ones had suffered head injuries.
“My goals were mainly to gain information, care and rehabilitation of the head-injured (and) attain supervised programs and facilities to provide these services,” said Anderson.
The Alabama foundation is a nonprofit foundation that receives funding through the Impaired Drivers Trust Fund; certain counties receive funding from United Way.
The organization achieves its mission by initiating legislative measures, providing community resources, and offering peer support groups.
“We have a group of 20 to 30 survivors, caregivers and professionals who meet every Tuesday for socialization, advocacy and support,” said Teresa Roberts, resource coordinator for the Southwest Alabama area, which includes Mobile, Baldwin, Clarke and Washington counties. “With AHIF, I have been blessed with wonderful, caring people to work with and survivors with great spirits who never give up.”
The Mobile area support group includes activities led by recreation coordinator Anthony Daniels, as well as games and cognitive exercises led by volunteers.
“We became active with the AHIF in 2001 and started attending the AHIF recreational support group each week,” said Melissa Slater, whose son, Charlie, suffered a traumatic brain injury during a suicide attempt in October 2000. “We were able to meet other families who were dealing with providing the everyday needs of their loved ones who had survived brain injuries.”
Alabama has seven resource coordinators throughout the state who help clients find resources such as medical supplies and respite care.
Each summer, the foundation pays for a number of clients to attend a week-long camp at Camp ASCCA on Lake Martin, where they enjoy water sports, horseback riding and archery.
Pixie Stoan Garcia joined the group in 2004, two years after surviving a serious car crash on Oct. 10, 2002. She was driving from New Orleans to Tulsa when the rear axle came off her vehicle.
“The van flipped over off the freeway and I ended up with a skull fracture from ear to ear and my brain became severed about dead center,” said Garcia.
During her recovery, Garcia met Teresa Roberts and joined the support group, where she learned coping strategies.
“Whenever something would come up with a negative aspect, there was always someone there to help me see it through,” said Garcia. “Between the weekly meetings and the week of camp in the summer, I have been able to get as close as possible like I was before the accident. … I started learning how to live with my brain injury.”
In 2005, Carmen Baker and her son, Eric, joined the support group after seeing a photo and article about it in the Press-Register.
Eric Baker sustained a closed head injury in 1975 when he was only 1 year old and fell onto a hardwood floor after climbing over the top of his bed.
“Getting through such a crisis with a baby took lots of love, prayers, patience, family and friends and is ongoing to this day,” Carmen Baker said.
“This support group has certainly provided much needed emotional support to us and all that attend,” she said. “Eric and I are both involved in volunteering and being an advocate for the Alabama Head Injury Foundation.
“Brain injury is a very devastating event for the whole family and it is most important for the injured (person) to have the opportunity and the facilities available for them to reach or attain the potential of life as near normal as possible,” said Anderson.
For details about Alabama Head Injury Foundation or ways you can help, visit www.ahif.org.
Those outside the Southwest Alabama region may call 1-800-433-8002 to locate a coordinator in their area.
This story was written by Christie Lovvorn, Press-Register Correspondent. Original story here.
Located in Alabama on Lake Martin, Camp ASCCA offers campers a wide variety of traditional recreational and educational activities with a unique design for accessibility.
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