The Real Lives of TBI Wives
Real Lives of TBI Wives is a heartfelt and empowering podcast that gives voice to the untold stories of women who are navigating life as caregivers to husbands with traumatic brain injuries. Hosted by Erika, a wife, mother, and advocate, this podcast offers a candid look at the highs and lows of caregiving, self-care, and balancing the complexities of family life. Each episode features real-life experiences, tips, and encouragement for those walking this difficult path. Whether you’re a fellow TBI wife or someone looking to better understand this journey, Real Lives of TBI Wives is a safe space for support, connection, and healing. Join Erika and other TBI wives as they share their stories, struggles, and triumphs, offering a glimmer of hope for all who listen.
Episodes
In this informative episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, host Erika Brouillette sits down with Jacqui Taylor Hayward, an experienced accountant, to provide practical guidance on navigating the complexities of Canadian disability benefits for families affected by traumatic brain injury (TBI). Jacqui shares her expertise in taxes, insurance, and government programs, giving listeners actionable advice to better manage financial respons...
In this inspiring episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, host Erika Brouillette sits down with Wendy Lukonen, CEO of the Daily Gratitude Movement, to explore the transformative power of gratitude in caregiving and everyday life. Wendy shares her deeply personal journey caring for her mother with pancreatic cancer and her grandmother with dementia, and how embracing a daily gratitude practice helped her navigate the emotional challenge...
In this compelling episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, Erika Brouillette sits down with Dallas Shepherd, founder of Harmonized Brain Center, to explore his family’s life-changing journey with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Dallas recounts the harrowing 2003 accident when his son was struck by a baseball, resulting in an epidural hematoma and coma, and shares the long road to recovery that inspired him to deepen his understanding of ...
In this powerful episode of The Real Lives of TBI Wives, host Erika Brouillette sits down with Jason Lalli, a resilient traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivor, to explore his extraordinary journey of healing, advocacy, and personal growth. Jason opens up about life before his multiple brain injuries, sharing the vibrant career and personal life he loved, and recounts the dramatic and often devastating changes that followed each inju...
In this episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, host Erika Brouillette sits down with Von Limbaugh of the Limbaugh Law Firm to discuss critical legal strategies for families navigating the challenges of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Von draws on his extensive expertise in estate planning, elder law, guardianships, and conservatorships, breaking down complex topics into actionable steps for caregivers.
The conversation covers everything...
In this special anniversary episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, Erika Brouillette shares an intimate look at life with her husband, Shelby, after his traumatic brain injury. Celebrating 13 years of marriage in a season that looks very different from their past traditions, Erika reflects on the challenges of honoring special days while navigating life as a TBI caregiver, and the intentional steps she’s taking to create meaningful ce...
In this episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, Erika Brouillette dives into the Radiate section of her Reclaim membership, exploring how TBI wives can reclaim their energy, confidence, and sense of self amidst the demands of caregiving. Erika discusses practical strategies for setting boundaries, finding moments of joy, and prioritizing self-care without guilt. She shares exercises and prompts from the Radiate section that help caregi...
In this episode of The Real Lives of TBI Wives, host Erika Brouillette continues unpacking the RECLAIM framework by diving into step two: Rebuild. After surviving the chaos of traumatic brain injury and caregiving, rebuilding means creating boundaries, rhythms, and systems that actually hold you — not just your family.
Erika shares her personal turning point when survival mode nearly broke her, and how learning to set boundaries, d...
In this episode of The Real Lives of TBI Wives, host Erika Brouillette introduces the RECLAIM framework — her three-step process for helping wives of men with traumatic brain injuries find themselves again after years of survival mode. Step one is Reconnect: coming back to your true self and your higher power so you can breathe, heal, and live from a place of strength instead of exhaustion.
Erika shares her personal story of discon...
In this special 20th episode and season finale of Real Lives of TBI Wives, host Erika Brouillette takes a moment to reflect on the incredible resilience of TBI wives, honoring the strength it takes to care for a loved one while navigating the emotional and physical toll of caregiving. Erika shares her own journey, offering heartfelt insights into the importance of community support and the selfless dedication caregivers pour into t...
In this week's episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, Rosalyn Fast takes us through her emotional and transformative journey as a caregiver to her husband, Donald, who sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in 1997. Rosalyn recounts the day that forever changed their lives, sharing the slow realization of the severity of Donald's injuries and the overwhelming challenges they faced, from medical struggles to a heartbreaking legal bat...
In this episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, Amanda Mahaffey takes us through the evolution of their relationship, starting from their early years together and raising their daughter, to the life-changing moment of the bike accident that altered everything.
Amanda delves into the struggles of living with ambiguous loss, a challenge many TBI wives face, and how they navigated the misunderstandings with medical professionals that oft...
In this emotional episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, Carin Miller opens up about her 25-year journey as a caregiver to her husband following his traumatic brain injury (TBI) from a car accident in 1997. From the initial shock of the accident to the ongoing physical and emotional challenges, Carin shares the hardships they faced as a family, including her husband's prolonged opioid addiction and the lack of consistent medical care.
...Claire Wilkerson shares her and her husband's journey through his traumatic brain injury (TBI). Pre-injury, Claire and her husband were high school sweethearts enjoying life in Washington, involving travel, camping, and fly fishing. The TBI happened in 2020 when her husband had a car accident while on his way to fly fish. Claire describes the experience from receiving the shocking call from the hospital to navigating his initial tr...
In this episode of 'Real Lives of TBI Wives,' Jenny Ziegelhofer shares the harrowing story of her husband's traumatic brain injury that began in the summer of 2022. From the initial discovery of a lump to a complex diagnosis and a life-changing stroke post-surgery, Jenny walks us through the emotional and logistical challenges faced by their family. She discusses the toll it took on their lives, her role as an advocate and caregive...
Navigating the Journey: Barb's TBI Wife Story In this episode of 'Real Lives of TBI Wives,' Erika Brouillette welcomes Barb DeJarnett, who shares her profound journey as a wife and caregiver for her husband, Darien, following his traumatic brain injury (TBI) in 2013. Barb recounts the immediate impact of the accident, the extensive medical treatments, and the long rehabilitation process that followed. She speaks candidly about the ...
In this episode of 'Real Lives of TBI Wives,' host Erika Brouillette interviews April, who shares the heart-wrenching journey of being the caregiver and wife to a husband who suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) four years ago. April recounts the day of the accident, the immediate aftermath, and the long, arduous road to recovery that followed. She discusses the legal battles with workman's compensation, the immense emotional an...
In this heartfelt episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, Kim Krajny opens up about the traumatic experience of her husband James’ severe brain injury and spinal cord damage following a devastating accident on December 10, 2020. Kim recounts the gut-wrenching day of the accident, the overwhelming chaos that followed, and the emotional toll it took on her as she navigated the complex healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kim s...
In this powerful episode, Jill West shares her family's journey through the life-altering challenges following her husband's brain tumor diagnosis and subsequent brain injury. Jill takes us back to their college days when they met, started a family, and envisioned a bright future, only to have their lives forever changed by medical setbacks.
Jill opens up about the initial diagnosis, the transformative surgery at Duke University Ho...
In this deeply moving episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, host Erika Brouillette sits down with Karen Stone Fortune, whose husband suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) after a cycling accident in 2019. Karen shares the heartbreaking early moments of the injury, the long road to an accurate diagnosis, and the complications that led to emergency brain surgery—all amid the isolating challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Karen opens...
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