Hope Beyond the Hospital and The Fight for an Assessible Life with Tina Devall | Ep. 43

Ep. 43 | In this deeply moving episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, Erika Brouillette sits down with Tina to share the heartbreaking and hope-filled story of her husband Dave’s traumatic brain injury. What began as an ordinary workday on the farm in October 2021 turned into a life-altering accident that left Dave with a severe diffuse axonal brain injury, and left Tina navigating ICU stays, long-term rehab, workers’ compensation battles, full-time caregiving, and the overwhelming realities of bringing home a husband who now needs total care.

Tina opens up about what life was like before the accident, the chaos of getting the call while out of state, the long nights in hospital hotels, and the emotional toll of watching the man she loves become trapped in a body that no longer works the way it used to. As a wife, mother, grandmother, and registered nurse, Tina shares the unique challenges of advocating for Dave’s care while also carrying the weight of every decision, every transfer, every feed, every supply order, and every barrier standing between them and the accessible home he desperately needs.

This episode is a powerful reminder that the hardest part of caregiving is often not the physical load, but the mental and emotional burden of constantly fighting systems that should be helping. Tina’s faith, fierce love, and unwavering belief that Dave will one day walk again make this conversation both devastating and deeply inspiring.

If you are a TBI wife, caregiver, or loved one trying to hold it all together while living in the aftermath of brain injury, this episode will make you feel seen, understood, and far less alone.

Connect with Tina and Dave on their socials

Facebook

Tik Tok

and if you feel led to help Dave and Tina financially with their search for accessible housing here is their GoFundMe