January 9, 2025 • 24 mins
We want to introduce our new Co-host! Listen to Brittany's personal story, where she shares details about her 2018 brain injury, its effects, and her path to joining BIND, the Brain Injury Network of Dallas. The discussion covers Brittany's initial challenges, her recovery journey, including therapies like neurofeedback, and her involvement with BIND and its community. Brittany talks about her love for art as a coping mechanism, her progress and roles at the library, and emphasizes the importance of community and support for brain injury survivors.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Instrumental
Brittany (00:10):
Hi, I'm Brittany.
I'm a TBI survivor and a memberof BIND.
Carrie (00:15):
And hi, I'm Carrie, a stroke survivor and also a
member of BIND.
So, today we're going to dothings a little bit different.
Um, it's going to be justBrittany and I.
Most of you, if you've beenlistening to our episodes,
you've been listening to me foralmost three years.
So, you kind of know me a littlebit.
I hope you figured me out bynow.
Or, whatever you want to mean.
But, so we're, I want to get, Iwant our listeners to get to
(00:37):
know our new co host, Brittany,a little better.
So, this is going to be justmore of a one on one
questionnaire.
Not questionnaire, but you know,one on one talk with Brittany so
we can get to know her.
Um, Brittany loves crafts andvery artsy.
And she is, um, She was ourfirst member, first new member
to sign up for the Brain InjuryClubhouse in Fort Worth.
So she spends most of her timein Fort Worth, but on Thursdays
(01:00):
when we record, she comes toPlano, which we love.
So, Brittany, just tell ourlisteners a little bit about you
and kind of where you are inlife and how you got your
injury.
Brittany (01:11):
Well, my name is Brittany, as y'all know.
Um, I got my brain injury, um,2018.
August 3rd, 2018.
Um, I was driving to school andsomeone was going over 70 miles
per hour and rammed into me andI blacked out on impact.
My airbags didn't deploy andeverything went black.
Carrie (01:33):
They did not deploy?
Brittany (01:35):
Nope.
Carrie (01:35):
Oh, wow.
Brittany (01:36):
Because it was a rear end, we asked the companies
like, you get rear ended,they're not going to deploy.
So after that, I just called itPandora's Box Someone came and
woke me up.
Um, I went to the hospital, gotscanned, they were like, Okay,
your ankle's like swollen,everything's swollen, so I went
home.
I went to my neurologist acouple of times, they neglected
(02:00):
my brain injury.
So I just went back to school,and I was doing horrible, like I
declined.
Like, really bad.
I went back to see aneurologist, still neglected.
Then, I didn't know my name, Ididn't know what cup was.
So, my brain injury was postconcussion at first.
So, yeah.
(02:20):
And then it got worse, so I wasdoing better.
And I went to my primary inFebruary, and they were like,
Oh, your ankle is still swollen,so let's see about this.
So, she's like, I'm going tosend you to an orthopedic.
The orthopedic is, okay, youhave foot drop or drop foot.
Um, that's more of a braininjury problem.
So he referred me to BaylorScott and White, the brain
(02:43):
injury doctor, and they werelike, okay, you had a brain
injury for seven months.
You're supposed to get treatedin the first 12 months.
So I lost seven months, butafter that, I went to Day Neuro
and to some program where you goall day and do therapy all day
just to get better.
So I did graduate from thatbecause I got to a level where I
(03:04):
was okay doing better.
So my goal was to go back toschool, which I did.
So I went back to school and Ifinished.
I got my degree in respiratorycare.
So after that, I came back anddid more therapy and that's when
I declined again.
And so after that, it's likebeen a year and you're like,
you're still not having likebrain injury problems.
(03:26):
So Yeah, so they figured outit's Functional Neurological
Symptoms Disorder, or FND.
It's like a computer, so you canturn on the, like the hardware,
but if you try to installsomething or open something, the
software doesn't work.
So it's like kind of like on anautopilot, and you know, brain
injuries are invisible, so itkind of looks like I don't have
(03:48):
it, but on the inside.
It's like, terrible.
But, that's a little bit aboutmyself, but I guess I'm here for
a reason.
So, yeah.
Carrie (04:00):
Well, that's crazy.
I didn't know all that.
So it's kind of like you have,you see those memes that are
said, it's like on the inside ofmy brain, I have all these tabs
open on a computer and yeah,that sounds like what you're on
all the time.
Brittany (04:13):
And then when people ask me, oh, like does it hurt?
Like, yeah, after my accident,my brain hurts every day a
little bit, or I've hadproblems.
So I kind of like say, oh, it'skind of like a fire.
When I'm having a really goodday, it's kind of like a little
candle tea light, and then itcan go to like a fireplace, and
then it can go to a bonfire oneday.
So that's how like I classify,that's how it fills my head,
(04:33):
like on my good days, my worstdays, my bad days.
Carrie (04:36):
That's interesting.
So, and then, you know, thebiggest thing we always want to
know is, so how did you find outabout BIND, and how did you get
involved?
Brittany (04:43):
So, um, I found out about BIND, um, I was going to
the Brain Performance Center,and She, like, referred me to
BIND and was like, oh, BINDwould be good for you because I
was having problems.
But, basically, I was goingthere because my brain wasn't
connecting right.
So, my brain kind of, like, rehardwired itself and was not
connecting right.
It was, like, not doinganything, everything was wrong.
(05:05):
Like, I also had problems withmy eyes along the way, so, after
brain injury.
So, that, like, really hurt,like, when I hit my head.
So, I actually broke my chair inmy car.
Not hitting my head.
Carrie (05:16):
Oh, wow.
So, kind of, um, after yourinjury, but before BIND, I mean,
you told us a little bit, youknow, before you actually
figured out that you had a braininjury, but let's go back to,
like, when you graduated fromDay Neuro, but before you found
BIND, like, what would you do ona day to day, I mean?
Brittany (05:33):
Well, I would just go home, but, you know, I kind of,
like, medically knew somethingabout brain injuries.
I knew something was, like, So Iknew I still had to do therapy
at home.
So I was like, doing puzzles tokeep my brain active.
But other than that, if I wasn'tdoing puzzles and I had a bad
day, I would just lay on thefloor and kind of waste away.
That's like, how I felt.
I was just wasting away.
(05:54):
Like, why, why am I here?
What's my purpose?
There's times where I said, Iwish he hit me so hard to kill
me, actually.
But, Now it's gotten better,especially since I've been going
to BIND.
Carrie (06:07):
That's what was my next question?
So after you, after you becameactive at BIND, um, what did,
what kind of activities do you,do you focus on at the clubhouse
and how has that helped you todo more on your day to day at
home now?
Brittany (06:22):
So I focus on activities in Clubhouse, like my
focus is.
I came to BIND, which they offerme, um, Hope, Community, and
Purpose.
So, with the Hope, I have hopeto learn more, like, skills, and
to get my skills back.
I know I'm not going to get allmy skills back, but So, I'm not
going to get my skills back.
(06:43):
I can go, I can do 80%.
It's not going to 100 percentcome back though, but I can
learn different skills.
I can learn how to adapt with mybrain injury.
So every day I learn somethingnew, or every day I improve on
something.
So that's like my goal, toimprove.
Carrie (07:00):
And I will tell our listeners, in the very
beginning, Brittany, um, TheFort Worth Clubhouse was only
open one day a week.
So Brittany would come here oneday a week.
And Brittany would do she didlots of artwork for us.
She's done a lot of things thathave labeled all of our rooms
and different units so that theylook professional.
(07:20):
You know, we want the clubhouseto be as professional as
possible, but she has used theskills that she has learned.
Um, she's a big avid fan of Shewas a library volunteer, so she
got to use their stuff, andwe'll talk more about the
library in a little bit.
Um, but, so like, you're back tomore of a normal day to day.
Again, that hope, purpose, andcommunity that we always talk
(07:42):
about that we want to drive.
We get, we come to the clubhouseand we start working on those
skills that are everyday lifeskills that normal people, and I
hate when I say normal people,that people without a brain
injury just do.
Because they know to do them.
We need the clubhouse to kind ofguide us and give us that
structure to go Oh, this is whatI should do on a normal day.
(08:04):
Okay, I get you.
So, what do you think is thebiggest benefit for you to
becoming a member at theclubhouse so far?
Brittany (08:10):
Um, the biggest benefit is the community, like I
said.
Our brand, Promise.
Yeah, just going to that.
But, um, it's the support aroundit.
So when I came the first day tothe Fort Worth Clubhouse Um, it
was just me, and then anothermember, but then we grew, and
so, seeing other people withbrain injuries, it helped me
(08:32):
understand, like, I'm not alone,like, this is a place where I
can be me, where I don't have tosay sorry to people, because I
move slow, or my hands areshaking when I give you the
change at the checkout.
So here is a place where youcan, like, be yourself, you can
grow, you can actually relate toother people.
Carrie (08:54):
Okay, so this is an interesting question that I'm
curious in.
Um, but so since you attend bothclubhouses, Do you see any big,
I mean, I know we, we all dobasically the same thing, but is
there any big difference in oneof the clubhouses that you would
like us to like, see that wecould better incorporate that,
(09:15):
that both, not, not thatsomeone's doing something
better, but is there somethingthat you really like that one
clubhouse does that the otherones not, that we could
incorporate?
Brittany (09:25):
Um, kinda and kinda not because, um, Brain Injury
Network of Dallas, the PlanoClubhouse was here before Fort
Worth, so, you know, Fort Worthis like the little baby.
So, we're learning from Plano,which is good.
So, we like how it's run, andso, we're getting there.
So, we're taking little babysteps to get up to Plano, which,
(09:47):
Plano is really, ran reallygood.
So, I like how it's, like,coordinated.
So what I wish for Fort Worth isto grow more and have more
members and be more like a solidsupport.
Carrie (10:02):
Yeah, I get that.
Um, so, since I know, I mean, wetalk a lot about your crafty and
art and she sees someone doingart and she's like, oh, what are
you doing?
Um, but, um, Um, did you havethat hobby before your brain
injury or did that become ahobby after your brain injury?
Brittany (10:23):
Um, I think before my brain injury, I did like art and
I did some art, but it's kind oflike, oh, I did for class, or
okay, let me do this project.
But after my brain injury, it'sLike, my mind, my brain, and my
soul kind of got, like,interconnected, where now if I
do art, I express myself throughart, and it's kind of like a
coping mechanism.
(10:43):
But in doing art, you can seeall the beauty in some things.
Like, you can go outside, ifyou, like, paint a tree, like,
you see different colors ofleaves.
Like, everything's not perfect.
Everything's, like, not thesame.
So it's kind of like how I feel.
Like, okay, I'm So, it's justLike, I actually, like, had a
stinking other day, like, withmy brain injury, so, I felt
(11:06):
like, oh, I always felt like Iwas broken.
So, but then, I was talking tosomeone, and she really inspired
me, and so basically now, kindof my motto is like, I'm not
broken, my life is not ruined,it's just reimagined.
My life just needs to bereimagined.
There's no roadblocks, so.
Carrie (11:23):
That's great, I love that.
And what a lot of people don'tknow, or, I mean, it's true.
Because a lot of people don'tknow a lot about brain injury
and as brain injured we learn alot.
Um, but like art is somethingthat helps heal a brain injury
for a lot of people.
I am NOT one of those people,but that's okay.
Um, I can enjoy the art, I justdon't want to do the art.
(11:45):
Um, and then also music is a bigdeal to a lot of people.
That helps heal the brain.
Do you have a lot of music?
Brittany (11:51):
Um, yeah, I listen to a lot of songs, and like, I
relate to the songs, so it'skind of, I feel the soul, I feel
the beat of the song, so it getsin my head.
And you know, if one thing, Ican't remember school work, I
can remember songs though, butyou know, the songs, different
coping mechanisms, differentgenres, so it, It speaks to you,
so the music speaks to you.
(12:12):
You can relate to the artist,what you're going through.
Some artists go through the samething, but you don't know, but
it's kind of like you're openingup the whole world of support,
community, and like connection.
Carrie (12:25):
Okay, and um, let's go back to school.
You talked about that.
So you did go back and yougraduated.
Did you go back before you foundBIND or after and while you were
kind of doing BIND?
Brittany (12:36):
I went back before I found BIND.
Carrie (12:38):
Okay.
And so after therapy finally gotbetter, and
Brittany (12:42):
you And then I started declining, and so then I went to
Neurofeedback, and the personthat was doing Neurofeedback
told me about BIND.
It's like, you should getinvolved with BIND.
And at first I was kind ofhesitant.
I was like, okay, I'm gonna bearound people, a lot of people,
but, um, she got me to go.
And so when I went, and as itgrew, I loved it.
(13:03):
Like, it changed my life.
I was I was depressed for awhile, and I still kind of get
on my low side, but with BIND,like, it actually gave me a
purpose to wake up in themorning like, oh, well, I need
to go to the clubhouse, so Ican, you know, improve.
And so, that's what I reallylove about BIND.
It's a support system that'sthere.
Carrie (13:23):
So, um, just for our listeners, I mean, I, know a
little bit about it, and I'mpretty sure we've had an episode
or two on it, but can youexplain in your words, not from
a clinical standpoint or that,what neurofeedback is,
Brittany (13:38):
and how
Carrie (13:39):
it, how it works and for a brain injured?
Brittany (13:41):
So neurofeedback is retraining the brain.
So, and since it's retrainingyour brain, um, you can put, it
goes through electromagnetic, soyou'll get, um, electromagnetic
pulses to your head.
And so, it does, rewires yourbrain.
So, it makes your brain relearnthe things that it needs to
learn.
So, for instance, oh, I have abrain fog.
(14:04):
So, it's going to make me, youknow, less foggy.
So, it's going to rewire, makesure I do that.
Like, cause sometimes with myfoot drop actually, I couldn't
feel the right side of my lowerbody.
And so after that you had to tryreally hard, or, brain fatigue.
So that's another thing withbrain fatigue like I can do
(14:25):
something and at first I feellike only study for 30 minutes,
so I started studying.
And now as I was doing that mybrain like got more endurance
like it I can study for an hournow without my brain shutting
down.
Because with my brain, if I gotoo much and overwhelm, like, it
shuts all the way down.
(14:45):
Like, everything shuts down.
Like, I can't move, I can't doanything, I don't know how to do
anything.
So, I just lay down.
But, neurofeedback's reallygood.
Um, it helped me a lot to getback, like, on the path.
Like, to help my brain.
It gave me a boost.
Carrie (15:03):
Okay, that's cool.
And you mentioned the foot dropearlier, and I, I have that as
well.
So I know, we've talked aboutthese before, um, you have an
AFO as well, correct?
And that helps.
I don't think your foot drop isquite as bad as mine, but, but,
where did you have any other,um, physical injuries?
Because like you say, you know,most of yours is internal,
(15:24):
internal in the brain, and youlook totally normal.
Like where I, you know, I have,I have, I mean, I look normal on
the face, but I have the obviousphysical disability.
Brittany (15:33):
Yeah, the little coat of a brain injury, the invisible
injury.
Um, yeah, I had a foot drop, butnow I got better.
So, I had a big AFO that wentall the way up to my knee, which
was really hot in summer.
And so, actually, I got better,and so now I, like, downgraded
to an ASO.
It's just an ankle stabilizer.
So, I kind of, like, anklebrace, which is good.
(15:55):
So, um, But, other injuries,yeah, after an accident, because
I slammed against my steeringwheel, my eyes bruised, so some
of my ribs were bruised and likestill tender.
Um, my ankle was swollen, soactually I tore my ATFL, my
interior, um, ligament on top ofmy foot.
And, you know, since I likeneglected it for like seven
(16:18):
months, um, it healed, but kindof healed wrong.
And so that's like one of myphysical injuries and I know
that my shoulder kind of gotlocked up like I was like
literally Kind of walking aroundlike that my shoulder locked up
and so also my eyes were shakingviolently so I had to go to a
(16:38):
special eye doctor and I did eyetraining and
Carrie (16:42):
Oh, well, that's cool.
I'm going to take a quick littlebreak and remind our listeners
to go ahead and click that likebutton, click that share button,
and if you're watching onYouTube, click that notify
button because we want to makesure you get updated on all of
our different platforms.
But, um, so back to Brittanybecause I have a couple more
questions real quick.
Um, so I know that when youfirst started BIND, you were
(17:03):
volunteering at the library andnow you're what at the library?
Brittany (17:08):
Um, so, basically, another thing, um, I kind of got
out before I came to BIND, like,going to the library a little
bit as a patron, and then Sopatron, you know, patron that
goes in the library that usesthe resources.
So I went to the Makerspace,which is an awesome place.
So it's things like withmachines and stuff, um, art,
(17:29):
basically, which I love.
Carrie (17:30):
All the little signs you made for us.
Brittany (17:32):
Oh, yeah, definitely.
So yeah, so I was the patron atfirst and then I'd start
helping, um, out, and thenthey're like, okay, you can
volunteer.
So I became a volunteer, and sothen I kind of like, learned and
taught myself how to like, fixthe machines, which is also
another thing with my braininjury I kind of feel, like, But
me and my brain injury is kindalike I have to learn everything
(17:54):
again and like how things workin my body and my brain because
it's a little bit harder now.
So it's like fixing machines islike, okay machine, what's wrong
with you?
Like, let's go to the beginning.
What's not working with you?
So that's kinda like how I feeland I think that like after my
brain injury is like, I likelook at different things from a
different perspective now.
So after that like Ivolunteered, so then I became an
(18:16):
intern.
And then, now, I got promotedrecently.
Um, I'm a part time programspecialist, so that means I come
up with programs and helppatrons with their designs and
teach classes to them, which isreally good because also with
doing art, you move your hands.
And so with brain injuries, somepeople, they'll lose their,
(18:38):
like, ability to move their handor they lose feeling their
hands.
Like, uh, my hands shake or myright hand, like, I'll hold
something and it just So, like,that's kind of like doing
therapy while, you know, doingart.
So, it helps a lot, my hands,so, and improves my
coordination.
Carrie (18:58):
That's very cool.
I'm so proud of you.
Now, I'm going to ask, um, howdo I ask this?
Um, so, I know, um, When youfirst started coming to the
Plano Clubhouse, we kept tryingto get you in here to do this
story, and you were prettyhesitant, but now you're 180
about face, here you are, my newco host! How did that come
(19:18):
about?
Brittany (19:19):
Um Basically BIND, because first I'm like, I have a
brain injury, I can't do that,like, I'm gonna be there, cause,
also I had aphasia a little bitin the beginning, I still do,
where I can't find my words, orI won't speak them, and some
days I can slur my words, orsome days I talk backwards, one
time I had one, where I startedtalking backwards, so, it was
(19:41):
really weird, but then BIND,like, cause we do different
tasks, you know, like, It's likekind of like a business run,
members led, member runningclubhouse.
So, um, we do different tasks tokeep the clubhouse afoot, like
administration, like do um,email, send them out, um,
actually talk to people, go outin the community and advocate
(20:02):
for a brain injury and tell themabout BIND.
So, I had done a few of those,so it got my confidence really
up because like my confidencewas down, and especially with
brain injuries, like I can't dothat anymore.
So, it's like, with BIND, I,like, got more skills where I
actually could, where I actuallygot more confident, where I
actually know that, yeah, I cando this, like.
(20:25):
So, with BIND, it actuallyhelped me open up, out of my
shell, and not be like, ugh,this brain issue is going to
stop, ruin my life.
But no, I'm coming to BIND everyday, I'm learning new skills,
I'm improving, I'm getting moreskills to learn, and actually,
like, finding myself.
And with all the support of BINDand the community, so.
Carrie (20:45):
I'm so excited that you did say yes, cause and don't
worry about the aphasia if thathappens here.
I mean, you know, Kezia had dayswhere it didn't happen.
Happened to her, and again,we're trying to be authentic,
show you what real brain injuryis all, so, and that's fine.
I say words wrong when I don'teven have a aphasia, but so, you
know, but I have had a braininjury.
So, I'm gonna ask one finalquestion.
(21:06):
What would be the biggest pieceof advice that you would give a
new brain injury member?
And not a, yeah, a new, not abut a new brain injury survivor?
Brittany (21:16):
Um, first of all, you're not alone.
Um, second off, um, it's reallygood to find a support system,
because I know with some braininjured survivors I saw, like,
after they got the brain injury,um, their family didn't
understand, so they were like,alone, alone, they only had like
one person on their side.
(21:37):
So, my biggest thing is to findyour support, find your
community, because if not,you're gonna be alone, and being
alone inside your brain with abrain injury is not fun, so.
Because, you know, your brainruns your body, so, but, also,
yeah, so you should find supporteven if you go to support
groups.
There's a lot of support groupsout there, like the hospital
(22:00):
offers support groups.
But also find a place where, youknow, you can thrive, like, that
you can continue your journey ofhealing.
So, I would tell a brain injuredperson to kind of actually look
into BIND.
Like, come in and actually seewhat we're about.
Carrie (22:17):
Thank you.
And I will say, like Brittanymentioned, support groups, we
talk about that.
You can call either clubhouse,and depending on which one
you're closer to, and we havelists of local support groups
that we're aware of that we knowthat we can help get you set up
with if you're interested inthat.
So, absolutely.
But, um, so, I'm going to saythank you, Brittany, again.
(22:38):
I'm so excited you decided tocome along on this journey with
me, and it's going to be a lotof fun, and I want to remind our
Listeners, like Brittany said,if you are interested in
becoming a member of BIND, checkout our website, thebind.org And
if you just want to learn moreabout bindwaves, or that's,
that's thebind.org/bindwaves.
(22:58):
And then again, there's also, wehave an email,
bindwaves@thebind.
org.
Say that a lot.
We have an Instagram.
Guess what?
@bindwaves.
I encourage you to like andfollow that because that's where
we post our most currentepisodes whenever they're coming
on.
We also are trying to workharder on posting more content,
(23:21):
reels, or just different littlethings to be more active on
there, but we encourage you tofollow us.
We're trying to grow ourfollowership, so please, please,
please, please go to Instagramand follow@bindwaves.
Brittany (23:32):
Yeah, and then don't forget to like, share,
subscribe, and also hit notifyon YouTube while listening to
bindwaves.
You can find us on all yourfavorite platforms.
Carrie (23:43):
So, thank you for listening.
Brittany (23:45):
Until next time!
We hope you've enjoyed listeningto BIND Waves and continue to
support BIND and our non profitmission.
We support brain injurysurvivors as they reconnect into
the life, the community, andtheir workplace.
And we couldn't do that withoutgreat listeners like you.
We appreciate each and every oneof you.
Continue watching.
Until next time.
Until next time.
Instrumental
Brittany (00:10):
Hi, I'm Brittany.
I'm a TBI survivor and a memberof BIND.
Carrie (00:15):
And hi, I'm Carrie, a stroke survivor and also a
member of BIND.
So, today we're going to dothings a little bit different.
Um, it's going to be justBrittany and I.
Most of you, if you've beenlistening to our episodes,
you've been listening to me foralmost three years.
So, you kind of know me a littlebit.
I hope you figured me out bynow.
Or, whatever you want to mean.
But, so we're, I want to get, Iwant our listeners to get to
(00:37):
know our new co host, Brittany,a little better.
So, this is going to be justmore of a one on one
questionnaire.
Not questionnaire, but you know,one on one talk with Brittany so
we can get to know her.
Um, Brittany loves crafts andvery artsy.
And she is, um, She was ourfirst member, first new member
to sign up for the Brain InjuryClubhouse in Fort Worth.
So she spends most of her timein Fort Worth, but on Thursdays
(01:00):
when we record, she comes toPlano, which we love.
So, Brittany, just tell ourlisteners a little bit about you
and kind of where you are inlife and how you got your
injury.
Brittany (01:11):
Well, my name is Brittany, as y'all know.
Um, I got my brain injury, um,2018.
August 3rd, 2018.
Um, I was driving to school andsomeone was going over 70 miles
per hour and rammed into me andI blacked out on impact.
My airbags didn't deploy andeverything went black.
Carrie (01:33):
They did not deploy?
Brittany (01:35):
Nope.
Carrie (01:35):
Oh, wow.
Brittany (01:36):
Because it was a rear end, we asked the companies
like, you get rear ended,they're not going to deploy.
So after that, I just called itPandora's Box Someone came and
woke me up.
Um, I went to the hospital, gotscanned, they were like, Okay,
your ankle's like swollen,everything's swollen, so I went
home.
I went to my neurologist acouple of times, they neglected
(02:00):
my brain injury.
So I just went back to school,and I was doing horrible, like I
declined.
Like, really bad.
I went back to see aneurologist, still neglected.
Then, I didn't know my name, Ididn't know what cup was.
So, my brain injury was postconcussion at first.
So, yeah.
(02:20):
And then it got worse, so I wasdoing better.
And I went to my primary inFebruary, and they were like,
Oh, your ankle is still swollen,so let's see about this.
So, she's like, I'm going tosend you to an orthopedic.
The orthopedic is, okay, youhave foot drop or drop foot.
Um, that's more of a braininjury problem.
So he referred me to BaylorScott and White, the brain
(02:43):
injury doctor, and they werelike, okay, you had a brain
injury for seven months.
You're supposed to get treatedin the first 12 months.
So I lost seven months, butafter that, I went to Day Neuro
and to some program where you goall day and do therapy all day
just to get better.
So I did graduate from thatbecause I got to a level where I
(03:04):
was okay doing better.
So my goal was to go back toschool, which I did.
So I went back to school and Ifinished.
I got my degree in respiratorycare.
So after that, I came back anddid more therapy and that's when
I declined again.
And so after that, it's likebeen a year and you're like,
you're still not having likebrain injury problems.
(03:26):
So Yeah, so they figured outit's Functional Neurological
Symptoms Disorder, or FND.
It's like a computer, so you canturn on the, like the hardware,
but if you try to installsomething or open something, the
software doesn't work.
So it's like kind of like on anautopilot, and you know, brain
injuries are invisible, so itkind of looks like I don't have
(03:48):
it, but on the inside.
It's like, terrible.
But, that's a little bit aboutmyself, but I guess I'm here for
a reason.
So, yeah.
Carrie (04:00):
Well, that's crazy.
I didn't know all that.
So it's kind of like you have,you see those memes that are
said, it's like on the inside ofmy brain, I have all these tabs
open on a computer and yeah,that sounds like what you're on
all the time.
Brittany (04:13):
And then when people ask me, oh, like does it hurt?
Like, yeah, after my accident,my brain hurts every day a
little bit, or I've hadproblems.
So I kind of like say, oh, it'skind of like a fire.
When I'm having a really goodday, it's kind of like a little
candle tea light, and then itcan go to like a fireplace, and
then it can go to a bonfire oneday.
So that's how like I classify,that's how it fills my head,
(04:33):
like on my good days, my worstdays, my bad days.
Carrie (04:36):
That's interesting.
So, and then, you know, thebiggest thing we always want to
know is, so how did you find outabout BIND, and how did you get
involved?
Brittany (04:43):
So, um, I found out about BIND, um, I was going to
the Brain Performance Center,and She, like, referred me to
BIND and was like, oh, BINDwould be good for you because I
was having problems.
But, basically, I was goingthere because my brain wasn't
connecting right.
So, my brain kind of, like, rehardwired itself and was not
connecting right.
It was, like, not doinganything, everything was wrong.
(05:05):
Like, I also had problems withmy eyes along the way, so, after
brain injury.
So, that, like, really hurt,like, when I hit my head.
So, I actually broke my chair inmy car.
Not hitting my head.
Carrie (05:16):
Oh, wow.
So, kind of, um, after yourinjury, but before BIND, I mean,
you told us a little bit, youknow, before you actually
figured out that you had a braininjury, but let's go back to,
like, when you graduated fromDay Neuro, but before you found
BIND, like, what would you do ona day to day, I mean?
Brittany (05:33):
Well, I would just go home, but, you know, I kind of,
like, medically knew somethingabout brain injuries.
I knew something was, like, So Iknew I still had to do therapy
at home.
So I was like, doing puzzles tokeep my brain active.
But other than that, if I wasn'tdoing puzzles and I had a bad
day, I would just lay on thefloor and kind of waste away.
That's like, how I felt.
I was just wasting away.
(05:54):
Like, why, why am I here?
What's my purpose?
There's times where I said, Iwish he hit me so hard to kill
me, actually.
But, Now it's gotten better,especially since I've been going
to BIND.
Carrie (06:07):
That's what was my next question?
So after you, after you becameactive at BIND, um, what did,
what kind of activities do you,do you focus on at the clubhouse
and how has that helped you todo more on your day to day at
home now?
Brittany (06:22):
So I focus on activities in Clubhouse, like my
focus is.
I came to BIND, which they offerme, um, Hope, Community, and
Purpose.
So, with the Hope, I have hopeto learn more, like, skills, and
to get my skills back.
I know I'm not going to get allmy skills back, but So, I'm not
going to get my skills back.
(06:43):
I can go, I can do 80%.
It's not going to 100 percentcome back though, but I can
learn different skills.
I can learn how to adapt with mybrain injury.
So every day I learn somethingnew, or every day I improve on
something.
So that's like my goal, toimprove.
Carrie (07:00):
And I will tell our listeners, in the very
beginning, Brittany, um, TheFort Worth Clubhouse was only
open one day a week.
So Brittany would come here oneday a week.
And Brittany would do she didlots of artwork for us.
She's done a lot of things thathave labeled all of our rooms
and different units so that theylook professional.
(07:20):
You know, we want the clubhouseto be as professional as
possible, but she has used theskills that she has learned.
Um, she's a big avid fan of Shewas a library volunteer, so she
got to use their stuff, andwe'll talk more about the
library in a little bit.
Um, but, so like, you're back tomore of a normal day to day.
Again, that hope, purpose, andcommunity that we always talk
(07:42):
about that we want to drive.
We get, we come to the clubhouseand we start working on those
skills that are everyday lifeskills that normal people, and I
hate when I say normal people,that people without a brain
injury just do.
Because they know to do them.
We need the clubhouse to kind ofguide us and give us that
structure to go Oh, this is whatI should do on a normal day.
(08:04):
Okay, I get you.
So, what do you think is thebiggest benefit for you to
becoming a member at theclubhouse so far?
Brittany (08:10):
Um, the biggest benefit is the community, like I
said.
Our brand, Promise.
Yeah, just going to that.
But, um, it's the support aroundit.
So when I came the first day tothe Fort Worth Clubhouse Um, it
was just me, and then anothermember, but then we grew, and
so, seeing other people withbrain injuries, it helped me
(08:32):
understand, like, I'm not alone,like, this is a place where I
can be me, where I don't have tosay sorry to people, because I
move slow, or my hands areshaking when I give you the
change at the checkout.
So here is a place where youcan, like, be yourself, you can
grow, you can actually relate toother people.
Carrie (08:54):
Okay, so this is an interesting question that I'm
curious in.
Um, but so since you attend bothclubhouses, Do you see any big,
I mean, I know we, we all dobasically the same thing, but is
there any big difference in oneof the clubhouses that you would
like us to like, see that wecould better incorporate that,
(09:15):
that both, not, not thatsomeone's doing something
better, but is there somethingthat you really like that one
clubhouse does that the otherones not, that we could
incorporate?
Brittany (09:25):
Um, kinda and kinda not because, um, Brain Injury
Network of Dallas, the PlanoClubhouse was here before Fort
Worth, so, you know, Fort Worthis like the little baby.
So, we're learning from Plano,which is good.
So, we like how it's run, andso, we're getting there.
So, we're taking little babysteps to get up to Plano, which,
(09:47):
Plano is really, ran reallygood.
So, I like how it's, like,coordinated.
So what I wish for Fort Worth isto grow more and have more
members and be more like a solidsupport.
Carrie (10:02):
Yeah, I get that.
Um, so, since I know, I mean, wetalk a lot about your crafty and
art and she sees someone doingart and she's like, oh, what are
you doing?
Um, but, um, Um, did you havethat hobby before your brain
injury or did that become ahobby after your brain injury?
Brittany (10:23):
Um, I think before my brain injury, I did like art and
I did some art, but it's kind oflike, oh, I did for class, or
okay, let me do this project.
But after my brain injury, it'sLike, my mind, my brain, and my
soul kind of got, like,interconnected, where now if I
do art, I express myself throughart, and it's kind of like a
coping mechanism.
(10:43):
But in doing art, you can seeall the beauty in some things.
Like, you can go outside, ifyou, like, paint a tree, like,
you see different colors ofleaves.
Like, everything's not perfect.
Everything's, like, not thesame.
So it's kind of like how I feel.
Like, okay, I'm So, it's justLike, I actually, like, had a
stinking other day, like, withmy brain injury, so, I felt
(11:06):
like, oh, I always felt like Iwas broken.
So, but then, I was talking tosomeone, and she really inspired
me, and so basically now, kindof my motto is like, I'm not
broken, my life is not ruined,it's just reimagined.
My life just needs to bereimagined.
There's no roadblocks, so.
Carrie (11:23):
That's great, I love that.
And what a lot of people don'tknow, or, I mean, it's true.
Because a lot of people don'tknow a lot about brain injury
and as brain injured we learn alot.
Um, but like art is somethingthat helps heal a brain injury
for a lot of people.
I am NOT one of those people,but that's okay.
Um, I can enjoy the art, I justdon't want to do the art.
(11:45):
Um, and then also music is a bigdeal to a lot of people.
That helps heal the brain.
Do you have a lot of music?
Brittany (11:51):
Um, yeah, I listen to a lot of songs, and like, I
relate to the songs, so it'skind of, I feel the soul, I feel
the beat of the song, so it getsin my head.
And you know, if one thing, Ican't remember school work, I
can remember songs though, butyou know, the songs, different
coping mechanisms, differentgenres, so it, It speaks to you,
so the music speaks to you.
(12:12):
You can relate to the artist,what you're going through.
Some artists go through the samething, but you don't know, but
it's kind of like you're openingup the whole world of support,
community, and like connection.
Carrie (12:25):
Okay, and um, let's go back to school.
You talked about that.
So you did go back and yougraduated.
Did you go back before you foundBIND or after and while you were
kind of doing BIND?
Brittany (12:36):
I went back before I found BIND.
Carrie (12:38):
Okay.
And so after therapy finally gotbetter, and
Brittany (12:42):
you And then I started declining, and so then I went to
Neurofeedback, and the personthat was doing Neurofeedback
told me about BIND.
It's like, you should getinvolved with BIND.
And at first I was kind ofhesitant.
I was like, okay, I'm gonna bearound people, a lot of people,
but, um, she got me to go.
And so when I went, and as itgrew, I loved it.
(13:03):
Like, it changed my life.
I was I was depressed for awhile, and I still kind of get
on my low side, but with BIND,like, it actually gave me a
purpose to wake up in themorning like, oh, well, I need
to go to the clubhouse, so Ican, you know, improve.
And so, that's what I reallylove about BIND.
It's a support system that'sthere.
Carrie (13:23):
So, um, just for our listeners, I mean, I, know a
little bit about it, and I'mpretty sure we've had an episode
or two on it, but can youexplain in your words, not from
a clinical standpoint or that,what neurofeedback is,
Brittany (13:38):
and how
Carrie (13:39):
it, how it works and for a brain injured?
Brittany (13:41):
So neurofeedback is retraining the brain.
So, and since it's retrainingyour brain, um, you can put, it
goes through electromagnetic, soyou'll get, um, electromagnetic
pulses to your head.
And so, it does, rewires yourbrain.
So, it makes your brain relearnthe things that it needs to
learn.
So, for instance, oh, I have abrain fog.
(14:04):
So, it's going to make me, youknow, less foggy.
So, it's going to rewire, makesure I do that.
Like, cause sometimes with myfoot drop actually, I couldn't
feel the right side of my lowerbody.
And so after that you had to tryreally hard, or, brain fatigue.
So that's another thing withbrain fatigue like I can do
(14:25):
something and at first I feellike only study for 30 minutes,
so I started studying.
And now as I was doing that mybrain like got more endurance
like it I can study for an hournow without my brain shutting
down.
Because with my brain, if I gotoo much and overwhelm, like, it
shuts all the way down.
(14:45):
Like, everything shuts down.
Like, I can't move, I can't doanything, I don't know how to do
anything.
So, I just lay down.
But, neurofeedback's reallygood.
Um, it helped me a lot to getback, like, on the path.
Like, to help my brain.
It gave me a boost.
Carrie (15:03):
Okay, that's cool.
And you mentioned the foot dropearlier, and I, I have that as
well.
So I know, we've talked aboutthese before, um, you have an
AFO as well, correct?
And that helps.
I don't think your foot drop isquite as bad as mine, but, but,
where did you have any other,um, physical injuries?
Because like you say, you know,most of yours is internal,
(15:24):
internal in the brain, and youlook totally normal.
Like where I, you know, I have,I have, I mean, I look normal on
the face, but I have the obviousphysical disability.
Brittany (15:33):
Yeah, the little coat of a brain injury, the invisible
injury.
Um, yeah, I had a foot drop, butnow I got better.
So, I had a big AFO that wentall the way up to my knee, which
was really hot in summer.
And so, actually, I got better,and so now I, like, downgraded
to an ASO.
It's just an ankle stabilizer.
So, I kind of, like, anklebrace, which is good.
(15:55):
So, um, But, other injuries,yeah, after an accident, because
I slammed against my steeringwheel, my eyes bruised, so some
of my ribs were bruised and likestill tender.
Um, my ankle was swollen, soactually I tore my ATFL, my
interior, um, ligament on top ofmy foot.
And, you know, since I likeneglected it for like seven
(16:18):
months, um, it healed, but kindof healed wrong.
And so that's like one of myphysical injuries and I know
that my shoulder kind of gotlocked up like I was like
literally Kind of walking aroundlike that my shoulder locked up
and so also my eyes were shakingviolently so I had to go to a
(16:38):
special eye doctor and I did eyetraining and
Carrie (16:42):
Oh, well, that's cool.
I'm going to take a quick littlebreak and remind our listeners
to go ahead and click that likebutton, click that share button,
and if you're watching onYouTube, click that notify
button because we want to makesure you get updated on all of
our different platforms.
But, um, so back to Brittanybecause I have a couple more
questions real quick.
Um, so I know that when youfirst started BIND, you were
(17:03):
volunteering at the library andnow you're what at the library?
Brittany (17:08):
Um, so, basically, another thing, um, I kind of got
out before I came to BIND, like,going to the library a little
bit as a patron, and then Sopatron, you know, patron that
goes in the library that usesthe resources.
So I went to the Makerspace,which is an awesome place.
So it's things like withmachines and stuff, um, art,
(17:29):
basically, which I love.
Carrie (17:30):
All the little signs you made for us.
Brittany (17:32):
Oh, yeah, definitely.
So yeah, so I was the patron atfirst and then I'd start
helping, um, out, and thenthey're like, okay, you can
volunteer.
So I became a volunteer, and sothen I kind of like, learned and
taught myself how to like, fixthe machines, which is also
another thing with my braininjury I kind of feel, like, But
me and my brain injury is kindalike I have to learn everything
(17:54):
again and like how things workin my body and my brain because
it's a little bit harder now.
So it's like fixing machines islike, okay machine, what's wrong
with you?
Like, let's go to the beginning.
What's not working with you?
So that's kinda like how I feeland I think that like after my
brain injury is like, I likelook at different things from a
different perspective now.
So after that like Ivolunteered, so then I became an
(18:16):
intern.
And then, now, I got promotedrecently.
Um, I'm a part time programspecialist, so that means I come
up with programs and helppatrons with their designs and
teach classes to them, which isreally good because also with
doing art, you move your hands.
And so with brain injuries, somepeople, they'll lose their,
(18:38):
like, ability to move their handor they lose feeling their
hands.
Like, uh, my hands shake or myright hand, like, I'll hold
something and it just So, like,that's kind of like doing
therapy while, you know, doingart.
So, it helps a lot, my hands,so, and improves my
coordination.
Carrie (18:58):
That's very cool.
I'm so proud of you.
Now, I'm going to ask, um, howdo I ask this?
Um, so, I know, um, When youfirst started coming to the
Plano Clubhouse, we kept tryingto get you in here to do this
story, and you were prettyhesitant, but now you're 180
about face, here you are, my newco host! How did that come
(19:18):
about?
Brittany (19:19):
Um Basically BIND, because first I'm like, I have a
brain injury, I can't do that,like, I'm gonna be there, cause,
also I had aphasia a little bitin the beginning, I still do,
where I can't find my words, orI won't speak them, and some
days I can slur my words, orsome days I talk backwards, one
time I had one, where I startedtalking backwards, so, it was
(19:41):
really weird, but then BIND,like, cause we do different
tasks, you know, like, It's likekind of like a business run,
members led, member runningclubhouse.
So, um, we do different tasks tokeep the clubhouse afoot, like
administration, like do um,email, send them out, um,
actually talk to people, go outin the community and advocate
(20:02):
for a brain injury and tell themabout BIND.
So, I had done a few of those,so it got my confidence really
up because like my confidencewas down, and especially with
brain injuries, like I can't dothat anymore.
So, it's like, with BIND, I,like, got more skills where I
actually could, where I actuallygot more confident, where I
actually know that, yeah, I cando this, like.
(20:25):
So, with BIND, it actuallyhelped me open up, out of my
shell, and not be like, ugh,this brain issue is going to
stop, ruin my life.
But no, I'm coming to BIND everyday, I'm learning new skills,
I'm improving, I'm getting moreskills to learn, and actually,
like, finding myself.
And with all the support of BINDand the community, so.
Carrie (20:45):
I'm so excited that you did say yes, cause and don't
worry about the aphasia if thathappens here.
I mean, you know, Kezia had dayswhere it didn't happen.
Happened to her, and again,we're trying to be authentic,
show you what real brain injuryis all, so, and that's fine.
I say words wrong when I don'teven have a aphasia, but so, you
know, but I have had a braininjury.
So, I'm gonna ask one finalquestion.
(21:06):
What would be the biggest pieceof advice that you would give a
new brain injury member?
And not a, yeah, a new, not abut a new brain injury survivor?
Brittany (21:16):
Um, first of all, you're not alone.
Um, second off, um, it's reallygood to find a support system,
because I know with some braininjured survivors I saw, like,
after they got the brain injury,um, their family didn't
understand, so they were like,alone, alone, they only had like
one person on their side.
(21:37):
So, my biggest thing is to findyour support, find your
community, because if not,you're gonna be alone, and being
alone inside your brain with abrain injury is not fun, so.
Because, you know, your brainruns your body, so, but, also,
yeah, so you should find supporteven if you go to support
groups.
There's a lot of support groupsout there, like the hospital
(22:00):
offers support groups.
But also find a place where, youknow, you can thrive, like, that
you can continue your journey ofhealing.
So, I would tell a brain injuredperson to kind of actually look
into BIND.
Like, come in and actually seewhat we're about.
Carrie (22:17):
Thank you.
And I will say, like Brittanymentioned, support groups, we
talk about that.
You can call either clubhouse,and depending on which one
you're closer to, and we havelists of local support groups
that we're aware of that we knowthat we can help get you set up
with if you're interested inthat.
So, absolutely.
But, um, so, I'm going to saythank you, Brittany, again.
(22:38):
I'm so excited you decided tocome along on this journey with
me, and it's going to be a lotof fun, and I want to remind our
Listeners, like Brittany said,if you are interested in
becoming a member of BIND, checkout our website, thebind.org And
if you just want to learn moreabout bindwaves, or that's,
that's thebind.org/bindwaves.
(22:58):
And then again, there's also, wehave an email,
bindwaves@thebind.
org.
Say that a lot.
We have an Instagram.
Guess what?
@bindwaves.
I encourage you to like andfollow that because that's where
we post our most currentepisodes whenever they're coming
on.
We also are trying to workharder on posting more content,
(23:21):
reels, or just different littlethings to be more active on
there, but we encourage you tofollow us.
We're trying to grow ourfollowership, so please, please,
please, please go to Instagramand follow@bindwaves.
Brittany (23:32):
Yeah, and then don't forget to like, share,
subscribe, and also hit notifyon YouTube while listening to
bindwaves.
You can find us on all yourfavorite platforms.
Carrie (23:43):
So, thank you for listening.
Brittany (23:45):
Until next time!
We hope you've enjoyed listeningto BIND Waves and continue to
support BIND and our non profitmission.
We support brain injurysurvivors as they reconnect into
the life, the community, andtheir workplace.
And we couldn't do that withoutgreat listeners like you.
We appreciate each and every oneof you.
Continue watching.
Until next time.
Until next time.
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