Hoorah for Keri!!

Take a look at our own Keri Douglas. She is famous. A movie star. Check out her performance on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixSXW457t7M&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fstudents%2Ecsmd%2Eedu%2Fkeri%2F&feature=player_embedded

Way to go Keri! BTW – Great family!!

Hope and Healing

The Brain Injury Association of Maryland is sponsoring its Annual Conference entitled “Gateway to Hope and Healing.” The conference is scheduled for April 16-17 2009 at The Conference Center at the Maritime Institute, Linthicum Heights, Maryland. You can get a  registration brochure at the Maryland Brain Injury website.  Click Here.

Remember that at our next meeting, we will be breaking up into two sessions. One for survivors and one for caregivers so don’t miss the meeting it will be great.

Andy’s Story

Our very own Andy V. has allowed us to publish his story. He hopes he can be an encouragement to someone. Here is his story:

Andy’s Story: My Changes
[One month prior to my 19th birthday] April 1, 1984 is when the pickup truck I was riding in hit a gum tree. This accident caused me a severe closed head injury, a broken hip, and some internal injuries along with killing the old me. After six months of recuperating in the hospital I have learned to live with my handicap. I have begun a rebirth of sorts.

Before my accident, I didn’t care about anything, not even myself. I tried very hard to be “cool”, I thought the art of looking “cool” was not to be like everybody else. I had a job making what I thought was good money but wasted it all on worthless things. I lived to party and spend a large amount of my earnings on getting high. Getting up in the morning for work used to be hard for me because I partied and got high most every night. I also regretfully cared very little for the girlfriend I had at that time. In high school I did just enough to get by without doing any real work. An old Pinto station wagon was the car I owned then which I did very little for and cared even less about. I cared very little about the little things then too like brushing my teeth or the foods I ate. Now I try very hard to do what’s right for myself. This includes attending college to hopefully get a good job one day. I spend a large amount of time on my studies because I know now they’re important. Because I no longer want drugs I”m surviving on a limited amount of money. I eat the foods that are good for my body and exercise for my own improvement. I’ve found that I don’t need to drink or smoke to have a good time and be “cool.” I would love to have a girl to share my time with but I’ve had to get along without one. [Today, in 2009, Andy is happily married to a wonderful girl named Mary.]

I have a dependable little car now that I always keep filled with gas. I also take care of my personal hygiene where before I didn’t care and am independent. Even though my body will never be quite the same, I’ve learned to live with my handicap. I now enjoy doing things that are beneficial for my mind and body. I am glad the old uncaring Andy is gone. He has been replaced by a responsible adult. – JAV

New Website

Jerry Taylor sent me a link to a new website. Give it a try, I think you will like it.

Click Here.

Lisa

I received an email from Lisa as follows: Hello to all, just a F. Y. I., I am having surgery this  Wed. August 27,08. They are going to put a drainage tube and some kind of  balloon thing that stays inside to collapse the mass on the Rt. side of my side. It is to deep down in the tissue of my side to remove it, little bigger than golf ball. This is what has been making my stomach swell all this time since last year and my pelvic pain too. Hope for the best for me & most of all pray, this is going to be a complicated situation. I think the balloon and cather stay in for 4-6 weeks?? most of the growths, grow outward and mine is embeded in to much tissue hidden.

Yes Linda we will pray for you, the doctors, nurses, and that the surgury goes well and your recovery is quick and complete. May God Bless you and don’t worry.

Remember Madisen

Don’t forget Madisen. Remember she is Rusty’s grandaughter who has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. The Childhood Brain Tumor Foundation is sponsoring an event to help find a cure. This event will take place at the Waldorf Elks Lodge on Saturday August 23, 2008 from 1pm-5pm. There will be music, food, drinks, raffles, and games. To find out more go to www.firstgiving.com/fayechaneyabramson.

Andy’s Big Chance

Our own Andy missed his chance for fame during the Blue Crabs Baseball game outing on July 26. During the game with the Long Island Ducks, Andy had a chance to catch a home run ball hit deep into the Red Hot & Blue Parvilion where our group was gathered. Unfortunately, Andy was talking at the time and the ball hit his hand. Bummer. The management rushed him to the First Aid area and fixed him up good. I would have held out for a  tee shirt at least. I think we had 11 people at the game. It was great even though the Ducks beat the Crabs. The food was good and everyone in Charles County should see the new Regency Furniture Stadium. We must do it again to give Andy a second chance to field a high fly. Thanks to Donny and Cindy for organizing the trip.

Free At Last

It is my sad duty to report that Danny Vacin passed away. Danny was born February 3, 1986 and is the son of Bob and Candy Vacin. Danny has two brothers Noel and Mike and one sister Sara. Danny sustained a traumatic brain injury on November 15, 2003 in a car crash in Port Tobacco, Maryland. He was airlifted to Prince George’s County Trauma Center. After a month, he was admitted to Kerman Hospital in Baltimore for rehabilitation. After over a year on December 27, 2004, Danny was admitted to the Charles County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for long term care. Danny had multiple surgeries including removing a third of his scull. There were many trips to the University of Maryland Hospital in Baltimore. Recently, Danny was transported to the University of Maryland Center after a a CT scan of Dan’s brain showed a problem with his CSF shunt. After replacing the shunt and tubing he was taken back to the nursing home. Danny and his family has been living with a coma and the impact of a traumatic brain injury since the accident in November of 2003. Bob, Candy and the family stood by him every day since. Our hearts go out to the Vacin family. Danny is a member of Southern Maryland Brain Injury Group and Bob is the President. We are sad but realize that it is best that Danny is free at last. May God receive a courageous young man who fought a good fight as long as he could.

Update on Danny

Candice and Bob sent the following update today (June 23, 2008):  
“After spending over six weeks at Civista and receiving every test known to medical science, Danny is being transferred to Univ. of Md. Hospital in Baltimore tomorrow (we hope) to get his new  (March) shunt checked.  He still has been running fevers off and on and has been asleep for over a week. A neurologist pinched Dan and he responded so that’s a good sign.  I just hope he wakes up one day soon so we can communicate with him again. Thanks for your continued prayers.”

June Support Group Meeting

Eighteen attended the June meeting. The Group Charter is almost ready to be signed and the brochure is ready to be printed. Initially we will print 500 copies. A rough of a Medical Emergency Wallet Card was reviewed. The group is planning an outing to see a Blue Crabs baseball evening game on July 24. More on this later as plans develop. Danny is still having trouble with his breathing. Please remember the Vacin family during this difficult time.

Rusty’s granddaughter, Madisen, had a brain tumor removed and is undergoing chemo. The Childhood Brain Tumor Foundation will sponsor an event for her on August 23, 2008 at the Waldorf Elks Lodge. The time will be from 1pm to 5pm. There will be music, food, drinks, raffles, and games. All to help find a cure for Madisen. For more information go to http://www.firstgiving.com/fayechaneyabramson. Let’s all plan to attend.