November 2007

“We will often find compensation if we think more of what life has given us & less about what life has taken away.” William Barclay ************************** Questions to Ponder - True of False from the Center for Disease Control & Prevention +Males are about twice as likely as females to sustain a TBI. The 2 groups at highest risk for TBI are 0-4 year olds & 15-19 year olds. +Adults age 75 years or older have the highest of TBI-related hospitalized death. +Certain military duties (e.g., paratrooper) increase the risk of sustaining a TBI. +African Americans have the highest death rate from TBI. +TBI hospitalization rates are highest among African Americans & American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/AN). # All questions are true! ----------------------------------------------- Making New Memories When Old Ones Are Forgotten by Family Life We all write down on cards 5 things we are thankful for. On our dinner plates are five kernels of corn---a reminder of the Pilgrims' daily ration during one of their first difficult winters. As we eat, we pass a basket around the table, & each person places 1 kernel of corn at a time in the basket & tells one thing he or she is thankful for. Save all place cards as memory reminders. Here are some of the things we wrote a couple of years ago: =I'm thankful for having a BIA Support Group to attend. =I'm thankful _____ got to come home for Thanksgiving. =I'm thankful for having a BIA mentor. =I'm thankful for God in my life. =I'm thankful for the therapists at my rehab center. =I'm thankful for my nurses & all they've taught me about my brain injury. =I'm thankful for a great doctor who is pro active in treating my brain injury. Other traditions #Have kids make hand traced turkeys for every person coming to dinner. Next, write in each traced finger , what you are thankful for. Place it at each person's plate & share during dinner. #Choose a Bible verse or church hymn expressing thankfulness & gratitude. Read the verse out loud. #Invite a brain injured person or their caregiver to your house for dinner. Make them feel apart of the family ## ---------------------------------------------- Small Beginnings A column for kids Part II By Katie O. Thanksgiving & Christmas have always been my favorite holidays! But the excitement surrounding the season bears a deeper meaning then just great food & fun presents. We love these days because they bring us together with those who love us. Having a brain injured parent or sibling might mean certain tradition have to change like: dinners might not be able to be as complex or fancy… trips to the mall to shop for presents might be cut short… or maybe the house won’t be decorated as elaborately as it might have been in the past… Although traditions change, it doesn’t mean your joyful holiday spirit should. This is a great time of year to remember what living is all about! You might miss who your parent or sibling used to be, for example the holidays completely wear my mother out. Everyone now gets gift cards & we might eat salmon & vegetables for a Christmas dinner. Who knows! It’s OK to laugh about it. It’ll make your life much easier! If you have a brain injured relative laughing with you, as apposed to them laying in bed exhausted because you’ve pushed to hard/farwhile you’re eating a holiday dinner alone . This doesn’t mean you should take over so that nothing changes after the TBI. Just chill out & enjoy each other. Help out. When you accept & adjust to your families new traditions, your holidays will be warmer & brighter than ever. --------------------------------------------- TBI Tips ToMake Your Holiday Easier submitted by Rhonda A. =To determine if an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water…if it sinks--it is fresh…if it rises to the surface--throw the egg away. =To prevent egg shells from cracking when preparing soft or hard boiled eggs, add a pinch of salt to the water & slowly add eggs to boiling water. =To get the most juice from fresh lemons/limes, bring it to almost room temperature & roll under your palm against the kitchen counter with some pressure. =To open problem jars: use latex dishwashing gloves…it will provide a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy. =To boil corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corns natural sweetness. =To bake a cake: use a bit of dry cake mix & coat the pan instead of oil…no flour mess on outside of cake. =To have a glossy finish on pies, brush a beaten egg over the top of your pie crusts before baking. =If you over-salt a dish while cooking, drop in a peeled potato for fix-up, it absorbs the excess salt. =Place a slice of fresh bread or slice of apple in hardened brown sugar to soften the sugar back up. =To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes. =Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting it in the frig…it will keep for weeks. =To remove burnt food from a skillet, add 1-2 drops of dish soap & enough water to cover the bottom of pan & soak pan or bring it to a boil on the stove-top. =Spray Tupperware or other plastic container with non-stick cooking spray before pouring in tomato-based items or sauces…no more stains. =Run hands under cold water before pressing Rice Krispies in pan…marshmallow won’t stick to fingers. =Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of an ice cream cone dessert to prevent ice cream drips. =Use spray air-freshener to clean mirrors…it does a good job & leaves a lovely smell to the shine. =For a temporary quick clean…drop 2 Alka-Seltzer tabs or Efferdent tabs into a toilet, come back in 20 min. to quickly brush & flush. =Cure for headaches: take a lime, cut it in half & rub it on the forehead…the throbbing will go away. # -------------------------------------------- Military News “…To care for him who shall have borne the battle & for his widow & his orphan…" President Lincoln stated that it is the duty of our government to care for those who are hurt or died defending our Country. The words by President Lincoln reflect the philosophy & principles that guide the Dept. of Veteran Affairs & the Vocational Rehab & Employment Service to focus on continual service to our Nation's veterans & their families. Veteran Rehabilitation/Employment (VR&E)-primary benefit program is vocational rehabilitation services for veterans who have a service-connected disability. To receive services a veteran must be found both eligible & entitled. The outcome of these services lead to suitable employment consistent with their aptitudes & interests, or achieving independence in daily living skills. Some of the Services Available To You: Compensation and Pension GI Bill Vocational Rehabilitation Home Loans Life Insurance Regional Office Homepages Manuals & Regulations Reports & Surveys Survivors' Benefits If You Owe VA Money VA Rehabilitation Centers reflect VA’s commitment to care for the men and women who have served in uniform. A reality of combat is that some return with loss of limbs, traumatic brain injuries, & other severe injuries. ## ------------------------------------------- Military News-That Affects U (Pt II) Submitted by Veterans Service Officer, Bill Steen www.tiptoncounty.in.gov Tipton County V. A., Tipton, IN 46072 “Restore the capability of veterans with disabilities to the greatest extent possible & improve the quality of their lives & that of their families.” Strategic Goal One, Dept. of Veterans Affairs Strategic Plan 2003-2008. Goals to Acheive: =Create comprehensive health recovery plans & develop a corps of highly trained coordinators to help service-members transition back to military duty or civilian life every step of the way. =Simplify the way disabilities are determined & make the compensation system less confusing. =Improve the system for diagnosing & treating post-traumatic stress disorder & Traumatic Brain Injuries, & work to make service-members less vulnerable to these two signature ailments of the war on terror. =Significantly strengthen support for families. =Develop “My eBenefits,” a one-stop Web site & information source for service-members that combines =Defense Department and Veterans Affairs databases. =Keep Walter Reed staffed with first-rate professionals until it closes in 2011. D. Shalala & former Kansas Sen. Bob Dole chair the 9-member commission on care for the America‘s wounded Warriors. Other members include two veterans wounded in Iraq, the wife of an Army staff sergeant wounded in Iraq, the chairman & chief executive officer of a nonprofit group that builds "comfort homes" for families of hospitalized military personnel & veterans, two leaders in the health care industry, & an expert on veterans affairs & military health care. “Put patients & families first.” said D. Shalala. Defense & Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) has clinical care & research programs at 3 military sites, 4 VA facilities & 1 civilian partner program. For further Info contact: http://www.dvbic.org # ------------------------------------------- DEPRESSION Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Michael Welner says depression is a biochemical condition occurring deep within the brain. Nerve cells stop communicating properly with each other. Depression can alter mood, feelings, & thinking. Life becomes a cycle of “off kilter” with depression. If you feel sad & have suffered from at least two of these symptoms for two weeks or more, seek medical attention. Dr. Welner’s signs of depression: *Sleep disturbance *Loss of pleasure *Excessive guilt *Excessive worry *Self-deprecating thoughts *Impaired energy *Weight loss *Agitation *Thoughts of death. Some Changes With Brain Injury --Personality, Reactions, and Emotional difficulties are noticeable changes. --Coping, Judgment, & Perception are noticeable changes. --Emotion is likely to cloud issues. --Problems occur in relationships. --Frustration & confusion develop as family & friends attempt to adjust. Family & friends must attempt to alter their coping techniques to adjust to the brain injured person’s changes because every brain injury varies to some degree. Every brain injury brings with it varies other medical issues (examples: lowed tolerance to health problems-colds, flu, etc., or seizures, headaches/migraines). ## ------------------------------------------- Brain Injury Association is participating in: AWARE for All--Clinical research Education Day. Saturday, November 3, 2007 from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm at the Indiana Convention Center. (100 South Capital Avenue, Indianapolis. IN) Features of the Day: * Complementary Breakfast Reception. * What Clinical Research Means for You. * Informational/Educational Sessions with free lunch. * Clinical Research Handbook give to all attendees. * Residents discuss participation in clinical research. * Free Health Screenings. AWARE for All is an education program that is free and open to the public to help people make informed decisions about clinical research participation. _____________________________ WASHINGTON WATCH-from The Arc.org For Sept-Oct-Nov ‘07, you will hear about the following disability issues in the house & congress: *Schip (chip) bill action kicks into high gear. *CMS proposes to eliminate important services for children & adults with intellectual & developmental disabilities in several states. *US Senate passes FY 2008 appropriations bill for the departments of labor, health & human services & education. *Congress ponder no child left behind act (NCLM) reauthorization. *Social security administration announces cost of living changes for 2008. *House of representatives passes the national affordable housing trust fund act. *Direct support professionals go to Washington DC. *Home & community based care: expanding options for long term care. *Ticket to work regulatory changes proposed. *Disability to be added as a protected class in the 2007 hate crimes prevention act. For Further Info contact local ARC chapters: Indpls:317-977-2375 or Noblesville:317-773-8781. ---------------------------------------------- BIA STATE NEWS New & Improved--with change comes the hope of progress! Indeed we have seen changes this year at the Indian state office with the 2007 director, Stacy Payne. The BIA office in Indianapolis, IN has provided an extensive website for those needing info about The Brain Injury Association (BIA) of Indiana, but more important the website simply provides more notes & details for anyone needing about brain injury. The new 2007 website www.biausa.org/Indiana contains: +General Info for Caregivers & people with brain injury, +Info & training available for technicians who work with survivors (brain injured ), +BIA State Convention info for IN. & other states, +Current Government Policies & Laws that directly affect brain injured/caregivers of brain injured, +Research developments in the field of brain injury, +Grant monies allocated for brain injury research, +A BIA Resource Directory (library) available through the BIA office in Indianapolis, +Job opportunities for brain injured, +Stores that donate a portion of sales to BIA, +Public awareness/Advocacy Issues for brain injury, +A Listing of Internet links about brain injury, & +A Calendar for important dates. +A listing of BIA Support Groups in Indiana. +A List of a few local Support Groups with common issues (Alzheimer & Tumor) of brain injured. +Also support for military personnel with brain injury/ head injuries. What happens when U attend a BIA support group meeting? You should receive information about varies types of brain injury, support from brain injury survivors & caregivers, as well as, ideas from those experienced with brain injury. It is not mandatory that a person become a member in order to attend the Support Group meetings. Next Month: What happens when you become a member of the Brain Injury Association ------------------------------------------------- Poetry Corner I‘ve Learned-Part II Submitted by Phil K. I've learned.... That money doesn't buy class, Class is not the same as good manners. I've learned.. that it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular. I've learned... That the Lord didn't do it in one day. What makes me think I can? __________________________________ A Friend Part II Submitted by Retta K. YOU ARE MY FRIEND AND I AM HONORED. Of all the friends I've ever met, You're the one I won't forget. And if I die Before you do I'll go to heaven And wait for you I'll give the angels Back their wings And risk the loss Of everything. I like you because of who you are to me.... A more true friend I‘ll never see. As always, just to prove My friendship is true I’ll tell the world, “I'm thankful to have Family & Friends like you!” __________________________________ Look Around YOU Look beside you, Friendship or Courage is all around you. It could be on AOL, Yahoo, or Google! At the YMCA, school, or church Just look around you! Anywhere, Anytime, or Any Day. So get ready for the Biggest shock of your life Look around you & see who is there. ## ------------------------------------------------- Veterans Day--November 11, 2007---is an American holiday honoring military veterans. Both a federal holiday & a state holiday in all states, falling on November 11, the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. Veterans Day is largely intended to thank living veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to [United States] national security are appreciated, & to underscore the fact that all those who served, not only those who died, have sacrificed &done their duty. Veteran, from the Latin word, vetus, meaning "old," is a person who is experienced in a particular area & in the USA refers to people with experience in the armed forces or law enforcement. The most common usage is of an armed services personnel. A veteran is one who has served in the armed forces, but usually not to someone who had a dishonorable discharge. It is especially applied to those who served for an entire career, usually of 20 years or more, but may be applied for someone who has only served one tour of duty. Common misconceptions are that a person was in combat and/or has retired from active duty to be called a military veteran. Because of this widely held misconception, women have often been excluded from this equation in past years. AMVETS or American Veterans is a volunteer-led organization formed by World War II veterans which accepts honorably discharged veterans as members. AMVETS is one of the most respected volunteer-led organizations in the country that provides, not only support for veterans & the active military in procuring their earned entitlements, but also community services that enhance the quality of life for this nations citizens. AMVETS is frequently involved with ROTC & JROTC programs. For more info call 1-877-726-8387 or go to: www.amvet.org ## ----------------------------------------------------------------------- =================================================