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Letters to Myself by Debra Erickson

This month, on November 11th, we’ll take two minutes to pause, reflect on the sacrifice made by those who have served during times of conflict. I make a point each year of going through the old black and white photos I have of relatives who were in the army.

There’s an old photo from WW1 of my grandfather. He lied about his age so he could join the Canadian Army. After training camp, he was shipped overseas for a brief stop in England. The photo is taken as he sits next to a buddy looking down on the rest of the soldiers on deck. He […]

A Case of Mistaken Identity by Debra Erickson

I would have to say that nine times out of ten when I’m introduced to someone, they will say: “you look very familiar”. This is always followed by: where do you work? Where do you live? Are you related to …etc. I tell people I’m a twin, which is true so they automatically assume they must have seen my twin – until I tell them it’s my brother and he is much larger than me! It can be challenging to describe who we really are. I suppose I could be someone’s doppelganger, but I prefer to be known for who I really am!

This month there will be […]

Provincial Strategy for Brain Injury Support and Advocacy Needed Now by Janelle Breese Biagioni

This post is in response to the recent announcement regarding involuntary care under the Mental Health Act. I want to acknowledge the thoughtful work that has gone into developing this important strategy, aimed at supporting individuals with complex mental health and addiction challenges, including those with acquired brain injuries. The goal of creating safer, healthier communities is one that we can all support.

However, it is crucial that the enforcement of involuntary care be reserved for only the most extreme circumstances. To truly address the challenges faced by individuals with brain injuries and concurrent disorders, we must find a balance between crisis response and preventative […]

Mind Those Margins by Debra Erickson

I see it coming, the month of September. Why do I hold my breath when I reach to turn the calendar forward to the next page? I think it’s because September is a lot like my storage closet under the stairs. If I could open it slowly, one day at a time, I could breathe easily. Instead, the next four months will tumble out like a giant Tsunami. School, Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas, music lessons, gym programs, soccer sign-ups. Enough to make one feel like you’re treading water for dear life!

My trips to the grocery store leave me in a blurred state of confusion. […]

On Friday, July 26, the world watched as the Olympic Games were officially opened in Paris, France. Two hundred and six countries are taking part. For the first time ever, the ceremonies took place outdoors. Ninety boats formed a parade down the Seine transporting 6,800 athletes over six kilometres of river.

It was indeed a grand beginning to the games. The exuberant mood of our Canadian athletes was wonderful to see. Not one person had yet entered into competition and that didn’t seem to matter. It was just the joy of taking part. It reminded me of what the spirit of the […]

Ten Priorities for Research Addressing the Intersections of Brain Injury, Mental Health, and Addictions: A Stakeholder-Driven Priority-Setting Study

Ten Priorities for Research Addressing the Intersections of Brain Injury, Mental Health and Addictions: A Stakeholder‐Driven Priority‐Setting Study

Kennedy, C.J., Woodin, E., Schmidt, J., Biagioni, J.B., & Garcia-Barrera, M.A. (2024). Ten Priorities for Research Addressing the Intersections of Brain Injury, Mental Health, and Addictions: A Stakeholder-Driven Priority-Setting Study. Health Expectations, 27, e14136.

Researchers from the University of Victoria, the University of British Columbia, and community stakeholders recently published a study on a health research priority-setting process. This process aimed to identify, prioritize, and produce a community-driven list of […]

Priorities for Quality of Life after Traumatic Brain Injury

UBC researchers and community stakeholders have published a paper on the Priorities for Quality of Life After Brain Injury and an informative infographic.

It is known that individuals who have sustained a brain injury may experience changes to their quality of life (QOL). To date there has been limited patient-oriented research to understand the priorities for quality of life following a traumatic brain injury (TBI). This research aimed to explore the priorities using a group consensus building method.

Click the link to access the publication:
Priorities for quality of life after traumatic brain injury

Grewal J, Citton K, Sing G, Biagioni JB, Schmidt J (2024) Priorities for quality of life after […]

Summer Migrations by Debra Erickson

Last week anxious travelers watched as WestJet mechanics negotiated on a tentative deal. It resulted in 1,078 flights being canceled and over 100,000 frustrated customers stranded in cities across Canada.

Have you ever experienced airport anxiety? We all know it’s part of the travel experience to have flights canceled […]

Mother’s Metamorphosis by Debra Erickson

We will take a moment this month to wish Happy Mother’s Day to the person who fills that role in our lives. It is a role that is always changing. We find ourselves flexing and stretching through the years to straddle the demands of home and work. Throw a Traumatic Brain Injury into the mix and all bets are off!

The Impact of Brain Injury on One’s Inner Calendar

Forgetting something here and there usually isn’t a problem. It happens to everyone.

Memory loss is often associated with aging. People say things like, “My memory isn’t what it use to be.” But what if you were in your 20s and as a result of a traumatic brain injury, your memory was significantly impacted.

Sheila Willis of Alberta, shares her story of traumatic brain injury and the challenges of her inner calendar shifting as a result. Although she was in her early 20s when she was injured, she did not receive a diagnosis of post-concussive syndrome until her late 40s.

Sheila Willis’ story highlights the challenges faced by individuals […]

Why Write a Blog?

~By Debra Erickson

May 16, 2008, I was heading up our city’s Bike to Work Week. While cycling home from my office that day, I was hit by a truck. The vehicle fled the scene and left me unconscious at the side of the road.

That split second forever altered my life. Two and a half years in neurological rehabilitation, chronic pain, fatigue, and confusion marked my daily life. Navigating the strange new landscape of Traumatic Brain Injury was lonely and difficult. Even my husband of thirty-three years could not understand my behaviour and sadly our marriage ended. My journey is only one story. There […]

BC Royal Purple’s BrainLove Stitch & Glue Retreat

Understanding Traumatic Brain Injury – A Workshop for Family & Friends

Brain Injury Canada Seeks Research Participants – Compensation Provided

For more information: Research Project – One pager (ENG)

Canadian Concussion Centre (CCC) – Call for Abstracts

The Canadian Concussion Centre at the Toronto Western Hospital is holding its 11th Annual Concussion Research Symposium entitled “Update on Research and Care of the Concussion Spectrum of Disorders” on April 26, 2024. This symposium will be of major interest to the members of the Canadian Society of Medical Evaluators.

This year’s conference will be hybrid and can be attended online by Zoom or in person at the BMO Education & Conference Centre located in the Krembil Discovery Tower, Toronto Western Hospital. The Symposium usually has about 20 research presentations and attracts about 150 attendees.

Who are the speakers?

The keynote speakers include the […]

Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhages (aSAH) Patient and Caregiver Advisory Board Opportunity

The Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP ) is an independent non-profit organization, dedicated to including the voice of the community in the clinical research process. As part of our mission, we regularly engage with affected individuals and families through patient (or community) advisory board meetings, global surveys, and workshops to include the community voice in research endeavors.

At this time, CISCRP, together with a pharmaceutical company, is planning a virtual standing patient and caregiver advisory board meeting for Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhages (aSAH). Over the course of a year (12 months) there will be up to 4 meetings and possibly online surveys to gather patient […]

Moderate to Severe Brain Injury as a Chronic Condition

Brain Injury Canada issued a statement announcing the momentous collaboration with Canadian Traumatic Brain Injury Research Consortium (CTRC) to produce a position paper calling for the official classification of moderate to severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) as a chronic condition in Canada.

This announcement represents a significant milestone in the recognition and proposed designation of moderate to severe TBI, an issue that affects Canadians of all ages. The condition primarily arises from motor vehicle collisions among the younger population and falls among the elderly, making it the leading cause of death and disability in children, youth, and adults under the age of 40.

The collaboration […]

Brain Injury Survivor Reunites with Neurosurgeon After 17 Years

In 2006, Michael Coss and his family were traveling the Coquihalla highway when their van left the road. Michael sustained a traumatic brain injury.

Michael was fortunate to have tremendous family support and to fall under the care of Dr. Jean-Francois Chevalier in Kamloops. Dr. Chevalier gave the family a grim prognosis and recommended Michael be transferred back to the lower mainland to be closer to his wife and children. Michael’s parents also relocated from Quebec to British Columbia to help with his care.

Years later, after enduring intensive rehabilitation, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy, and against all odds, Michael is doing amazing. He declared to his dad some […]

Researcher Strives to Make TBI Care More Equitable

Ensuring brain injury services are equitable requires a comprehensive approach that addresses various aspects of access, affordability, awareness, and support.

Services must meet the needs of diverse populations affected by brain injury. This means we must develop culturally sensitive outreach programs, support groups, and educational materials to ensure that services are accessible and relevant to individuals from different cultural backgrounds.

A researcher from Toronto is striving to ensure TBI services are equitable. Samira Omar, graduated with a PhD in rehabilitation sciences from the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine.

Her research lies at the intersection of equity, rehabilitation science and racism — with a focus on rehabilitation care for Black-identifying people with traumatic brain […]

Music and Guitar aid in Brain Injury Survivor’s Recovery

Allan Boss, a CBC radio producer living in Alberta, credits music and guitar playing to aiding in his recovery following a brain injury.

Music has been found to have a variety of beneficial effects on brain injury recovery in several ways, including emotional and psychological support, cognitive stimulation, motor rehabilitation, speech and language recovery, mood enhancement and stress reduction, and social interaction and engagement.

Boss also credits ‘resilience and grit’ for his recovery. He states “I’m sure that music and guitar were a big part of why my brain healed as well as it did. As I’ve learned, music enhances neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to adapt and change due to training and experience. […]

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