The NBIF Bowl-A-Thon was a hit!

Thank you to all that attended, made donations and gave their support.
Everyone did a great job bowling and had a ball. What an amazing event.

Another one of our NBIF members getting married…

The NBIF Congratulates Karen and Mike on their engagement.
They are to be married this September. We wish you all the happiness, joy and love you so deserve.

Update...

We now have 150 members on our NBIF Facebook Cause Page.

Check it out. There is a link from our site (left hand side) to FB Causes and one from FB back to us. Let’s let our Facebook members know who we are, what we do and how we intend to make an impact. Please take a moment to add a link, make a comment, start a discussion, or post on the wall.

TBI tidbit

Poll Shows Public Awareness of Brain Injury Is Very Low Given Nationwide Incidence

A brain injury occurs every 15 seconds and sends more than one million individuals to hospital emergency rooms each year. Surveillance data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that there are more than 5.3 million Americans-- slightly more than two percent of the U.S. population-living with a disability as a result of a traumatic brain injury. Yet given this nationwide incidence, public awareness of brain injury--and the frequency with which it occurs--is very low, as the results of a recently conducted Harris Poll reflect.

"Brain injury occurs more frequently than breast cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury," remarked Allan I. Bergman, President and CEO of the Brain Injury Association (BIA). "It is quite incredible, then, to see how few people believe this is the case. We have quite a task ahead of us in helping raise awareness of brain injury."

Conducted by Harris Interactive, Inc., the poll surveyed a sample of 1,012 adults aged 18 or older regarding their awareness of brain and head injury. The poll found that one in three Americans say that they are not familiar with the term "brain injury." Given the number of individuals living with a brain injury, only one in twenty individuals surveyed (5%) said that they themselves had sustained a brain injury.

Individuals surveyed were asked whether they thought brain injury occurred more or less frequently than breast cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injuries. The poll found that two out of three adults (66%) believe that brain injuries happen less frequently than breast cancer, and half believe they happen less frequently than AIDS. However, the poll did reveal that adults are as likely to believe that brain injuries occur more frequently than spinal cord injuries or multiple sclerosis as to believe that they happen less frequently than either of these injuries/illness.

"There has been the belief that sustaining a brain injury doomed you to life in a persistent vegetative state or coma," said James McDeavitt, MD, BIA Chairperson and Medical Director of the Charlotte Institute of Rehabilitation. "The results of BIA's Harris Poll certainly prove this belief false, since the majority of those surveyed believe individuals sustaining a brain injury are capable of living 'normal' and productive lives. Hopefully this will help end some of the stigma surrounding brain injury, which leads individuals to deny they've sustained such an injury. Additionally, we certainly hope these results will lead to an increase in community living and support services provided to those who sustain brain injury, since the current level of service is quite low."

One surprising result of the poll was that more than half of adults (56%) surveyed believe that when a person sustains a concussion, he or she sustains a brain injury. Concussions are the most common form of brain injury, yet recent media coverage of these injuries rarely, if ever, linked the term ``concussion'' with the term ``brain injury.'' This may explain, to some extent, the low number of individuals indicating that they had sustained a brain injury. Recent research of brain scans, conducted by the UCLA Brain Injury Research Center, illustrated the significant changes the brain experiences after sustaining even one concussion. Concussion is the most common form of brain injury, with an estimated one million people sustaining a concussion annually.

The Brain Injury Association (BIA) conducted the Harris Poll as part of a five-year, cooperative agreement with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), a branch of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Public awareness campaigns emphasizing how frequently brain injuries occur, how easily they can be prevented and the rich potential for life following brain injury will be launched during this five-year period, and follow-up polls to measure the effectiveness of these campaigns will be undertaken in years three and five of the agreement.

"Brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability among America's youth," McDeavitt said. "Almost all brain injuries--most often caused by motor vehicle crashes, falls, sporting accidents and violence-can be prevented. BIA is committed to increasing public awareness of this 'silent epidemic' significantly in the next few years, as well as emphasizing that those who sustain brain injuries are capable of living out their dreams."

For a copy of the full Harris Survey, entitled Public Perceptions of Brain and Head Injuries, visit the Brain Injury Association's web site at www.biausa.org.

Bridgett and Kenny Celebrate Their Engagement With The NBIF

Our first engagement and soon to be marriage…

Cute Little Fact:
Bridgett and Ken met at the National Brain Injury Foundation Social Group.

Welcome New Members Laura and Barb

Bob Returns

We were fortunate enough to have "Bob Entenmann" visit us at our social celebration.

::: Special Announcement :::

NBIF members getting married – congratulate Ken and Bridgett.
Ken and Bridgett are two of the most caring people I know. Their dedication and support to the NBIF is truly amazing. So from all of us, congratulations!

NBIF Building Global Relationships and Support

As many of you may know, NBIF has a Facebook Cause Page. There is a link from our site (left hand side) to FB Causes and one from FB back to us.

I am excited and touched by the support the NBIF is receiving on FB. We now have 65+ members. What a milestone. I have posted a few links on the page so please feel free to add a link, comment, start a discussion or post on the wall. It is nice to have a global networking site to share our message and passion. We are carrying out our intended mission of awareness.

Here’s the link to our FB cause page:
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/168482?m=6d54c0aa&recruiter_id=33932827

TBI tidbit

America’s Heroes at Work

Many Veterans experience traumatic brain injury and so another great resource for your workforce system and business community is the great information and resources found on the America’s Heroes at Work website (http://www.americasheroesatwork.gov/). America's Heroes at Work is a U.S. Department of Labor project that focuses on the employment challenges of returning service members living with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and/or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The project equips employers and the workforce investment system with the tools they need to help returning service members affected by TBI and/or PTSD succeed in the workplace - particularly service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Designed for employers and the workforce investment system, this website is your link to information and tools to help returning service members affected by TBI and/or PTSD succeed in the workplace - particularly service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

America’s Heroes at Work Resources

http://www.americasheroesatwork.gov/resources.html

This section includes fact sheets, training tools and real-life success stories and frequently asked questions related to general issues, employment questions, workplace accommodations, support and resources, and hiring disabled Veterans..

On the right hand navigation bar find links to the following:

Fact Sheets and Reference Guides include:
* Accommodating Employees with TBI
* Accommodating Employees with PTSD
* PTSD: Dispelling the Myths
* Top Ten Reasons to Hire a Veteran

Presentations & Training Tools include:
* Hiring and Accommodating Veterans with Disabilities (webcast)
* Understanding TBI (video)

Success Stories
* Read about promising practices in action

Welcome New Members Charles and Patricia

Holiday Party 08

Songs and Words From The Heart

NBIF Presented to the Pythians

David Lowitz presented members of the Order of Knights of Pythias, a fraternal organization, which promotes the ideals of friendship, benevolence and charity, with information about the positive and proactive activities of the NBIF.

David is a member of both the Pythians and NBIF and it was nice to have information exchanged between groups that share a common mission of friendship and support.

Thanks “Dave”

To learn more about the Knights of Pythias visit:
http://www.pythias.org

To learn more about Dave visit his Blog:
http://www.disabledpersonsunited.com

NBIF Harvest Dinner - “Good Eats”

The company is the best, as always, but did I mention the food. Everyone made such delicious dishes. Hey, maybe the NBIF should start it’s own catering business! All joking aside – this dinner represents another year of the NBIF meeting and celebrating true friendship. It was a wonderful evening and I look forward to many more to come.




Take a look at Donna’s collage:



You can also see pictures on the left, NBIF PICS AND SHOWS.

Welcome new members David and Steve.

The NBIF enjoys another Halloween party together.

What a bunch of characters we are.
The party was so much fun. Then again it's always fun when we all get together.
Take a look at the "NBIF Pics and Shows" tab on left side of the page. Click each link to enjoy the party all over again.

NBIF Peeps Rally for Independence

Some of our NBIF members attended a "Bill Passing Rally" @ RCIL. They were great with making phone calls and sending emails to Governor Paterson. Thank you for you help and participation.

Krista - in her own words..

Well lets see where do I start - ok I know I will start at this; I was living in Jacksonville, Alabama that's where I was raised now I live in Upstate New York. Well I was 7 years old I was in 2nd grade. We where on our way to school in the morning and we didn't live but 2 miles from the schools. So we were running a little bit late for school. My parents were at work already. The sun was really bright that day of my accident, which was October 8, 1991. My sister pulled up to the stop sign even though she could not see the stop sign she knew there was one there so she looked both ways. She looked and did not see anything coming so she pulled out and a white pick-up truck was coming. We were running late that we were in the process of putting are seat belts on. So the truck hit us and the car spun! Here comes the part where I get hurt: I hit the drivers seat, hit the stirring wheel, flew out the wind-shield, hit the stop sign, and ended up in the back of the car. Bad Huh!! Luckily, I lived right next to the hospital. From that hospital they flew me in helicopter to Birmingham, Alabama Children's Hospital. There I was diagnosed with a TBI. I was in a coma for 6 weeks and I was in the hospital for 3 months. Everyone in the hospital called me the "Miracle Baby"! I had to relearn everything over again from how to walk, talk, eat, and potty trained. Like being a baby all over again. But look at me now! I am 24-years old, a graduate of collage and live independently. It has been 17 years since my accident. I am so happy to be alive!!!

Thank you for taking time and listening to my story!

Love always,Krista "aka" Dee

Peter Kahrmann Visits NBIF

The participants of the NBIF enjoyed a summer evening with Peter Kahrmann, whose ability and desire to communicate with each individual present with honesty and caring as we gathered in the yard, brought him an open-hearted welcome from all. His efforts to learn a little bit about each person, allowed him to include personal comments to each individual as he spoke to the group, expressing positive support and admiration.

Peter's message of positivity in life as one meets the challenges and overcomes 'obstacles', is of turning them into discovering one's individual strengths. As he joked about the neighbor that chose this particular time to mow his lawn, he shared the awareness of how distracting and sometimes painful it can be to experience sensory overload after brain injury that has affected a person's hearing. And then he talked about the need to recognize and use strategies to minimize overload...to get enough rest, to control your own environment, to express to others what you are experiencing. His presentation was as informative as it was inspiring, and his skill as a 'teacher' was evident. Peter shared the power of having a sense of humor, a sense of self, and never ever giving up in seeking a quality of life that every individual deserves. The NBIF appreciated this extraordinay experience and hopes to welcome Peter back often.

More about Peter...

Known for emotionally connecting with audiences and individuals, often in an instant, Peter S. Kahrmann is a powerful, charismatic and deeply compassionate public speaker. Also known for taking audiences from laughter to tears and back again with uncanny prescience and a formidable supply of charisma, he is, more than anything, an advocate for human rights.
Mr. Kahrmann is the creator of Life Growth, a remarkable philosophy and life-management system rooted in lessons learned from a life packed with a staggering amount of trauma and tragedy. Anyone who knows him well knows he possesses an unflinching loyalty to the sanctity and dignity of a person’s individuality. Many say his ability to connect with people on a deeply personal level is due to his kindness, honesty, and courage.
In 1984 while on his way to work, Mr. Kahrmann was held-up and shot in the head at point blank range. The bullet remains lodged in his brain. He has devoted his life to advocating for quality of life support for individuals facing sometimes overwhelming challenges in their lives, and has received numerous awards for his work. He states that “All of us are born with the right to be who we are safely in the world around us.”
Mr. Kahrmann is a co-founder and former board member of the New York City Chapter of Victims for Victims, a non-profit group that works with crime victims and their loved ones. It was in 1985 that he began to develop the philosophy and structure of Life Growth. He has been a board member of the Brain Injury Association of New York and is the president of the Life Growth Center.

Stefanie's Story

An experience that will stay with me all my life is one that started when I was six years old. The experience started with symptoms ranging from headaches to blurred vision and vomiting. I believe that the cause was a bee sting that I had gotten during the summer. After several weeks of this, my parents got worried and we started a quest to find out what was wrong with me. After several opinions we found Dr. Herbert Laurie and he told us that I might have a cancerous brain tumor. I was admitted to Crouse B. Irving Memorial Hospital in Syracuse, NY on October 14th 1976. I was scared to death, I didn't know what was going on, my parents were sad and all I knew was that I didn't feel well and my head hurt. When I found out I was going to have an operation I was terrified. I didn't even know what one was. They gave me lots of shots, poked needles in me and gave me IV's. I felt like a human pin-cushion. The spinal taps were the worst, I would have to lie completely still on my side on a table while doctors stuck a long needle into my spine to draw out fluid. But the nurses were nice. They gave me an orange and a syringe to stick so I would know what it was like to be a doctor poking the patients.

I had lots of visitors. My mom's friend from work came to visit me and she brought me an orange colored dog. They brought gifts into the hospital where my mom worked and when I got home, after three craneomies and one surgery to put a shunt in me from my brain to my stomach to remove fluid, there was a huge box of presents for me form every one of my mom's friends and even her employers.

It was hard especially for my mom to know her little girl could die if something went wrong. Waiting during the operations was the worst for my parents, just sitting there not knowing whether their little girl was going to live or die. It was hard for my sister too, being only three years old. Not knowing where her big sister was or what was happening to her. The only thing she had any idea about was that she was the cause of her sister's pain.

After my last operation in November of 1977 I started radiation treatment, and a few months later, chemotherapy. I was on chemotherapy for 10 years. Now I have been in remission for 27 years. I'm so glad to be here. I could have lost my life or movement of my limbs but I am just as normal as I was, a normal human being and I am so glad.

By: Stefanie Tyler

The NBIF 2008 Bowl-A-Thon was a Hit!

Hello NBIF Members!
Wow - the 2nd annual NBIF Bowl-A-Thon was a ball. It was so much fun and the company was the best, as always. It was so nice to see new faces and new friendships being made.
I want to thank everyone who participated and sponsored our event.

Gary Celebrates a Meaningful Milestone

Valentine's Day 2000 was the first day of the rest of my life. Prior to this date my life was in turmoil. That day I became TBI due to a snowmobile accident. My condition was almost fatal. I was sent to the Northeast Center for Special Care for a year while in a coma and for rehabilitation. The next two years I lived at home with my mom and step-dad. During this time I was contacted by RCIL and became a consumer with their agency. My life has totally changed since my accident, from hopelessness and having to rely on everyone for my needs, not understanding why I can't do things like I used to and adjusting to a whole new way of life. Today I am proud to say I have progressed. I have been living independently the past two years in my own apartment in New Hartford, working at Hannaford Market and have a pet cat and two Beta fish. I have learned to adjust to my injury and maintain my independent living status. But I could not have done this alone. If it weren't for the great staff at RCIL, my therapist Linda Nelson, my doctors and providers, Northeast Center and my new social group, National Brain Injury Foundation I am sure I would not have the will or desire to progress. Thank you!!!

Happy Valentines Day 2007 - Gary Goodson