Brain Injury Today

Sims Weymuller and Stacy Connole’s son was just four years old when he sustained a traumatic brain injury that upended their lives. In this episode of Brain Injury Today, Sims and Stacy share their story so that other families can learn from it and know that they are not alone. Sims and Stacy spoke with BIAWA Executive Director Deborah Crawley about navigating the school system as their son entered kindergarten and helping his older brother cope with the trauma. They want other families to know that recovery is possible with enough time and support, and that the Brain Injury Alliance offers services to support families with fewer resources. Brain Injury Today is the official podcast of the Brain Injury Alliance of Washington. Hosted by BIAWA Executive Director Deborah Crawley, the show brings listeners inspiring conversations with survivors, researchers, counselors, caretakers and more, in an effort to strengthen connections within the brain injury community.   For more resources related to traumatic brain injury visit: Brain Injury Today Podcast Brain Injury Alliance of Washington The Pooled Alliance Community Trusts Brain Injury Art Show

As more people get vaccinated and governments lift COVID restrictions, there is pressure to race back to “normal” life. But given brain injury survivors’ fatigue and overstimulation, it’s important to re-build in a way that meets their needs and values. In this episode of Brain Injury Today, Deborah Crawley speaks with therapist Lori Weisman about “conscious re-entry,” how to identify and prioritize your values, and becoming comfortable with saying “no” when it’s time to take care of yourself.  Here are Lori’s four questions to ask yourself when considering what you want your post-COVID life to look like: What kind of life do I want to create for myself? (Describe what it looks like.) What will I have to change in me to have the life I envision? What obstacles will I face in achieving this life? What is my level of motivation from 1 (not at all motivated) to 100 (extremely motivated)? Listen to Deborah’s previous conversations with Lori about ambiguous loss here and here. Get in touch with Lori Weisman This episode of Brain Injury Today is sponsored by the Washington State Traumatic Brain Injury Council was produced and edited by Goal 17 Foundation and is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify. For more resources related to traumatic brain injury visit: Brain Injury Today Podcast  Brain Injury Alliance of Washington  The Pooled Alliance Community Trusts  Brain Injury Art Show 

In this episode of Brain Injury Today, Deborah Crawley speaks with Jeanne Hoffman, UW professor of Psychology and Rehabilitation Medicine and Director of UW’s TBI Model System, who answers the most commonly asked questions about COVID-19 vaccination from our community.  Brain Injury Today is the official podcast of the Brain Injury Alliance of Washington. Hosted by BIAWA Executive Director Deborah Crawley, the show brings listeners inspiring conversations with survivors, researchers, counselors, caretakers and more, in an effort to strengthen connections within the brain injury community.  This episode of Brain Injury Today is sponsored by the Washington State Traumatic Brain Injury Council was produced and edited by Goal 17 Foundation and is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify. For more resources related to traumatic brain injury visit: Brain Injury Today Podcast  Brain Injury Alliance of Washington  The Pooled Alliance Community Trusts  Brain Injury Art Show 

Here at the Brain Injury Alliance, we call Zackery, Victor and Mercedes Lystedt the “first family of prevention.” Back in 2006 Zack suffered a preventable brain injury playing football. It was a long road to recovery, which is still Zack's full time job, but the family is stronger than ever and has always shared their story to help others. In fact, their advocacy has helped pass sports safety laws in all fifty states. In this episode of Brain Injury Today, Deborah Crawley speaks with Zack, his dad Victor and his mom Mercedes about their journey with brain injury and how laughter has helped get them through the toughest moments. Learn more about the Lystedt Law and sports safety by listening to episode 15 of Brain Injury Today. Read more about how the Lystedt Law came to be.   For more resources related to traumatic brain injury visit: Brain Injury Today Podcast Brain Injury Alliance of Washington The Pooled Alliance Community Trusts Brain Injury Art Show   This episode of Brain Injury Today is sponsored by the Washington State Traumatic Brain Injury Council, was produced and edited by Goal 17 Foundation and is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify.  

Safety and participation should go hand-in-hand when it comes to sports and exercise in general. In this episode of Brain Injury Today, BIAWA Executive Director Deborah Crawley speaks with Darin Harris and Dr. Stan Herring about why it’s important to keep kids active, while also avoiding preventable injuries by building a culture of safety. Darin Harris speaks from his perspective as a former UW football player who suffered a brain injury but continues to coach youth football. And Stan Herring shares his insights as a leading sports medicine doctor who has helped pass state laws to make sports safer and continues to promote safety as the co-founder of the Sports Institute at UW Medicine. Brain Injury Today is the official podcast of the Brain Injury Alliance of Washington. Hosted by BIAWA Executive Director Deborah Crawley, the show brings listeners inspiring conversations with survivors, researchers, counselors, caretakers and more, in an effort to strengthen connections within the brain injury community. In this episode, Deborah and Karen Kaizuka talk about what it’s like to be the parent of a child with a TBI, learning advocacy and the importance of connecting with fellow caregivers.  Reach out to Darin at and learn more about his work coaching 7-on-7 football.  Connect with Stan by emailing [email protected], and learn more about The Sports Institute at UW Medicine.  For more resources related to traumatic brain injury visit: Brain Injury Today Podcast  Brain Injury Alliance of Washington  The Pooled Alliance Community Trusts  Brain Injury Art Show  This episode of Brain Injury Today is sponsored by the Washington State Traumatic Brain Injury Council, was produced and edited by Goal17Media.com, and is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify.

Karen Kaizuka’s son suffered a sports-related brain injury about ten years ago, and, like many parents, she stood by his side during each step of his recovery. She also became deeply involved in the brain injury community through her work in healthcare and as the current Chairperson of Washington’s Traumatic Brain Injury Council. In this episode of Brain Injury Today, Karen speaks with BIAWA Executive Director Deborah Crawley about the unique process parents go through, finding hope amongst those who had been in her shoes, learning advocacy, and her ongoing quest to improve the support systems available to brain injury survivors and their families. In this episode, Deborah and Karen Kaizuka talk about what it’s like to be the parent of a child with a TBI, learning advocacy and the importance of connecting with fellow caregivers.   Resources Reach out to Karen at [email protected] Learn more about HeadStrong, the peer support organization that focuses on TBI survivors and their families.   For more resources related to traumatic brain injury visit: Brain Injury Today Podcast Brain Injury Alliance of Washington The Pooled Alliance Community Trusts Brain Injury Art Show   This episode of Brain Injury Today is sponsored by the Washington State Traumatic Brain Injury Council was produced and edited by Goal17Media.com and is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify.

Brain Injury Today is the official podcast of the Brain Injury Alliance of Washington. Hosted by BIAWA Executive Director Deborah Crawley, the show brings listeners inspiring conversations with survivors, researchers, counselors, caretakers and more, in an effort to strengthen connections within the brain injury community. In this episode, Deborah and Laura Jantos discuss rapid changes in telemedicine and access to medical records that brain injury survivors should be aware of. As a two-time brain injury survivor and former healthcare consultant, Laura gives her best tips for having a telemedicine visit and more.  To get in touch with Laura, email [email protected]  For more resources related to traumatic brain injury visit: Brain Injury Today Podcast  Brain Injury Alliance of Washington  The Pooled Alliance Community Trusts  Brain Injury Art Show  This episode of Brain Injury Today is sponsored by the Washington State Traumatic Brain Injury Council, was produced and edited by Goal17Media.com, and is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify.

Wow, what a year it has been. Even in the midst of all the challenges that 2020 has brought, the brain injury community has grown stronger. As we approach a new year, we’re taking some time to reflect on past episodes and how this podcast has become an integral part of how we share the stories of brain injury survivors, offer hope and knowledge, and stay connected even when we can’t be together in-person.   Brain Injury Today Brain Injury Today is the official podcast of the Brain Injury Alliance of Washington. Hosted by BIAWA Executive Director Deborah Crawley, the show brings listeners inspiring conversations with survivors, researchers, counselors, caretakers and more, in an effort to strengthen connections within the brain injury community. In this episode, Deborah takes listeners through some past episodes and reflects on what we’ve learned as a community in 2020.   For more resources related to traumatic brain injury visit:   Brain Injury Today Podcast Brain Injury Alliance of Washington The Pooled Alliance Community Trusts Brain Injury Art Show   This episode of Brain Injury Today is sponsored by Brothers & Henderson Law, was produced and edited by Goal17Media.com and is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify.

Jason Donaldson lost his mom, Mo, to a traumatic brain injury ten years ago. Before Mo passed, Jason experienced what something many families go through: he felt like there was no information at a time when he desperately needed answers. In this episode of Brain Injury Today, Jason speaks with Deborah Crawley about how he got connected to the Brain Injury Alliance of Washington and used his passion for bike riding to raise awareness about brain injury around the state and keep Mo’s memory alive. If you want to get in touch with Jason, reach out at [email protected]   For more resources related to traumatic brain injury visit: Brain Injury Today Podcast Brain Injury Alliance of Washington The Pooled Alliance Community Trusts Brain Injury Art Show   This episode of Brain Injury Today is sponsored by Brothers & Henderson Law, was produced and edited by Goal17Media.com and is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify

Brain Injury Today is the official podcast of the Brain Injury Alliance of Washington. Hosted by BIAWA Executive Director Deborah Crawley, the show brings listeners inspiring conversations with survivors, researchers, counselors, caretakers and more, in an effort to strengthen connections within the brain injury community. In this episode, Valarie Cooper and her aunt, Tammy Woodrich, speak about overcoming adversity after Valarie was diagnosed with Hydrocephalus as a baby. They also discuss being part of the Nooksack Indian Tribe, and how Valarie’s understanding of brain injury comes into play during her work as a vocational rehab counselor. Get in touch with Tammy via Facebook, or send her an email at [email protected] Reach out to Valarie at [email protected] For more resources related to traumatic brain injury visit: Brain Injury Today Podcast Brain Injury Alliance of Washington The Pooled Alliance Community Trusts Brain Injury Art Show   This episode of Brain Injury Today is sponsored by Brothers & Henderson Law, produced and edited by Goal17 Media, and is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify.