The Hoverboard & TBI

  By: Geoffrey B.

   Hello everyone! I am writing this blog about the Hoverboard and some of the dangers that come with it.  I looked into the Hoverboard and all it is is a 2-wheel self-balancing board.  I also found out that it is the hottest gadget in this season.  Now, I have seen people on Facebook ride those Hoverboards and I have also seen people fall off those Hoverboards.  And when a person falls off those boards, and gets hit in the head, they could get a concussion, start bleeding in the front or the back of the face because they didn’t wear a helmet.  So word to the wise, always wear a helmet to protect your brain on those Hoverboards just in case you just might fall.

                                  Thank You!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

                                                        Veteran's Day 
In honor of Veteran's Day, Denbigh House staff arranged for a visit to Yorktown, VA to hear strengths and fears from veterans during war time.  All members appreciated the humor displayed by William E. Townsley Col, USAF retired, AKA "Cowboy" then until 1984. He changed to "Blister" Grant who was his favorite Special Operations Group. Col. Townsley stated, Sergent Grant became a mercenary and was killed in the 80s duty in Africa.  We enjoyed the short version of his presentation. He directed us to the web at covery 264 for the fall story. Denbigh House members thanked all the veterans for showing their strengths and fears for our freedom.

A woman develops a computer/mobile phone app to help her battle depression after her brain injury

A former social worker at a high school, Ruby Taylor, who was an author of uplifting books with positive messages for teenagers, was confused and depressed after she received a traumatic brain injury from a car accident in 2012.  The brain injury also left her unable to feel or show emotion and confused on how to perform simple tasks.  It took some time, but the 38 year old counselor found that combining positive/motivational phrases with a relevant picture allowed her to smile and restored any hope she had for a better future.  Hence, the app that she helped develop was called SMOPE, a mash up of SMILES and HOPE.  As a survivor of brain injury, I too have tried to find ways to overcome doubts or anxiety during my recovery.  It’s good to look for sources of inspiration and her app is a useful tool for those of us who are recovering from such a traumatic experience.  The app was launched in September of this year(2015).  It makes it easier to combine photos and sayings, which has been helpful to her recovery.   Not even doctors are sure what will work for a patient’s recovery, but Ms Taylor found a way to address her mood swings with use of a simple, new computer application that allows her to express herself as she sees fit.  Uplifting images can be helpful to those who have depression. 

New Staff: Beth

 By: Geoffrey B.

Hello DH members and staff!  I would like to introduce to you our new  MSW Intern, Beth!  Her favorite hobbies are being with family, riding her bicycle when she goes to the park and exploring her genealogy.  She attended school in New York and studied Human & Community Services and received a Bachelor degree.  She is now at VCU working on her masters in social work.  In a few years, Beth will be living back in Iowa and working with the Military Veterans and Active Duty.  On her free time she likes to read mysteries and romance novels. The thing that Beth known’s about brain injuries is that it affects a person totally.  The outcomes are different for each person.  They can happen in so many different ways, both very traumatic and not so traumatic.  Now, what Beth is trying to accomplish here at The Denbigh House is to learn more about brain injury.  Some of her favorite TV shows are the Discovery channel because they have all of the mystery shows.  Lastly, there was one thing that everybody wishes to know about Beth, is that Family is the MOST IMPORTANT thing my life!

Will’s (Almost Healed) Leg

Two months ago, on September 11^th, Will got up at 2 am for a drink of water.  However, he did not see the work out machine in the dark and accidentally broke his leg left.  Will said he is glad that he broke his leg and not his head!

Will was in a regular cast for two months, then a soft cast, then a special soft boot cast.  The doctors told him to sit still for two weeks; he watched TV, and played with his cat at home.

Will said his missed riding his bike, but “it’s easy to follow orders when it keeps you from hurting.”  He “definitely” recommended the soft boot cast; it’s removable for showering and so much easier. Also the bottom is thick and easy to walk on, even through water.

By Kelvin and JEB

Wounded Warrior with TBI trains & does well in a Triathlon

In Arizona, there is an Army vet, Eric Desocio, who was injured during service in Afghanistan in 2011.  His wife, am elite athlete, encouraged him to start training and he spent more of his time focused on recovery & improved performance.  He competes in tough triathlons now.  He gives credit to his wife & the Wounded Warrior Project for helping his ongoing recovery.  Just remember to spend your time on recovering & getting better instead of dwelling on the past, problems & difficulties.

The App that Helps Fight Depression

by Shasmin A.

          After getting in a car accident on a Sunday in December of 2012, Ruby Taylor found wanting to help people more difficult.  She said, “It changed everything.” Before the accident, she was a social worker at the School District of Lancaster who wrote a book titled “Confidence to Greatness for Teenage Girls.”

          Even after she went through a medical treatment with medication, Taylor said she was deeply confused, unable to feel or show emotion, uncharacteristically unable to control her cursing and stymied by problems like fitting a pizza box into her garbage can. Taylor decided that she had to find a way to brighten her mood and regain control of her emotions after coming close to committing suicide.

          She enjoyed looking at pictures and quotes, and decided to use both in daily Facebook posts designed to help herself and others. “’It took a while,’ said the 38-year-old Lancaster city resident, who still frequently loses her train of thought and struggles to find the words to answer detailed questions. ‘But then it worked. I began to smile. I began to laugh again.’” She eventually found programmers to create an iPhone and iPad app that makes it easier to combine photos and sayings, which she titled “Smope”, a mashup of smiles and hope, and launched it in mid-September. The price of this app is $1.99 and it is available through Apple’s iTunes online store.

          “This is my Smope,” she said, after demonstrating how the app initially shows the photos in black and white and then fills them gradually with color, and how it can send users different notifications at set times of different things that are interesting. Taylor, who is currently receives Social Security disability befits, says she would love to have Smope become her regular source of income but knows how unlikely that would be. She hopes the app will help uplift others brought down by brain injuries, depression or other circumstances.

Our Member, Triena, moving out on her own.

She had been living with her parents & her daughter. She is renting her new place which is a garden apartment that has two bedrooms and one bath.  She originally started the search back in November 2014 and finally received the apartment in May 2015 after the “long wait.”  She likes having her own place because she feels more independent and “can make her own decisions.”  The only negative is having to pay all the bills now.  She likes the whole new arrangement because it shows her independence and that her disability is not holding her back.  She has relearned some of her independent living skills from work done at The Denbigh House, from friends at her church and from her DARS counselor, Mrs. Natalie Opie-Dawson.  She thanks all of them for their help and support.

Study Links Energy Drinks and Traumatic Brain Injury in Teens

It has been found that teens who have a traumatic brain injury(TBI) report also drinking more energy drinks than teens who did not have a TBI.  I think the researchers can only conclude that teens are more likely to have acquired their brain injury from the activities they perform such sports.  And energy drinks are largely consumed around sports.   Energy drinks are typically marketed towards athletes.  Therefore, the connection between active teens, who were more likely to acquire brain damage while playing their sport, and the energy drinks can be made.  But the drinks did not cause any harmful effects. 

New Member: Shawn Grayson

By: Shasmin Asbury

We would like to welcome a new member to The Denbigh House. Our newest member is Shawn Grayson and he is a twenty-three year old male who was born in Jefferson Parrish, Louisiana. Shawn’s hobbies include embroidery, fishing, and gardening. He is not really sure of his favorite color, but he said, “I do like red a lot.” His favorite food is rabbit. Shawn told us that he likes to play sports, but doesn’t care for watching them too much, but his favorite sports team is the Saints. He was then asked about the type of music he likes and he replied, ”A little bit of everything, but if I had to pick, I’d say country”. Shawn likes to watch educational television, so, that says he likes to learn about different topics. Shawn was asked who inspires or motivates him the most and he replied his dad does.

Before Shawn’s injury, he repaired woodwork for people and did small construction jobs. Shawn received his brain injury from being hit in the head by another human being. In ten years, Shawn said that he sees himself working a normal job and life, one that works a regular nine to five job, not living on social security. He decided to become a member of The Denbigh House because of his loss of memory and to relearn simple tasks. In his free time, Shawn studies for his GED, so he can pass it. The way his brain injury has changed his life by getting away from his “ex” and he is now living with his family again.

Again Shawn Grayson, welcome to The Denbigh House!

WELCOME BACK!

We would like to welcome back Joe K!  Joe was out from the clubhouse due to medical reasons.  At the end of July, Joe had open heart surgery, where doctors went in to replace a torn valve.  He says,” they basically gave me an oil change”.

Joe had to be hospitalized for about 3 weeks.  He stated that he  remembers feeling his heart flutter, but he thought it was from eating, but what was happening at that time was an aneurysm.  An aneurysm occurs when part of a blood vessel, or artery, or cardiac chamber swells and the blood vessel is either damaged or weakened in the wall of the blood vessel.

Joe remembers the pain that followed the surgery, but feels like the surgery was, “life-saving” and he feels “lucky”!   He was recommended by his doctor to attend cardiac rehab three times per week.

We are glad to have Joe back and we wish him well in his recovery.

                                                               By:  Kelvin 

Diazepam Intensol

Diazepam Intensol

                                                                                              By Geoffrey B.

Hello everyone!  I want to talk to you about my Diazepam Intensol.  This medication is used for many types of conditions.  To some, it is used for muscle spasms, tremors and hallucinations.  I use the Diazepam for the four seizures that I have.  So after I have a seizure and I take the Diazepam, the chemicals in the brain help reduce the seizure activity in the brain.  You can take the Diazepam in two different ways.  One way is in a pill form by mouth with semi solid food and the other way by liquid form.  I have the Diazepam is in liquid form.  Just to let you know, if you have it in liquid form, do not drink the Diazepam raw, with water, milk or any type of sodas.  The reason is because after you have drunk some of the Diazepam, everything you drink will taste like you are drinking dirt! The two drinks that can ease off the taste of the diazepam are grape juice or cranberry juice.   

There are some common side effects of the Diazepam Intensol.  There is incoordination of the body, muscle weakness, tiredness and drowsiness.  After I take the diazepam, in about 30 minutes, I have to lie myself down for about 2 to 3 hours because I am very drowsy.  So that is the story of my Diazepam Intensol.   If you want more information about Diazepam Intensol click on www.webmd.com. Thank You!    http://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-14541/diazepam-intensol-oral/details

We welcome to The Denbigh House, one of our new Interns, Courtney Hanna.

Blog entry: Courtney Hanna, Intern

We welcome to The Denbigh House, one of our new Interns, Courtney Hanna. 

Courtney is from Culpepper, Va. And a senior at Christopher Newport University (CNU) studying for a degree in social work. She started her internship August 25^th, and will finish on April 2016.  She will assist in the Communications Unit on Tuesdays and in the Kitchen Maintenance Unit on Thursdays.  She has a wide base knowledge of Brain Injury and TBI’s and would like to learn the different effects it has on these individuals lives.

She learned of this program through her professors at CNU.

Her hobbies are: Hiking, Snowboarding in the winter, and socializing with friends and family.

The thing that she would like us to know about her is that she is very shy, which is something we can help her with.

When she graduates her plans are in the works to find a job that will make her happy. 

We, at The Denbigh House, extend a warm welcome to “COURTNEY”

New member: Jerry Wayne

By Geoffrey B.

Hello my name is Jerry Wayne.  I am 48 yrs. old and I am from Tennessee.  Before my brain injury, I was a brick layer and was working with wood. Now I received my brain injury as a result of a car crash.  Some of my hobbies are painting houses/businesses and cleaning other places.  My favorite color is white and my favorite food is fish.  I love county music and my college team is Tennessee.  The kind of TV shows I like is cartoons and my favorite movies are Westerns (Cowboys). 

If there was one thing everyone would wish to know about me is that I was normal and that I was a better person.  My Dad inspires me the most and in about ten years I find myself to be married.  The main reason why I decided to become a member of The Denbigh House is I like working and painting.  When I have some free time I like to walk, watching TV and playing with my 2 dogs.  Lastly, when I received my brain injury everything changed my life.  This is me, Jerry Wayne!  

Loud Music and Hearing Loss

By Geoffrey B.

     Hello everyone!  I am writing this blog that is very important.  It is about loud music and hearing loss.  When I am in the car coming home or going out somewhere, I see people in other cars having their windows down listening to a song with the volume up way to loud.  But what they don’t realize is that they are permanently damaging their hearing and once you lose your hearing, you can’t get it back.

     There is a music artist named Chris Martin and he had Tinnitus for about 10 years.  If you don’t know what Tinnitus is, it is a buzzing, hissing, chirping, whistling and other sounds within in your ear.  I researched on WebMD and I found a few steps to treat Tinnitus. One, cut back on drinking alcohol and sodas that have caffeine. Another thing you can do is stop smoking because nicotine makes Tinnitus worse by reducing blood flow to the ear.  So if you don’t want to lose your hearing, turn the music down. If you have a smart phone,  download an app so you can monitor safety levels for listening.  Limit or avoid exposure to the noises and lastly, try to ignore the sound by directing your attention to other things. Thank You!

Depression

By Shasmin A.

 

Depression is defined as a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behavior, feelings and sense of well-being. Some life causes of this mood can be sexual abuse, bereavement, neglect, unequal parental treatment of siblings, or physical abuse. Experts say though, that depression is caused by a combination of factors, such as the person's genes, their biochemical environment, personal experience and psychological factors. I experience depression in middle school, high school, and from time to time because of neglect and being treated like I’m stupid because of a wide arrangement of subjects.

In middle school, where this started, I was neglected by friends and family. Friends and other acquaintances took advantage of my friendliness and how much I would help others. This was a little more of an annoyance than anything. Of course, in middle school, everyone got into the dating thing and I of course should have waited awhile for this to happen. In the eighth grade, an acquaintance took advantage of me and spiraled me into a bushel of bad thoughts and personal problems. I couldn’t handle the pain, emotional and physical, so I dealt with my pains in other ways. I was neglected by family members because I lacked smarts and talent, so, I didn’t add up to what my other family members were. This made me depressed because I was always looked down on. When the depression began to get worse, my mom made me seek professional help, to see a psychologist. The psychologist helped me a little and then put me on some gross depression medication: sertraline (Zoloft), which actually made my depression worse. After I was put on the medication, I can’t recall what happened next.

The high school depressions didn’t occur until after my accident, which was in the first sophomore year in 2006. This was caused because of my mobility and my emotional status, for I could not remember how to perform the daily activities from day to day. My memory was affected in the accident, so, when it came to taking tests and working on projects, it was very difficult. My “friends” from before saw me as a charity case, so they avoided me like the plague.  My teachers treated me worse than the students from time to time because of how I would give up easily and my one on one got frustrated too easily. It was really bad when the teachers gave up on me because they wouldn’t explain certain things, like math, to me and I had to drop the course.

After I graduated high school, I imagined things would get better and I was wrong. I was expected to go to college, graduate, get a job, and move out. Well, I tried the college road, and with all of the classes I had to take and retake, I gave up on that. I tried to get a part-time job, but, most places require either two years of experience or a college degree, which I have none of them, so, that wasn’t the right road to go down either. Because of my disability, I do receive SSI, but that still isn’t enough to move out of my parent’s house, so, the moving out decision still didn’t happen. I still have bills and other things to pay for and the job search doesn’t make me any less depressed since no one will hire me because of lack of experience, meaning I don’t have retail or food service experience.

From time to time now, I do experience some kind of depressive mood from my inner thoughts telling me that I will never amount to anything in my life. But, to get out of the depressive state, the main things I do are I either write down my thoughts and feelings, or I will just take a nap. It helps me relax and think of other things.

Narcolepsy

By Geoffrey B.
     Narcolepsy is a brain disorder that causes poor control of sleep-wake cycles.  In other words, people who have this disorder, they can fall asleep at any moment.  The person with the disorder said he or she will fall asleep, but it didn't say for how long.  Also, if a person who has Narcolepsy, they are not be able to drive.  I want to continue to research this disorder, because I wonder if an individual living with Narcolepsy is able to live alone?    
     Now, I did some research on the internet and I found out that Harriet Tubman, The Underground Railroad Pioneer, suffered from Narcolepsy and Epilepsy because of a head injury.  It also said that Harriet Tubman could of been caught because of that disorder.  So, if you want the full story about this disorder, click on Narcolepsy.  Thank you!

Why the red nose?

Today, I’m  asking ,”why  the red nose?”  Well today is Red Nose Day.  America is joining the United Kingdom ,  which  has  raised  over  one billion over the last thirty years, to help children be educated, healthy, and safe.  Donated funds will help children around the world improve their reading skills, have access to clean water, provide Healthy Baby Packages,  provide books and immunizations.
WalGreens and M&M’s are working together for this cause.  Watch Red Nose Day Live on NBC, tonight at 8pm.  Learn more about how you can make a difference by logging in at rednosedayusa.com  

By D. Jones

Glaucoma

    By Geoffrey B.
     Hello my friends around the world!  I want to talk to you about what some might or not know about what is in my eyes.  I have a eye disease called Glaucoma. Glaucoma destroys the optic nerve in the back of the eyes. So one way to stop the Glaucoma from getting worse, is by using eye drops everyday. The eye drops that I use are Alphagan P, Trusopt and Lumigan. I use them in both eyes around 8 am and around 8 pm.  The last eye drops Lumigan, I put in both eyes only at night.  I have to do Vision Field tests and have my eyes checked about every six months. People who have to wear glasses, you need to know if you are nearsighted or farsighted.  If you don't can't tell the difference, nearsighted means you can't see far away. Farsighted means you can't see up close. I am nearsighted.  Some people have to wear glasses only for driving and reading, I have to wear my glasses for everything.  So when I am in The Denbigh House, I have to wear my glasses or I am blind as a bat, because I can not see the task on the board or on the computer screen.  If  I try to turn off the computers in the Denbigh House without my glasses, the turn off button is really blurry. That is what I have to do so my glaucoma will not make my eyes get any worse. If you want the whole story click on Glaucoma. Thank You!

From Handi-ride to my ride

BY: Ginger Beck

When I first started the Denbigh House I was a shell of person!  I had no self esteem and felt like I was useless! 

I could not drive.  I had to depend on Handi-ride to take me everywhere I needed to go. This meant I had to stand in the rain, snow, cold and wait up to an hour for the ride to come and get me!  It also meant I had to stand out in the dark waiting on a ride that would never come! I would make many phone calls trying to find out what was happening with my ride!  Of course, the answer was always excuses.

When I came here I was having five types of seizures.  After a few years of working with medications and finally finding the correct ones I was able to be seizure free for over a year.  I now have a legal license and I am driving a car my father gave to me. The freedom is exhilarating!

With help from the Denbigh House helping to work with my TBI problems, my self esteem and many other issues I had due to my TBI and way of living,  I am now no longer homeless and have my own place and am more independent than I have been in more years than I can count. I still have the help of an aide due to my difficulties with my TBI, however life is good!