The Crash Reel

 I watched a documentary called, "The Crash Reel." You can watch it on Prime Video. The basis of the documentary is about the friendship between Shaun White and former snowboarder Kevin Pearce, who was 50 days shy of going to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Pearce was on a training trip in Salt Lake and caught his front toe of his board and went face first into the snow. Pearce was airlifted from the mountain and was in a coma. The story not only examines the love of a sport, the importance of a support system (whatever that looks like) being it friends or family or both! Most importantly, the discussion regarding traumatic brain injuries and the amount of time, effort, financial cost, and the rollercoaster of healing from a TBI.

In an effort to not overload my brain my posts will be short and broken down into more topic and theme-based entries. These will change as progress changes, and I'm able to share and write more at one time. Again, one day at a time.

Half the time I have a post written out in my head, and then when it comes down to putting it down on a page, I can't remember what I wanted my main points to be.

By no means am I a doctor who can provide any medical advice. I share this as my OWN experience and feelings. Every person's situation is different, based on so many factors.

My biggest take away from today after watching the documentary was this: marital status, financial status, connections, geographical location, gender ALL can make the difference in getting proper treatment.

More and more research is being done regarding the brain and traumatic injuries.

I may not have had a brain bleed or in a coma. I was unconscious for an unknown amount of time. The on-going symptoms, memory loss, vestibular dysregulation, emotional regulation, impulsive behavior, mood swings are all part of a brain injury.

"It's invisible, and that's the hardest part." One of the mom's from the documentary said this, and it has stuck with me throughout the last few days.......because it is 100% true. The injury is invisible....and progress can move forward 5 steps, and then progress takes 3 steps back. It is a constant roller-coaster and balance. Keeping the nervous system regulated and clam to allow the brain to use its energy towards thinking and WORK - more on balance in two different forms!

By no means am I affiliated with the movie "The Crash Reel." Not only a documentary that is entertaining watching talented athletes, yet informative in a real-life view of the recovery and progress with having a TBI.

~AA