| Grex > Disabilities > #16: Recovering from and living with brain injuries |
| Recovering from and living with brain injuries | 
Jun 18 15:02 UTC 1997 |
A traffic accident involving members of the Detroit Red Wings has put the subject of living with and recovering from brain injuries on the front pages of newspapers. There are many issues which might be worth discussing involving coping with brain injury in our personal lives and understanding the needs and circumstances of people we know with this kind of injury.
| response 1 of 6: |
Jun 19 20:35 UTC 1997 |
I follow auto racing, which by nature is prone to this sort of injury. In 1994, at Michigan Speedway, Ernie Irvan crashed headlong into turn 2 at 160 miles per hour. The force of the impact gave him a severe closed head injury without his head actually hitting anything. He was given a 10% chance of survival. Three years later he is still fighting the aftereffects of the accident but he nonetheless won a race at the track on which he crashed. It's inspiring to know. I should note that many other racers have had similar injuries (most recently Colwater Michigan native Scott Brayton) and not survived. At any rate, it will take a long time to recover.
| response 2 of 6: |
Jun 20 02:57 UTC 1997 |
I don't know what the statistics are overall, but I think this is a common type of injury. I know at least two people who have been injured this way, both in car accidents. In an article I read about the hockey accident, it was reported that 50% of this type of brain injuries are caused by automobile accidents.
| response 3 of 6: |
Jun 20 04:49 UTC 1997 |
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| response 4 of 6: |
Aug 24 23:59 UTC 1997 |
TBI traumatic brain injuries differ from individual to individual but most common is a limitation of fine motor skills and balance. A friend of mine is constantly stopped for DUI but it is really TBI. he drives fine, just waves within his lane. To me this is not sufficient reason to remove his drivers license and thereby his independence. Any comments??
| response 5 of 6: |
Aug 25 04:18 UTC 1997 |
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| response 6 of 6: |
Sep 18 00:45 UTC 1997 |
I'm sure we have seen Senior Citizens--and they HAVE the right to drive--weave on the road too.