Brain Injury Rewiring for Loved Ones: A Lifeline to New Connections (Idyll Arbor Personal Health Book)
Carolyn Dolen is the accomplished survivor of a 1976 traumatic brain injury (TBI) and a "suicide or psych ward" prognosis. The U.S. Department of Defense has formed a taskforce on TBI, and estimates there are 2 million new cases in the U.S. annually. These two books [BRAIN INJURY REWIRING FOR SURVIVORS and BRAIN INJURY REWIRING FOR LOVED ONES] are filled with direct and practical strategies for TBI recovery, approaching rewiring from multiple aspects, including emotional, spiritual, cognitive, and physical rewiring. --ForeWord MagazineA 1976 auto accident in a Minnesota snowstorm left Dolen with a brain injury and a prognosis of "suicide or the psych ward." She was motivated, however, to prove the health-care team wrong. In part the story of her continuing recovery, in part a manual for survivors and loved ones, these books are readable, practical resources that parallel each other in general content and approach. Dolen explains normal brain anatomy and functions, as well as what happens when the brain is injured. Readers learn that no two patients are alike; injuries range from mild to severe and in the worst cases lead to death. Concentration, attention span, organizational skills, emotion, sleep, and behavior can be affected. Both books offer in-depth explanations of how to get the most from health-care professionals and educate readers about treatment, recovery, postinjury rehabilitation, and adaptation. Chapters focus on a specific aspect of therapy: spiritual, cognitive, emotional, nutritional, physical, social, and vocational. Included is a valuable list of resources, organizations, and web sites arranged in the same order as the chapters. A reference list for each chapter completes the content. VERDICT Survivors is a powerful testament to how courage and spirit can aid in recovery and, like Loved Ones, equips readers with knowledge and understanding to help with the many problems accompanying head injuries. Both titles are highly recommended for their intended audiences. Jodith Janes, Cleveland Clinic Fdn. Lib. --Library Journal