MOTHERS AGAINST BRAIN INJURY: REPORT #1522
BACKGROUND: Brain injury is the most frequent cause of disability and death among children in the United States. More than 1 million children sustain brain injuries every year, and approximately 165,000 require hospitalization. Brain injuries can occur as a result of a direct blow to the head or when a child is shaken or thrown. Brain injuries are categorized as mild, moderate or severe. With a mild brain injury, the patient has minimal or no loss of consciousness. A patient with a moderate brain injury experiences a brief period of coma. Patients with severe brain injuries experience an extended period of coma. Because each brain injury case is unique, recovery is different for every patient. The standard of care is early, intensive acute treatment and rehabilitation followed by post-acute rehabilitation aimed to restore maximum function and minimize disability. Recovery can take weeks, years or a lifetime, and outcomes range from minimal damage to severe disability and death.
A SUPPORT SYSTEM: A brain injury is not just traumatizing for the patient. It's also extremely hard on the family. Tracy Porter found out just how difficult the journey of recovery was when her son suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2004. Porter says a lack of information and personal necessities made dealing with her son's injury much more difficult. That's why she has started a nonprofit organization called Mothers Against Brain Injury for families experiencing the sudden and unexpected news that a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury. It's Porter's belief that having support and resources makes dealing with a family member's injury more manageable. The mission statement of Mothers Against Brain Injury is, "to be the leading organization dedicated to providing hope, comfort and valuable information to families experiencing a traumatic brain injury with a loved one." Porter lives her mission by not only spearheading the organization, but also by making herself personally available to victims' families for comfort and guidance.
HOPE IN A TOTE: Mothers Against Brain Injury's tote bag program is a direct outreach to brain injury families. Large canvas tote bags filled with personal toiletries, comfort items, useful tools, information on brain injury and stories of hope and encouragement from others who have shared the experience are packaged and kept on hand at participating trauma centers. There, they are handed personally to an immediate family member of any person suffering a moderate or severe traumatic brain injury within the first 48 hours of arrival.
For More Information, Contact:
Tracy Porter, Executive Director
Mothers Against Brain Injury
(800) TBI-HOPE or (904) 657-1424
contact@mabii.org
http://www.mabii.org
