Brain-Injuries Books

This book is an amazing story, written by an amazing author. If you have any interest at all in health care, or have a relative who has traumatic brain injury, or if you just want to learn something new, this is an easy and eye-opening read.

I first read this book at the recommendation of my neuropsychologist following a closed-head injury 8 years ago. I think it saved my sanity! Closed-head injury can bring about a panoply of just plain WEIRD symptoms that can make the patient (and their family, for that matter) feel as if they're losing their mind. The insanity is explained by a doctor who went through the same experience after an accident. She talks about it in a very non-technical way and helps the patient and those around the patient understand what's happening, why, and that NO, you're not nuts!

I suffered a ruptured aneurysm this summer '07, and read this book while recovering from brain surgery. It prepared me for the worst regarding other's responses to my temporary slower mental functioning. The book also helped me to be more sensitive to other people in general regardless of whether an infirmity is obvious or not. I.e., people were very compassionate toward me when my head was shaved and my scalp was full of staples, but now that my hair has grown back and the staples have been removed, that sensitivity has disappeared even though I am still recovering and will be for a long time.

I was inspired by Dr. Osborn's strength and her determination to overcome her deficits. I admire her for writing this book to help others in her situation. Because of this book, I knew to ask my neurologist about cognitive therapy and am now enrolled and working with a occupational/speech therapist.

I don't recommend reading this book early in the recovery process if you have had any kind of brain injury. I did, and it caused severe depression to overcome me. For lighter, more humorous material about brain injury survivors' ordeals, I recommend Susie Becker's book, "I had Brain Surgery, What's Your Excuse?"

I have had Encephalitis twice, recieved rehabilitation in Occupational, Physical and Speech therapies, and currently work full-time, yet will forever be aware of my physical & mental limitations. In this book a doctor explains her acquired brain injury and the rehab process she and her famuly and friends dealt with, along with the positive strategies she has gained to deal with her life today. This book clearly clarified for me the diference between TBI and simple brain injury and brought to reality the fact that other people have dealt with similar rehab situations as myself & survived successfully! A must read I found hard to put down.

I was told to Read the book Over My Head By Claudia L. Osborne. I Like Her Was in a Bad accident in which I also had a closed head Brain Injury. I was in a coma for over 7 weeks in late August of 2006. I would agree with the writers synopsis that all you want to do is get back to your old Self, To be the same personyou were and do the same things but so many things changed in that split second that it is not only better to forget the Who you were and to Start basically a new Life. It is the only way to look positivly and to go on with life a new. A lot of the things in life will stay the same and yet there are so many things that I can no longer do. I could Bitch and Moan and get on hating My New Life or I could accept what has happened, Thank God Daily that for what ever reason I was spared: that He has a plan for Me and I must look at the positive and not the negative. I make it a goal now to work on putting a smile on My face every day by the time I close my eyes and go to sleep. That is of course after I have thanked the Dear Lord For The things that I can still enjoy among those things are the greatest Family and Friends a person could have. You have to look at life as a whole New life; separate and different in so many ways from who You used to be, but The same in social aspects where things ar still the same.

I actually was only going to read this book to prepare myself for the radio interview with this author (May 29, 2008 on In Short Order at [...]). Instead, I found myself glued to the pages of valuable information from a patient's view. By reading this book, those who know or take care of a person with a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) will be better able to understand what the victim is going through - a better handle on things makes for a better friend/family member or care provider. Those who treat TBIs would benefit from this book more than most - what you can't see on tests can be learned here and therefore validate the diagnosis more quickly so that treatment can begin at an earlier stage. For those with a TBI, Lyme disease, or any disabling affliction, this book is your pair of ruby slippers.

Bruno equates a TBI to The Wizard of Oz classic. Although I have Lyme disease (which in many cases can be likened to a TBI), and can relate and benefit from this book, I never saw it put so simply - and well written. Just as Dorothy is whisked to another place, it is the same with most injuries and illnesses. We leave the life we know for a place we have never been before (and few want to make it a vacation spot). Come take the first step on the yellow brick road - where the journey to recovery begins.

Glinda (as we remember as the good witch) starts us on the path. Contacting organizations and support groups is an important step. Who doesn't need support, information, and to hear from others on virtually the same path? There are many things to do to prepare us for the first steps to recovery, but often we forget where we need to begin. Order is the way to end chaos. Support is the way to end aloneness. And information is the way to the next steps that must be taken if recovery is the goal. And don't forget, some who have grown accustomed to your disability-state may not want you to recover - learn why in "If I Only Had A Brain Injury."

There are the ruby slippers and the wicked witch. The information in this section is most helpful because it starts us focusing more closely on ourselves. Here we can begin to turn the injury or disease into a new beginning. When we beat ourselves up or refuse to accept what we cannot change, we slow or halt our journey. Forgiveness and identifying change are good things.

Okay, we're on our way. We may not be skipping yet, but we can add pep to our steps when we look at what can remove some of the stumbling blocks that have been preventing us forward movement on our road to recovery. Bruno learned that buying quality electronics (a computer monitor) cut down on her headaches and dizziness; which allowed her to work; which enabled her to earn a paycheck; which helped her to feel she was still in Kansas.

There are more ideas that are presented in this work - classical music, relationships with animals, and cultivating new friendships, to name a few. These will open new doors in the land of Oz and you may even discover new things about yourself that you never knew existed.

In "If I Only Had A Brain Injury," Bruno has given us a map of the Emerald City, introduced us to the Munchkins, and provided a beacon for anyone who is associated with injuries and disease. It is a one-of-a-kind book.

This a must read for all, with hopes that you find an owl in your life, too.


Sue Vogan
[...]

I got this book yesterday afternoon and I have been gobbling it up! Right from the start I identified with the writing. I, too, had a feeling that my evening at the outdoor amphitheater that July 26th night in 2005 could change my life. I didn't know how and so I ignored my irrational feelings. I went to the ballet and although we were sitting inside I must have picked up the tick as we walked across the lawn to the amphitheater. 10 days later, almost to the hour, I was very, very sick. The Lyme crossed the blood brain barrier and I have had neurological and emotional problems. My stupid neurologist says I am "in the normal range" even when I have vertigo and was falling back on my head walking down the street, have huge memory gaps, sometimes make no sense, etc. I told him it wasn't normal for me, but ended up getting nowhere and leaving his office in tears.
My boyfriend of 12 years (with whom I attended the ballet that night) became very frustrated and angry. I am no longer the same woman he signed up for. We separated in the Fall of 2007. He felt I was not "trying hard enough" to get better.
My family thinks I am mentally ill. In fact over the last 9 months I have been misdiagnosed with either depression or Bipolar II disorder and mis-medicated, which DID make me pretty crazy. I am now convinced I ought not to be on any medications but treat myself holistically. I have been medication free for one month and that has made a huge difference for me.
So, I am so thankful for the book! I am finding out that I need to listen to myself and not depend on doctors to be able to fix me or even diagnose me correctly. I have been changing my diet and using it as my medicine. I have been making sure to get outside and walk or recently I can bicycle again! Soak in some sun. Surround myself with positive people--no angry boyfriend--as much as possible. I am painting again.
I think I was already headed in this direction -- after 11 months of putting my hope and trust in, then floundering in, medical offices, hitting my head against (figurative) wall after wall. Laura Bruno's book gives me such strength and hope for this journey.

If I Only Had a Brain Injury is a beautifully conveyed book that is not only practical, simplistic, and full of easy to apply tips and tremendously helpful, thorough resources, but is also an artistic expression of genuine experience and compassion that takes one on a journey through Oz. Utilizing Dorothy and her friends' experiences to illustrate our own unfolding life processes creates a tangible and easily understood analogy, and coupled with Laura's own personal experiences, truly hits home and creates a relateability that transcends all boundaries. This is not only helpful for those with TBI and medical challenges as listed, but truly is a guideline and means of support for any and all challenges in life that can be simply applied. Finding myself challenged in overly mental focusing and truly not having the desire to do so either, I found Laura's book wonderfully supportive to this. It was easy, quick, and very clear, with nothing to have to read between the lines or mentally figure out. One can open the book to any page and find something valuable easily without it feeling out of context. This works well for people like myself who either don't have time to read, don't have much desire to read, or little focus to do so. You can pick up and leave off at any point and never feel lost and get exactly what you need at every turn. Laura is a beautiful example and expression for us all and one can only look forward to more wonderful books to come from her.

Injury took some mental abilities away.
Through that loss, author Laura Bruno,
finds an alternative path to health and
trusting herself. She demystifies many
medical mysteries all the while reassuring
those in similar situations not to suffer alone the
embarrassment and self consciousness of a
brain that is learning to function again -
perhaps differently. If I Only Had a Brain
Injury is a compendium of spiritual and
emotional support. It includes 52 healing
hints while leading its readers to become
wizards of their own healing. It offers
support to the caregiver and acknowledges
how events changes all involved.
Ultimately Laura Bruno wants everyone
to find their own deeper meaning of
injury - an opportunity to connect the
mind and heart - to live deeply, meaningfully,
and creatively through one's
essence.

If I Only Had a Brain Injury is a delightful, powerful and highly informative book. Beautifully written, Laura Bruno draws upon her experiences with her own Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) from a car accident. Her descriptions are vivid, deeply and personal. The book is very supportive and is an excellent resource for those dealing with Traumatic Brain Injuries and their caregivers. The book is also vitally important for those dealing with challenging and mysterious health issues like Chronic Fatigue, Lyme Disease and Migraines.

Bruno tells her own story while expertly weaving her insights within the context of the Wizard of Oz. I loved the humor, playfulness and utter seriousness in the book in the chapter titles and content. In the chapter, Somewhere Over the Rainbow Bruno states that her aim is, "...to inspire you and to guide you to resources that will empower you to take control over your own health and wellbeing."

Gradually after Bruno's own accident she began to realize that she had entered into a new land, and needed to learn anew. She recounts these realizations in the chapter, We're not in Kansas Anymore. Bruno says, " Like Dorothy, I knew I could not return the way I arrived. Like Dorothy, I eventually found my way "back home," but I took the Technicolor journey with me. I wrote this book to help others to do so, to."

And, like Dorothy following the yellow brick road to find her way back home to Kansas, the book emphasizes actions you can take in your recovery from the symptoms of these various illnesses that are so mysterious to the medical community. Bruno says in the chapter titled "Glinda," that "This chapter suggests ways to find the Glinda's along your journey...Even in the Wizard of Oz, Glinda prefers to help Dorothy help herself." She includes an excellent listing of resources to contact. For instance, she notes that you might want to contact a Behavioral optometrist that specializes in connections in mind, body and vision because "...a majority of people with neurological issues suffer from visual impairment. If you have any of the flowing symptoms, you may benefit from visual therapy or prism lenses: Concentration problems; Double vision; Headaches; Difficulty reading; Balance disorders; Clumsiness; Eyestrain; Intolerance of flickering lights; Intolerance to varied backgrounds; Panic Attacks; Easily becoming overwhelmed; Vertigo.

If I Only Had a Brain Injury is like a breath of fresh air as it offers hope where typically there is none. As Bruno notes, so many head injuries and their effects are not detected, diagnosed or treated. Many people are told that they do not show any medical evidence of a medical injury even though they are experiencing severe difficulties in daily functioning since the time of their accident or since the onset of their illness. And, even when a brain injury and trauma is recognized, there have been very limited resources to assist in continued rehabilitation.

My level of awareness about the nature of head injuries and its effects has risen dramatically from reading this book. This includes helping me to understand some of my own experiences from knocking my head with numerous falls off of horses, minor car accidents and some of my own hard to diagnose symptoms. I now keep this book by my bedside for personal quick reference and I also have a copy available in my office for those clients who have had head injuries.

If I only Had a Brain Injury is an excellent resource that I very highly recommend for anyone who has experienced a Traumatic Brain Injury as well as their family members, caregivers, medical professional and therapists. For anyone whose life has been touched in some manner with a Traumatic Brain Injury or by any illness that has been a medical mystery, this book will be of great value.

I recently began working with families with children with FASD and this book has been helpful for me to "hear" the child better. I also love the pages of helpful resources in the back. I am now lending it to some of the parents I work with so they can "hear" their children better. Very inspiring.

As a mother with a soon to be FASD teen, I totally appreciated the support of this read, highly recommended!

My teenage daughter wanted to know more about how her cousins (three with full FAS) saw the world. Clearly understandable and relevant to teens, she thought the book was excellent and full of good information.

This is a great book. Not written by a textbook expert, but written by real-world experts = a FAS child and her mom. People who daily live with the effects of this birth defect. My husband and I both read it and learned practical, tried approaces. Thanks to Liz and her mom!

Awesome..very much to my heart. I have a 14 yr. old grandson with FAS.

I wrote this review a couple of years ago - before Murder on the Mind came out. I'm now posting the review I wrote back then because the second book in the series, Dead in Red, recently came out. I strongly recommend that everyone read Murder on the Mind first - it is an excellent introduction to Jeffrey Resnick and a great read! The text of my review follows:

I sincerely hope after reading Murder on the Mind by L. L. Bartlett that I've just witnessed the birth of a new mystery series and in fact have no trouble envisioning this as a pilot for a new TV drama series. This well-written novel features widower Jeffrey Resnick, a down-on-his-luck, out-of-work insurance investigator. On the eve of starting a new job and turning his life around, Jeffrey becomes just another New York statistic - a victim of a violent, senseless mugging that leaves him battered and brain damaged. He has little choice but to follow his wealthy older half- brother, Dr. Richard Alpert, home to Buffalo in order to recuperate and try to put the pieces of his shattered life back together.

Just prior to the mugging, but especially afterwards, Jeffrey starts to have strange dreams that seem to correspond to a local murder. Unsure of how to impart his unusual "knowledge" of the crime to the police without appearing crazy or guilty, Jeffrey, with a little help from Richard, decides to look into the murder himself. What follows is exciting and action packed. I couldn't put the book down until I'd finished. I loved the ending, especially since it leaves an opening for more of Jeffrey Resnick et al. in the future. I'm keeping my fingers crossed...

After a brutal mugging in NYC, Jeff Resnick struggles to patch up his life, accept his new psychic abilities, and attempt to use those abilities to help solve a gruesome murder of a banker in Buffalo, New York. The slim book is tightly written and moves briskly forward, a great asset for any mystery. A former insurance investigator downsized out of a job prior to the mugging, Jeff takes the tantalizing clues his on again/off again psychic abilities provide and combines them with sound detective skills to hunt down the killer until he pushes the killer too far threatening his domestic situation. The main plot is intriguing, well done, and a solid read for any mystery lover. The secondary plot surrounding his domestic situation plodded a bit and lacked depth. Still, it's a four out of five star read for the mystery reader in me. For those mystery readers who like the psychic angle, it might climb a bit higher.

L.L. Bartlett's MURDER ON THE MIND is just what I look for in a mystery these days: a book with a balance of plot, character, and something extra. Mystery readers have read it all, so writing a good whodunit requires a meld of good writing with an intriguing element that make the story go in an unexpected direction. Bartlett succeeds on both counts.

Jeff Resnick is hurt, unemployed, dependent on his brother ... and psychic, apparently the result of his injury. As the mystery of who killed a local banker unfolds, he deals with his own doubts and aversion to his "gift" as well as his brother's and that of the police who must be convinced he just "knows" what happened to the eviscerated victim.

What Barlett does well is avoid some traps common to paranormal mysteries. Jeff is a believable character and neither his brother nor the cop descend to the stereotypical role of non-believers who ignore the evidence before them. Neither does the paranormal element get so "woo-woo" that disbelief can no longer be held at bay. Everyone in the story is real, and I accepted Jeff's ability and sympathized with the fact that he wasn't any happier about believing in it than those around him were.

Jeff as a character is well-rounded, and he grows within the story, learning that some of the things we believe as kids are not quite the way we perceived them. As he recovers from his physical injuries, he takes the first tentative steps toward a new level of maturity, finding that accepting the support of others doesn't make a person weak, and that repayment of that support doesn't have to be by tangible means.

MURDER ON THE MIND was published by Five Star Press but is now in paperback through Worldwide Mystery, available on the eHarlequin website beginning Oct. 1st. It's well worth reading, and one can only hope that there is more to come about Jeff Resnick as he begins his second life with second sight.

If it weren't for bad luck, Jeff Resnick would have no luck at all. Just when Jeff thinks his life is on the upswing after sustaining corporate downsizing and personal tragedy, he is viciously mugged by teen-aged thugs in New York City. The injuries leave him with more than a shattered body; his independence is also shattered because he must now ask for help from his estranged half-brother, Richard Alpert, who insists Jeff come back to Buffalo to recover. Jeff reluctantly agrees.

Adjusting to life back in Buffalo is difficult. Not only does Jeff have to come to terms with being dependent on someone for help, he has to recover from the skull fracture he sustained in the attack. And there is the matter of the vivid mental images he keeps having - images of the victim of a savage murder, the overwhelming feelings of the murderer and those of a terrified witness to the crime.

Seeing Jeff come to terms with the surprising new circumstances of his life, including the new "ability" his injury seems to have awakened is what propels Murder on the Mind and takes the reader on Jeff's often harrowing journey. L.L. Bartlett's clear, taut prose keeps the reader wanting to know more as the tale unfolds and the core truths are revealed about the murder, the murderer and Jeff's new-found insight. Bartlett also leaves a few intriguing questions unanswered, begging more tales of Jeff, Richard and the wonderfully-drawn supporting characters in the book.

I highly recommend Murder on the Mind, a fast-paced and original mystery with an unexpected setting and a very unconventional investigator. I look forward seeing more of Jeff Resnick and the environs around Buffalo, New York very soon!

L.L. Bartlett's MURDER ON THE MIND is an exceptional debut mystery that adds a paranormal element to the enjoyment of unraveling traditional investigative techniques. Told in the first person through the eyes of a psychic sleuth, or perhaps brain damaged, MURDER ON THE MIND heightens the level of suspense as each new clue or vision arises.

A mugging in Manhattan, leaves former insurance investigator Jeff Resnick with broken bones and a fractured skull --- and completely dependent on his rich estranged half brother Dr. Richard Alpert and his girlfriend Brenda Stanley. Visions of a hunt and and a hunter stalking his deer prey terrify Jeff. The doctors diagnose brain damage. Days later, a local banker is found dead, his murder eerily similar to the details of Jeff's nightmares. Jeff believes the attack has left him with a sixth sense, a psychic ability to see murder before the event. Jeff uses his visions and his investigative skills to try to solve the crime but as he gets closer to the killer, danger arises from all corners. Will the police trust his revelations are due to psychic visions or attribute his knowledge to a more nefarious means? As Jeff becomes closer to his half brother, dangerous past secrets emerge touching his traumatic childhood. Somewhere danger lurks and Jeff must work hard and fast if he doesn't want to become a victim to one of the dark secrets he uncovers.

L.L. Bartlett writes a magnificent mystery! MURDER ON THE MIND mixes an eerie, psychic paranormal element with an investigative hunt for clues and facts, never sacrificing the mystery to an easy resolution. Intriguing twists keep the reader poised at ever page. MURDER ON THE MIND will appeal to a variety of readers from lovers of traditional mysteries to suspense lovers with its ominous, supernatural feel and even beyond these genres as moments of tenderness and fear both move the reader's heart. L.L. Bartlett truly leaves the reader guessing, never quite sure of the murderer's identity as terrifying details mix with an investigative trail more typical of light mysteries. The complicated psychological battle between Jeff and his brother might turn either way. With possible brain damage in play, is Jeff a reliable first person narrator? Will past secrets come to light to add another twist to this murder mystery? L.L. Bartlett's fine writing keeps the pages turning with eager anticipation until the very end.

I know Larry personally and have heard him tell the amazing story of he and his wife. It's incredible to see his story now in print! He and his wife are class acts and very personable.

Their concern for others with brain injuries is very obvious and the thing that impresses me the most is that I know they have a very keen and sincere empathy for brain injury survivors...

--
Best Regards,
Curtis Arnold
[...]Author of "How You can Profit from Credit Cards"
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0132353776 (FT Press, 2008)
Coauthor of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Person-to-Person Lending"
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Idiots-Person-Person-Lending/dp/1592578829
(Penguin, 2009)

This book was just what I needed to help me understand what my son is going through and how I may be better able to help him. Thank you so much Larry & Beth!! It's only been 8 months but he's doing great and I love the lists the book uses to help keep things organized and remembered. I also love your website! For anyone who is going through TBI or any form of brain injury this book is a must.

You're having a pretty typical day: work is progressing as usual, you make casual conversation here and there, you begin to look forward to your favorite TV shows later that evening...

All of a sudden, you feel a sharp, flashing sensation, you become dizzy & disoriented, and the next thing you know you're waking up in a hospital bed surrounded by friends & family. Over the next few days, doctors and nurses check on your regularly, assuring you that you're improving nicely, that you'll be going home soon, and that you're going to be just fine...

But you're not fine at all. Soon you begin having difficulty reading simple sentences & phrases. Key facts and information - such as your husband's birthday or your anniversary - escape your memory. Cooking a meal for yourself becomes nearly impossible. You even have trouble seeing things in your peripheral vision...

Welcome to the world of over 5 million people in the United States with a long-term or lifelong need for help related to Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). From stroke victims to war veterans to athletes recovering from multiple concussions, TBI survivors often look as normal as their healthy counterparts, but their lives are anything but, and in Brain Injury Survivor's Guide Larry & Beth Jameson provide detailed insight into exactly what makes their daily experiences such a challenge.

Make no mistake, though: their informative self-help guide does not serve as a de facto pity party designed to remind TBI survivors of just how discouraged they should feel about their conditions. Rather, as survivors themselves, the Jamesons do a commendable job of infusing hope, optimism, and courage into the hearts and minds of the numerous individuals whose lives have been thusly affected. With the constant reminder that their lives will never be what they once were, the Jamesons successfully provide TBI survivors with helpful tips and useful advice regarding the adoption of new daily routines, which will greatly assist in the survivors' acclimation to their new quality of life.

The Jamesons even include a detailed list of professional organizations & associations that support TBI survivors with helpful programs and other useful opportunities. Coupled with their comprehensive suggestions for memory improvement and overcoming cognitive & behavioral difficulties, Brain Injury Survivor's Guide is a well-balanced, invaluable resource sure to benefit dozens - if not thousands - of individuals who may feel that they have nowhere to turn. Essential reading for those affected by TBI, as well as those who know someone that is or may be.

The Jameson's have provided readers with an easy to read guide for anyone who has gone through this challenge. I highly recommend this book for victim's and their families. It is a great read.

We know these people, or at least we thought we did. Now we understand a lot more about them and appreciate them even more. Larry & Beth have opened up a world that is really scary to many people and they opened it up in such a revealing way. Our hats off to them. This is the first book that I'm seen my wife read cover to cover and be really interested in. If you are close to or know anyone who has suffered from TBI, then get this book. It will tell you a lot. This should be a handout in every trauma facility.

Head Cases is an entertaining and eye-opening account of brain injuries. Michael Paul Mason provides the horrific truths of treatment and care of traumatic brain injuries through insightful stories and brief lessons in neuroscience. Mason's simple, conversational style allows the reader to follow along in his work as a brain injury case manager jumping from city to city. Head Cases presents the grim reality of traumatic brain injury and does a great job of highlighting the fact that sufficient treatment options are almost nonexistent. Unlike many scientific accounts that are difficult to follow, Head Cases is written using conversational language that makes each story intriguing and makes it a difficult book to put down. With each story comes horrifying thoughts of just how delicate the human brain is and how easily just "a tap on the head" can affect any of us.

Head Cases introduces the reader to Michael Paul Mason, a brain injury case manager, and the stories of some of his clients. As a case manager, one of only dozens in his profession, Mason aids patients struggling with life after a brain injury when hospital resources and insurance have been depleted. He reveals that while ninety thousand victims require extended stay in a rehabilitation clinic, only a few thousand openings are available. Constantly traveling to new cases across the United States, Mason revisits cases through short stories of some of his most interesting experiences with traumatic brain injury, which include a woman who no longer has a memory and a man who can no longer cry. The reader enters into Mason's life at home (or lack their of) and how it has been affected by his work. His stories convey the hardships and frustrations of trying to live a normal life after a traumatic brain injury.

Style
Head Cases is presented in documentary like fashion. The reader is provided with the background of Mason's life and work, the life and stories of victims and their families, and the life of brain injury care takers. The book reads just as you may expect to see on the Discovery Channel. Mason presents the hard facts about insufficient health care for patients, how he finds and helps victims, the stories of the victims, and finally a short explanation of how the brain is being affected. However, Mason's plain diction and informal style make the book pleasant for anyone to read. The reader feels like he is tagging along as Mason travels from case to case.

The Stories of Injury
I was fascinated by each of the stories of traumatic brain injury and its aftermath. Each near death experience puts the reader on the edge of his seat, and leaves him fascinated by the aftermath. Mason does an excellent job of introducing the reader to the lives of the victims as they are now, then piecing together their life-changing, catastrophic events. Mason describes working with victims like Cheyenne Emerick. After being introduced to Cheyenne's new lifestyle of coping with seizures and poverty caused by his brain injury, the reader is taken back to the day when he endured his terrible snowboarding accident.

Life After Injury
In addition to the stories of brain injury, Mason provides accounts of life in rehabilitation clinics. I was interested to learn about the lives of the caretakers and the steps taken to ensure a patient's well being. Mason describes how arriving in a clinic puts the patient in "a completely different world without realizing it." Any "externality" can be a catalyst for unpredictable behavior to a brain injury victim. I was fascinated by the unorthodox mechanisms discovered, often through trial and error, to help a patient feel comfortable (for one patient, wearing raingear indoors).

Mechanisms of the Occurrences
I enjoyed Mason's brief explanations of what affects the aftermath had on the brain as well as his quick neuroanatomy lessons. In each case, Mason describes what part of the brain was affected, how it was affected, and how it in turn affected the body. The lessons are concise and informative to the reader without being overly scientific.

Quotes
"The severely brain injured are not getting the treatment they need - they're getting mistreated through neglect, misplacement, and isolation."

"... we both know that brain injuries cannot be managed any more than a thunderstorm can be managed. They can be endured, accepted, and integrated, but not managed."

"I will tell them the real scenario, the one that nobody else has explained to them, and I will sit and watch as their smiles collapse and their eyes lift to the ceiling and turn red."

Conclusion
Mason provides his experiences of witnessing the impacts brain injuries bring to the lives of their victims. His simple, documentary-like style makes Head Cases an enthralling and informative insight to brain injury. Mason provides interesting stories of cases, coping with the aftermath, and insight as to how the brain works. I highly recommend Head Cases for anyone seeking information about brain injury or just looking for an entertaining book. Sit back and let Michael Paul Mason regale you with his experiences, and you will be amazed by the delicacy and wonders of the human brain.

This book provokes thought and inspires compassion. Mason presents and courts the "big questions" of what, if anything, we are without our "minds" and "brains," but (mercifully) the book does not appear to be aligned with a particular viewpoint. The book is beautifully written and brings to life each of the injured persons, before and after. With luck, this work will serve not only as sound qualitative literature but also as part of the growing impetus to address traumatic brain injury.

This is a frightening and sobering book, the kind you cannot put down at least till you reach the end of each chapter. Concisely written yet full of telling details,Michael takes us on his journey through the inadequacies of our ability to care for brain injured patients and he shares the saga of these survivors of TBI just when we are getting more by the thousands from Iraq. If we are going to appreciate the sacrifices of these soldiers and know what they need, and face, this book is a must read.

This book is much more than informative, it brings to life the personal stories of each TBI victim it memorializes. Every individual account grips you and evokes a plethora of emotions. The author's scientifically enlightening and entertaining narratives leave you feeling a personal connection with the survivors. It is difficult to fathom the horrors some of these people have endured, but the author passionately and respectfully relays deeply personalized chronicles of their trials and tests, all while helping raise awareness of these types of catastrophic injuries. Injuries that could have easily happened to you or I or someone we love. Head Cases has given me a much better appreciation, and respect, for the fascinating machine inside my noggin. Though it has kind of made me want to go out and buy a helmet and a Volvo.

Definitely worth the read.

I loved this book and read it in one sitting. As the mom of a TBI victim, it was an eye opening book. I felt a little disheartened by the grim reality presented by the author (he is a little gloomy .. ) but I think the book will inspire me to continue to be "a squeaky wheel" on my daughter's behalf.

I have QUITE the head injury library at this point, and many are written by survivors or family members with or without the help of a "ghost writer" and i think this leads to some pretty questionable writing and some of them are really hard to get through. HEAD CASES is extremely well written, and was pleasure to read.

"Brainlash" by Gail L. Denton is the book my neurologist, my PT, my neuro-psych, my chiropractor, etc. should have recommended immediately so my family and other supporters would have known what might happen during my (now) 4 year ordeal as a MTBI victim. It's written with a sense of humour and it is written to be easily understood. I strongly feel this book would have made it much easier for my family to understand what I no longer had the ability to explain and that knowledge would have made it possible for them to better support the healing process which still continues for me today. This is not only about her recovery but how to enhance my own recovery. Hallalejuah!! Brainlash: Maximize Your Recovery from Mild Brain Injury

This book is a guide to sanity for those who have experienced mild brain injury, as I have. In the fall of 2000, I suffered an accidental fall and spent the following 15 months in a struggle to recover my 'real self". With the aid of this book, I am now fully functional again and able to cope with the minor relapses. I strongly recommend this book to those who suffer, their friends and caregivers.

I have read a number of books on the subject as I am a person who has a brain Injury. This book, more than any other I have read, has been extremely helpful to me. First of all because it explains so well what happens to the sufferer, both physiologically as well as emotionally. The book also gives lots of possitive suggestions for coping as well as for healing.

I fulheartedly recommend this book for both patients as well as their family and friends. It gives much understanding into the issue of brain injury and also much encouragement. It is an uplifting book, at least for me it was!

Thank you Gail Denton.

If you have suffered from a mild traumatic brain injury, as I have,"Brainlash" was the starting point of recovery for me. And I thank God for this book & Gail Denton every day. I quote a paragraph from the book that sums up the point I was at when I started to read BrainLash. "Brain injury races undetected, underdiagnosed, and undertreated through our society." "Between the medical professions ( untrained to recognize it), the insurance community ( unwilling to pay for it ), and the legal sector (unable to represent the loss or grasp the consequences), the mildly brain injured individual has little to rely on and less to go on." And NO!!!! your not going crazy, It just seems that way. The Book is easy to read and finially puts a name on, fully defines,and gives solutions to the symptoms feelings and thoughts that a brain injured person is experiencing but dosen't know why. It is also important to have your family and friends read it so they can try to understand what you are going thru even when you can't understand it yourself. From the resource section of the book I highly recomend that you consider attending the Sensory learning institute and having cranio-sacral therapy. It has been aprox 18 months since my accident and although I feel full recovery is obtainable, it is a long journey and my journey didn't start until I read this book and used its resources.

This book is a must have for patients and families of brain trauma. It clearly states symptoms and stages of the trauma. It tells you what to expect. It isn't a medical description but a patient to patient description in terms that anyone can comprehend. It is one excellent book. Thank you Gail Denton for writing this book.

We first meet Jersey Hatch on the day he comes home after a year in the hospital. Jersey tried to commit suicide by shooting himself in the head. Not only does he not remember pulling the trigger, but he has also forgotten the year leading up to the event. Jersey, who had once been a star athlete and honor student, now struggles with physical and mental difficulties. His old friends shun him and his parents don't want to talk about anything important, lest they upset him.

With the help of the outspoken, no-nonsense Mama Rush and her granddaughter, Leza, Jersey sets out to unravel the mystery of Before to discover why he tried to kill himself. Finally, he is left with a choice that no one can make for him. Is it better to end it all or to go on living in the hope that life will get better?

This is not a happy book or an easy one to read, but it is absolutely stunning. And so realistic that I felt like I was inside Jersey's damaged head. If you're a teen, or if you've ever been one, read this book. Frog farts! Hoochie mama!

Trigger begins as teenager Jersey Hatch is preparing to leave rehab, a year after, so people tell him, he shot himself in the head. Jersey doesn't remember shooting himself, nor does he remember the year leading up to the shooting, but he knows that he and the people around him have been scarred by it. His father is damaged, though a solid, supportive, presence. Jersey's mother isn't coping as well. His parents' marriage is on shaky ground. Jersey's former friends haven't been to see him, and he knows that his lifelong best friend, Todd, can't stand him anymore.

The only people who treat Jersey with any degree of normalcy are Todd's younger sister, Leza, and Leza and Todd's grandmother, Mama Rush. Mama Rush and Leza both try to help Jersey figure out why he shot himself, a mystery that seems to involve Todd, and/or a former girlfriend. The suspense of Jersey's quest for understanding is mixed with scenes depicting his re-adjustment to home and school.

Jersey is physically and mentally disabled, with limited use of his left arm and leg, patchy short term memory, and difficulty controlling his words. Trigger is told in Jersey's first-person voice (as his thoughts, not as something structured that he's written down). Jersey's thought patterns are scattered, and he frequently obsesses on particular words or ideas. He can't keep from blurting out words that are on his mind, often at inappropriate times. It's a fascinating window into what it might be like for an otherwise intelligent person to learn to live with brain damage, and an utterly unique voice for a novel. Here are a couple of examples:

"Pay the driver. Pay the driver. I could do easy math. I could count change and money and stuff. If I remembered to pay the driver. If I walked off and forgot, he'd call the police and send me to jail. Pay the driver. I clung to my memory book and the bills Mom had given me. The plastic bag with Mama Rush's presents felt heavy on my weak wrist. Don't forget to pay the driver. Jail. Don't forget to keep enough money to get home. Jail. Don't forget to pay the driver." (page 44)

"I put my memory book down on the first step and climbed up as carefully as I could. My headache made the hall seem too long, but I ignored that. That was imagining. Halls didn't get longer and shorter. The noon sunlight came out of rooms in weird ways, making patterns on the floor. I walked across the patterns. The gold in my shoelaces glittered." (page 221)

Author Susan Vaught is a full-time neuropsychologist, and I think that her background brings a particular authenticity to Jersey's problems. Her jacket flap bio says that she "has helped many patients with difficulties like Jersey's. The words and struggles of her adolescent patients often occupy her mind and inspire her creativity."

Although the general topic of Trigger is dark, Jersey's inappropriate phrases add some mild comic relief. A favorite phrase that becomes a bit of a catchword, for instance, is "frog farts". Mama Rush also adds some humor, though she represents wisdom, too. She's a wonderful character, this chain-smoking old black woman on a purple scooter who accepts no nonsense from anyone, and is unphased by Jersey's differences.

Jersey is the ultimate unreliable narrator. By surviving his suicide attempt, he ends up in the unusual position of seeing first-hand the damage that he has wrought. His memory loss, and his quest to understand why he did what he did, work well at keeping his problems at a distance. Jersey doesn't understand any more than anyone else does why he would shoot himself in the head. This bafflement makes the book bearable, even suspenseful, for the reader, in a way that a straightforward account of "here's why I wanted to kill myself" might not. In some ways, Trigger is a hopeful book, too. Despite some major flaws, and some bouts with despair, Jersey wants to fix things. He wants to "glue" his broken mother back together, to make amends to people, and to figure out how to live his life now.

Trigger doesn't feel like a "message" book at all, because Jersey is a such a strong, immediate character. However, there clearly is a message to the book, a message about the damage that a teen can do to other people by committing suicide. The book also gives voice to people who have physical and mental difficulties. This is a compelling book about a serious issue, written in an unforgettable voice. I recommend Trigger for high-school students, boys or girls, though I would hesitate to give it to middle schoolers. The book also contains an end section outlining suicide warning signs, steps to take, and listing resources for help. Additional resources are available from the author's website.

This book review was originally published on my blog, Jen Robinson's Book Page, on July 2, 2007.

Trigger is a wonderfully unique tale-- a psychological journey and mystery told in a vivid and unusual voice. After a traumatic brain injury from a bullet, teenage Jersey is on a mission to figure out the circumstances that led to the gunshot to his head. The story holds you enthralled as Jersey uncovers clues about who he was before-- and ultimately, tries to figure out who he is now.

The author, Susan Vaught, is a neuropsychologist who obviously has a deep understanding of the narrator's complex feelings. I felt that I was completely inside Jersey's head as I read this. Reading this book is a fascinating experience-- it really made me empathize with people who have injuries like Jersey's, and feel the frustration of having your mind and body partly out of your control. I have tremendous respect for Vaught's ability to capture this experience and weave it into an engaging mystery with humor and tenderness. A must-read!

I love this book and my thirteen-year-old daughter loves it as well.
It's a positive book and a very nice read for all ages.
I've enjoyed every line of it and I am recommending it to friends.
NH is reading "Fahrenheit 541" and I was asked if I could save only one book ( not counting religious books) which would it be?
"Trigger" was the first book that came to my mind.
Enjoy!

Frog farts.

Santa. Shoelaces. Elana Arroyo.

All these words are a jumble in Jersey Hatch's head.

HOUSE IS FINE MORON QUIT ASKING.

He has to remind himself to do the things that you and I take for granted, like thinking before speaking, and climbing a flight of stairs, or not constantly asking aloud if his parents' house is all right.

He didn't always have to do this. He didn't always need an aide at school, and he used to have a best friend, Todd, and decent grades and a place on the football and golf teams.

That was before he shot himself in the head.

Since the shooting, Jersey has lost all of his recent memory. He doesn't remember any of his 15th year and only recalls a portion of his 16th, the portion not spent in a coma, on a ventilator. Now, just turned 17, he is home from the hospital with three very deep scars and a thousand questions. The most frustrating question, the one neither he nor anyone else can answer, is: Why did you shoot yourself? To answer this question, Jersey will have to go through his book of memories and visit with one of the only people who never gave up on him: Mama Rush, his best friend's wise, sometimes curmudgeonly grandmother.

Mama Rush isn't going to make anything easy for Jersey, though. In order to find the answer to the question of why he shot himself, Jersey will have to make seemingly farfetched lists of possible reasons, contact people who would ridicule him, and try to communicate through the seemingly random words that infiltrate his speech. And the one person who might have the key to Jersey's discovery, his former best friend Todd, wants nothing to do with him.

If you liked THE BURN JOURNALS by Brent Runyon, then you'll be fascinated by Jersey's "upward and outward" climb towards memory and recovery. Like Brent, Jersey will never make a full physical recovery, but in his journey towards learning the answers he needs to fill in the empty spaces in his memory, he finds strange new friendships and unexpected alliances. To come to an understanding with himself, his family and his former friends, he will have to take small steps, speak one word at a time, and do his best not to give up when the words become clutter and his curiosity about the shooting makes him do and say irrational things.

Jersey's recovery won't be easy for anyone he is or was close to. And he will find out quickly not only who cares about him, but how.

--- Reviewed by Carlie Webber.

The imagery of some of our country's most remote locations is so vividly described you feel as though you are right there as Debra treks to far-flung places as a school psychologist. I was dismayed, no horrified, by the dramatic dissimilarity between what the law demands for education of our children vs. the lip service actually provided. The techniques that Debra used to help America's troubled children learn should be read and implemented by educators everywhere. And then the heartbreak as the realization dawned for Debra that her Traumatic Brain Injury would force her to leave the profession she loved. This is an extraordinary book that exposes the dark side of education and shows how our children are still being "left behind". It is also a book about the challenges for victims suffering with Traumatic Brain Injury, a look at how hard it is to "connect the dots" when the pathways have been destroyed. Debra triumphs over every obstacle with perseverance and courage. An absolute must-read that you won't be able to put down!

On Christmas Day of 2007, I was favored with a gift I shall always treasure... the first draft of A Matter of Panache. An author can never know the manner in which her words will affect a reader. In my case this story's effect on me was so profound that two months later I was standing on a frozen lake in Alaska, experiencing for myself the crisp, cold silence of the Arctic winter that she describes in part I of the book.

And I've returned two more times since then.

But that is not the only impact this book had on me.

I've yet to meet Debra Sanders in person and yet, after reading the book, I am left with the sense that the first two words of Chapter One personify not just her story, but her. Panache begins with the words, "Open up."

Open Up. It seems to me that this imperative, this plea, this lament resounds through the life of this gifted, loving and devoted educational professional who fights for justice, patience and understanding for her students--and ultimately for herself.

Open Up. As a psychologist, an educator and as a writer, Debra Sanders expands awareness, diminishes fear, and instills self-confidence, not only in children, but in everyone. In short, she empowers. Even people like myself who sometimes require a crow bar to open up! This book just makes you feel... and think. A powerful combination.

The premise of Panache is fascinating. It begins with a woman who leads a fiercely independent, self-reliant yet nurturing existence. I mean, how many radiant young women move to a remote, wilderness area on the Bering Sea to be a school psychologist living and learning from and with Yupik and Inupiat Eskimo children? And how many veterans of the Alaskan Arctic relocate to the canyon lands of southeastern Utah in order to continue to learn from and advocate for the Navajo, Ute and Mormon children who live there?

And when, through a paradoxical twist of fate, Debra is forced to confront something within herself that changes everything--a traumatic brain injury that presents her with challenges greater than any she ever faced in dealing with the psychological issues of her students--how many would have chosen the road she ultimately travels to understand her own story so that she can continue her fight to make sure that truly no child is left behind.

Debra's story is visceral and visual. It is big, broad, wonderful and wild, yet intimate, tender and warm. In reading Panache, I felt as if I had stood on the precipice with Debra, confronted demons and desk jockeys, retreated into darkness and desolation, felt her pain, loneliness, frustration, exceeding joy, and emerged transformed... soaring.

I made the mistake of starting Panache just before dinner. I ended up scrounging through leftovers that evening. Panache became my companion for the next couple of weeks and, throughout my reading, I kept saying to myself, "I never had a teacher who truly inspired me. You would have. I wish you'd been my teacher." When I finished the book, I realized... indeed Debra Sanders has been my teacher and she has inspired me.

What a wonderful gift to have received that Christmas morning. Don't wait for Christmas. Inspiration and empowerment are right there in print. There is no question that for me, I will buy the final version the minute the doors open up on November 18th--which I understand is when A Matter of Panache will be available to the public.

Put a high-achieving woman behind the wheel, add lack of sleep and end up with a recipe for a roller coaster ride known as a "Mild" Traumatic Brain Injury.

Before her accident, Debra spent her career providing students and fellow educators with new and innovative ways to learn and grow and get beyond their limitations. Ironically, a car accident gave her a life altering set of physical and mental limitations of her own.

This book will make you laugh and cry. It takes the reader on a mental and physical journey of a highly intelligent woman, who experiences physical and emotional loss and pain. You see through her eyes the recognition that the special "panache" which helped her in her career was lost in the accident. With her recognition comes the chance for her to create a new and different life, regaining that "panache" in a different way.

I really enjoyed this book and I believe it is a great read for anyone, especially:
~ Someone who has suffered a brain injury
~ Family members, caregivers, and support team members of those who have suffered brain injuries
~ Educators that aid and serve students with disabilities
~ Safe driving advocates
~ Those that support our brave soldiers who are now returning home - especially those who feel that their loved one isn't quite the same
You will get a glimpse of some of the oddities that come when a brain no longer functions in a "normal" manner.

This was generously edited by my husband so you can understand my thoughts, because I too am on the brain injury roller-coaster.

Debra Sanders writes beautifully and compellingly of her life as a school psycholigist both before and after she experiences a life-changing traumatic brain injury. As shes brings to life the richness and complexity of children with special needs, we sense the depth and breadth of her professionalism and dedication. We fall in love with her through her experiences only to suffer with her as she experiences a traumatic brain injury which leaves her ability to write beautifully intact while significantly challenging her ability to think and function in other areas of her life. First we root for her children. Then we root for her. Finally, we are left touched by her love, charm, insight, and courage in sharing her life story with us, including the challenges of a never-ending disability. This is a beautifully deep must-read book.

"A Matter of Panache" is a spellbinding and powerful story of the extraordinary deeds of a dedicated educational psychologist.

Debra Sanders leads us on amazing odyssey from the Alaskan Yukon, to the canyon lands of Utah, through the delirium of a brain injury, and the exasperating back-channels of unethical bureaucracy within our public school system.

Debra battles irrepressibly against unacceptable mediocrity, for the rights of children. She pulls back the curtain for us to witness heartrending cases of abuse, families struggling with Asperger's syndrome, attention deficits, behavioral challenges, learning disabilities, brain injuries, and other physical, cognitive and/or emotional problems.

This is a rare and courageous expose about the limitations of special education today, plus is a window into the disturbing experience of traumatic brain injury.

Yet in the end Panache is an uplifting tale of hope for our civilization.

A lifetime of unique adventure and generosity,
now shared for the benefit of all of us,
and it's a terrific read!

Of all the traumatic brain injury books designed for laymen that I have read, this is the best -- from both understanding the medical aspects to dealing with the personality changes in a TBI patient. I only wish that a more recent edition was available and that a chapter dealing with the wild ride that occurs with elderly patients was included.

Excellent coverage of a very difficult subject.I am a brain injury nurse @ a rehabilitation hospital and have worked w/TBI patients for 20 years. This book takes you through the unfortunate experience about as well as anything I have yet read.I bought this for my daughter whose longtime boyfriend suffered a closed head injury in April,2008. She could not put this book down for 3 days. Excellent info/insight.

All the other books I've read on that subject (my husband has TBI) are too techical. This is written in easy to understand languate and gives you the truth on what to expect when your loved one has a TBI.

This was an excellent book. It's easy to read and well organized. Great references for further reading and help. If your loved one recently suffered a TBI this is the book to read. It will answer alot of the questions you will have as they progress in treatment. This book will explain the medications, treatment procedures etc that your loved one may be going through. I wish I would have gotten this book from the beginning. This is an excellent book to purchase for someone as soon as possible. It will help guide you through the process and what to expect.

After living with and caring for my 31 year old son, who suffers from a TBI, reading this book was a positive lift. It gave me hope, new ideas to try, and support for me and the rest of my family. TBI's are terrible injuries, especially when they are as severe as my son's; having reading material at hand that is well written and filled with good information is wonderful.