| Participant Testimonials |
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Invisible Injuries...
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...Visible Results |
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"The Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre's cognitive programs have allowed me to continue with my art and be a productive member of the community. I have regained my self confidence and my credibility as an artist, thanks to the Centre and its staff."
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Laurel Cormack
Laurie is a Canadian artist. She was referred to the Centre after experiencing problems with her memory, recurring headaches, disorientation and difficulties with reasoning. Laurie had sustained a brain injury through a blow she had suffered years before. She spent a year and a half with the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre, learning to cope with her reasoning difficulties and to adopt to the on-going changes in her life. |
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"Originally, I started there (BIRC) in a wheel chair and I am now walking with the help of a walker or hand cane with the help of their physio therapy sessions. I have also improved cognitively. I also attended memory group sessions and have developed great strategies to improve my memory. I had an excellent case manager, Rachel Murray. She was never too busy to address a worry or concern. The other therapists there were wonderful as well.”
BIRC has helped me a great deal and I just wanted people to know this.
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Carla
Carla was involved in a motor vehicle accidence in February 1999. After spending four months in the hospital, she was able to return home. Carla spend a year and half with the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre learning to walk and improve her cognitive abilities.
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"It’s done wonders. It’s quite amazing what they can do. “It’s like watching a plant grow, if you just sit in front of it, you don’t notice a change.” (Excerpt from Calgary Herald article, Friday June 7, 2002). I credit BIRC staff and the centre’s programming for huge improvements in my life. I found that programs set up for my individual needs not only had a benefit in my cognitive functioning, but also how I view others with brain injury. To accept a brain injury is very difficult, but to deal with one is much easier. I feel privileged that I was able to attend such a professional rehabilitation centre, entering as a “boy that needed a bit of help”, and leaving a more confident person.
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Mike
Mike suffered a traumatic spinal cord injury and brain injury in May 1998 in a motor vehicle crash. It wasn’t until he took a psychology course at the University of Calgary that he found out about his memory problems. His home-care therapist recommended the rehabilitation centre (BIRC). Family and friends say his words are clearer and his memory has improved. Mike is also now a member of the Canadian National Quad Rugby Team.
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"My case manager, the team at BIRC and the volunteers are helping to increase my memory and help me read write and talk again. For me, Rachel helped me get into the YWCA for ‘English as a Second Language’ classes, and the Ability Society for computer training. My case manager, Daryl, helps me with problems of daily life, for example with AISH forms and my citizenship application. Dr. Mahon, the Psychologist is also very good, and the volunteers help me when I still don’t understand a word even though I’ve looked it up in the dictionary. BIRC is a nice place to come to.
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Ghulam
Ghulam was involved in a motor vehicle collision and spent six months in a hospital recovering from the accident. His speech therapist recommended BIRC and Ghulam has been at BIRC little over a year.
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"Anger Management helped me realize that people around me were not soldiers in the war that I was having with myself…therefore…I should not fire at them. My self-esteem was so low that people were surprised that I was still breathing. I have to tell you that losing my self image was a difficult loss and tough to get back. BIRC is a special place with lots of special people and we are lucky to be a part (of it). If my brain injury was like losing my life, now I have the tools to rebuild and the staff at BIRC helped me believe that I will not fail.
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Marlene
Marlene’s challenges began in October 1978 when she was injured in a motor vehicle collision – a year after having started classes at the University of Alberta. In 1978 the concept of brain injury was relatively new. After many difficult years of job losses and personal setbacks, Marlene was introduced to BIRC in 2001. |
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"I would like to express my appreciation to all the team members and volunteers I have dealt with at BIRC, because it is the first time since my accident that I have had help with my unique personal problems and not been treated as another statistic. Everything they show me I practice at home on the four days I am not at BIRC. They also recognized that my new medication was affecting my balance and coordination and, as a result of them noticing, my doctor changed my medication. My balance and coordination have improved again. I want to thank everyone at BIRC. Here I get treated like Ed, not a statistic.
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Ed
Ed was involved in an incident in March 1998. |
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"Initially when I was told I should come to BIRC….I knew it would help me a little but to what extent I couldn’t imagine.
I don’t think words alone are enough to tell you how grateful I am over BIRC helping me so much; I am so glad you will always be around to help those of us who need it!
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Habeba
Habeba was involved in a motor vehicle collision as a child. BIRC assisted Habeba with acquiring employment and working with the employer in having them understand her special needs. |
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"One of my goals while I was at BIRC was to work again in the community. I began with volunteering at Rockyglen Kennels. I was accompanied by Daryl several times until I was able to do the work by myself. Daryl also came with me to Norwest Labs to see if I could volunteer there as I worked for this company before my accident. I found Daryl’s help great, so I could see if I could do the work without hurting myself. I hope you (BIRC) can continue to do this for other people like me.
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Karen
Karen BIRC’s staff provide on-site job placement support. In Karen’s case, Daryl Hebert of BIRC, provided the much needed support in her volunteer placement. For many, this is the first step to future employment opportunities.
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