KINGMAN - A week that did not start well for a group trying to begin a traumatic brain injury support group brightened considerably last Thursday when it learned that its application for a regular meeting place was approved at the Del Webb Wellness Center.
"We now have a room on the second Friday of each month between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. at the Wellness Center," said Jack Cohen, a TBI survivor.
Cohen had received a call from Stephanie Meza, who was attempting to organize the group. He said Meza was contacted by Lynn Lawson, education assistant at the Wellness Center, saying the group's application for use of a meeting room had been approved.
Lawson said approval for use of the Hualapai Room on the second Friday of each month came earlier last week. She had not been able to contact Meza with the good news until Wednesday.
"We held one meeting in November with eight people attending it at the Del Webb Wellness Center," Meza said last Monday morning. "We wanted to get use of the room permanently and was told we could have it on the second Wednesday of each month.
"I filled out an application in December for that support group and nothing more happened."
Meza and Cohen both said liability issues had arisen at other locations where they inquired as to availability of a meeting room.
Cohen said he had received information from the Brain Injury Association of America indicating there are 5.4 million Americans afflicted with brain injuries. He suffered his injury about 10 years ago in an auto accident that left him in a coma.
When he awakened, he lost both short-term and long-term memory and was plagued with migraine headaches and light sensitivity.
"I had difficulty dealing with anger management, frustration and depression," Cohen said. "Ten years later, I'm probably 20 percent of the person I was before the injury." Brain injury is financially devastating and leaves the victim with emotional trauma, he said.
Judith Herr has a 19-year-old son who was an honor roll student at a private school in California six years ago when he was critically injured by a hit-and-run driver while riding his bicycle. "When he came out of his coma, he started at age 5 and had to learn to read, walk and everything else," Herr said.
Her son attends Mohave Community College. Herr said it is like living with someone afflicted with attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and bipolar all in one. "Brain injury not only affects the victim, but everyone around that individual with social, emotional and financial aspects all coming into play. It's a devastating injury."
Reader Comments
Posted: Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Article comment by:
shawn bailey
It's good to hear that we are getting a support group for TBI sufferers. People have no idea what hurdles they will have to overcome. My wife was in a coma for a month following a boating accident, and no one understands what the families have to go through
Mohave County really needs more support groups like the one started in Kingman. Lake Havasu could use one and the public should be more aware of their needs
Good Luck in Kingman, we may be at the next meeting.
