This month I am happy to spotlight two organizations that are close to my family’s heart, the Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania and Camp Cranium. My family has been a proud supporter of these organizations for several years because of the effect they have had in the life of my sister-in-law, Marissa. In 2004, at age 14, Marissa was hit by a car while crossing a busy street on Halloween night. She sustained serious injuries from the accident and spent several weeks in Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. A traumatic brain injury from the accident severely affected her physical and mental abilities, forcing her to relearn common functions like walking and speaking. However, through a lot of hard work and determination, along with the support of her family, doctors and therapists, Marissa made an amazing recovery from the accident. Miraculously her injuries healed and if you met her today you may never know the accident happened! While Marissa is fully recovered physically, the effects of her traumatic brain injury continue in her day to day life. In the years since the accident, the Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania and Camp Cranium have helped Marissa cope with the challenges of traumatic brain injury, and have also allowed her to share her experiences and support with other people whose recovery from similar injuries has not progressed as far along as hers. These organizations attempt to educate people on how to prevent brain injury and also try to improve the quality of life for people who have experienced brain injury. My family has joined Marissa in supporting these organizations and promoting the study and treatment of traumatic brain injury.
On April 12, 2014, the “Run, Walk, Roll for Brain Injury” will be held in Tyler State Park in Bucks County, PA to help support these organizations in the quest to assist people suffering from traumatic brain injury. My family has participated in this event for the last few years and it is an enjoyable and inspiring day in the park. For more information on the event, and to support Marissa’s team, please follow this link.