September 2018 Newsletter

September 2018 Labor of Love Every September we celebrate the American workforce with Labor Day. Good job, everyone! Inside this issue: Today, however, I want to focus on and celebrate the unseen work- force in America and around the world—the workforce of Caregiv- ers! The definition of labor as a verb is: 1. work hard; make great effort; BI Support Group Pg. 2 2. have difficulty in doing something despite working hard. I chose the “verb” definition because Caregiving is all about action and is SCI Information Pg. certainly labor intensive. Corner 3 Caregiving is labor because it is physically and emotionally demand- ing. When someone is in your care, they don’t stop needing care Dates to Pg. Remember 4 simply because you are tired, frustrated or weary. Their needs are still there. Rehab Supports Pg. Caregiving is labor because there are times when it is tough and Calendar 5 things go wrong despite your best efforts. Behaviors can escalate de- spite your efforts. Illness appears out of nowhere despite everything you do to prevent those illnesses. Caregiving is labor because there is always a battle to fight. You fight with the system, with doctors, with family, and sometimes with the person that you are trying to care for. Caregiving is labor because every day, caregivers get up, show up, and do what they need to do. Because, they...well, because they care. Caregiving is a labor of love...bottom line. Caregivers find joy in the small victories. Caregivers encourage the person they are caring for even when they are discouraged. Caregivers laugh and celebrate in the face of adversity. New Horizon Center So, on this Labor Day, and every day, hats off to you, Caregivers. 250 Victory Lane Conway, SC 29526 Please stand up and be recognized for all of your labor! And, as you go through your Caregiving labors, remember: Ellen Leftwich: Be kind to yourself. No one is perfect and you have bad days, 843-349-7250 too. Jennifer Frettoloso: 843-349-7258 Take a minute for yourself. You are allowed to take a breath now Fax: 843-347-1399 and then. Email: [email protected] Recognize that what you do is important and not just for the in- dividual or individuals you are caring for. Thank you to all those Caregivers. You are amazing! Page 2 Brain Injury Support Group

BISG Meeting A Dangerous July 19, 2018 Time of the Year New Horizons In attendance: Tracy Ste- We all value our grandpar- vens, Tom Culbert, James ents no matter how old they are. Whether they were born in Brockington, Jason Lepurage, 1980 or 800 BC, we still cele- 150 Cleveland Park Drive Ray Singleton, David brate them on Grandparents Greenville, SC US 29601 Reimschussell and Emily, Day, September 9th. Now we We welcome you to the 11th An- Ellen Leftwich, and Jennifer have the season of the year, nual Run For Thought 5K and 1 starting on September 23rd, Mile Walk / Roll… Frettoloso. Sat October 20, 2018 Today was a small group. where many grandparents get very curious. That’s right, the The Brain Injury Association of The meeting consisted of a first day of autumn. They go South Carolina (BIASC) is dedi- delicious potluck meal, light outside to see all of the trees cated to creating a better future conversation, and meaningful turn bright colors and watch through brain injury prevention, fellowship. Next month the the leaves “fall” off the trees. research, education and advocacy. What makes it so dangerous is We are the only nonprofit organi- group will meet at Pizza Inn zation in the state dedicated to on September 20th. that when they try to catch a falling leaf, our dear grandpar- preventing and helping those with brain injury. The Run For ents end up falling down and Thought 5K and 1 Mile Walk / not being able to get up too! If Roll began as a support for brain Just a reminder, we are you are lucky enough to be able injury survivors and a tool for already collecting items for to call your grandparents, call awareness. It was initially about them today and tell them how the Christmas Stockings for the patients and giving them the much you love them, and to not the Elderly. opportunity to participate in some- If you have any questions, go outside to catch the falling thing with meaning. This event please contact Ellen or leaves. has increased from 45 participants to 400+ participants with partici- Jennifer. Jason Lepurage pants who are both brain injury [email protected] survivors and teams that run/walk/ roll in honor or memory of some- one. The Run For Thought has become a community event that Brain Injury Support Am I not destroying Group Meeting includes brain injury survivors, my enemies when I caregivers, providers, as well as make friends of them? competitive runners. Please note - This event is run September 20 , 2018 ~Abraham Lincoln~ mostly on the Swamp Rab- 12-2pm bit Trail. 100% of the run is on pavement. At Pizza Inn Race Contact Info 1404 Church St, Conway, SC 29526 https://runsignup.com/Race/ SC/Greenville/ RunForThought Page 3

Spinal Cord Injury Information Corner

Theatre Artists With Applesauce Chutney Just Because Disabilities Are Ready, (Simple Autumn Recipe) Willing, and, Yes, Able How do you fix a broken If you want to know where Ingredients pumpkin? disability has made the biggest  1 red onion, chopped With a pumpkin patch impact in any form of American  2 tablespoons butter media, check out the live thea-  1 24 ounce jar chunky ap- What's the ratio of a pump- ter listings in New York City, plesauce kin's circumference to its Chicago, Cleveland, Seattle  1/4 cup golden raisins diameter? and maybe your town, too.  1 tablespoon minced crys- Pumpkin Pi Long a fountainhead of innova- tallized ginger tion and inspiration for film and  1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme What did one autumn leaf television, the “thea-taa” — ac- say to another? tors, playwrights, musical Preparation I'm falling for you. dramatists and the impresarios In large pan over medium, Who won the skeleton who pay for it all — has gradu- cook onion in butter until sof- beauty contest? ally been introducing charac- tened, 3 minutes. Add remain- No body ters and plot lines featuring dis- ing ingredients; cook 3 ability experiences since The minutes, then season. Serve Miracle Worker first opened on with pork. Broadway in 1959. Just in the last two to three years, though, the pace has greatly accelerated. Performers with disabilities have gone from cast members to known quantities and even stars, while produc- tions about disabilities have gone from small notices in the back pages of the The New Wheel to Surf York Times to major award winners. Even if you have never Saturday, September 8 at 9:00 seen a live production of a play AM - 3:00 PM EDT and get your regular entertain- You cannot shake 21st Ave S, North Myrtle ment fix from film and TV, you Beach, SC 29582, United should be jumping for joy, at hands with a States least figuratively. Theater is Details clenched fist. busting through roadblocks and “Wheel to Surf" is an adaptive upending clichés. This stuff will Indira Gandhi surfing clinic for people with all spread. Success in American levels of physical and cognitive show business is contagious abilities to get out and enjoy and cross-fertilizing. the waves! Come join us for To read more, visit: the best day of the year! ww.newmobility.com Volunteers are needed!

Michael Lynch Dates to Remember November 24, 1957 - June 21, 2018 I had the privilege of meeting Michael about 10 years ago. He  9/3 Labor Day came to one of our Brain Injury Support Group meetings and the (Agency Closed) rest is, as they say, history. Michael told us the story of his injury. He was the victim of a hit and run when he was about 17. He was  9/9 Rosh Hashanah begins in a coma for about a year. Michael says that one of his 10 broth- at sundown ers and sisters brought his baby nephew to the hospital. The baby was laying on his chest laughing. And that’s what Michael woke  9/20 Brain Injury Support up to see. Michael laughed from then on. (Plus, he laughed at my Group Meeting jokes, even when they were only marginally funny.) He was a fixture in his community where he went to meetings,  9/23 Autumnal Equinox stores and activities independently. (First Day of Fall) When Michael met Marcia, he asked her out. Despite being con- cerned about Michael being in a wheelchair, Marcia went out with Michael—and fell in love with him. They were married for 17 years. He always called Marcia Sweetie. Michael and Marcia took cruises and made friends wherever they went. Michael was an excellent self advocate. He never shied from speaking up. He talked to congressmen and councilmen about the needs in his community for people with disabilities. Michael was brave. He fought long and hard to regain his health. And when he could no longer fight, he met his Maker with a glad heart, surrounded by his loving family and his wife. Rest in Peace, Michael. You are missed.

Celebrity Birthdays

September 4, 1981- Beyonce Knowles, singer September 5, 1847- Jesse James, Outlaw, bank and train robber Disability is not the end, September 7, 1860 -Grandma Moses (Anna Mary Moses), painter it’s an opportunity for a September 7, 1949- Gloria Gaynor, singer "I Will Survive" new beginning. September 10, 1934- Charles Kuralt, TV journalist, newscaster September 16, 1924- B. B. King, blues singer September 16, 1956- David Copperfield, magician September 17, 1948- John Ritter, actor, comedian September 21, 1866- H. G. Wells, novelist September 21, 1947- Stephen King, novelist, horror stories Horry County Disabilities September 23, 1930- Ray Charles, singer, songwriter and Special Needs September 25, 1952- Christopher Reeve, actor, "Superman" movie September 29, 1935- Jerry Lee Lewis, singer, musician