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A NEWSLETTER BY SUMMER I 2014 WWW.BIAMA.ORG Heads Up headlines New Release: Chicken Soup for the Soul The Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts (BIA-MA) is proud to announce that stories written by five of our staff members, as well as several Massachusetts residents affected by traumatic brain injury (TBI), were selected for inclusion in the new Chicken Soup for the Soul (CSS) book released into bookstores nationwide on June 24th. This new book is entitled Recovering from Traumatic Brain Injuries: 101 Stories of Hope, Healing and Hard Work. Our Executive Director Nicole Godaire beamed with pride when presented with this new book. “I am proud of my staff, having the courage to tell their stories to the world. I believe this book will become a valuable resource for families dealing with recovery from traumatic brain injury.” Chicken Soup for the Soul was named by USA Today in 2007 as “one of the five most memorable books in the last quarter-century” and after 21 years of publishing, have sold over 100 million books in the United States . and Canada alone. You now have the opportunity to bump that number past inside this issue 100 million books by purchasing your copy of Recovering from Traumatic Brain Injuries: 101 Stories of Hope, Healing and Hard Work directly from Meet the BIA-MA Sta the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts. We are selling the book for $12.50 (this is lower than the retail price and includes the cost of shipping Authors of the New and handling) and proceeds from the sale of each book will help support Chicken Soup for the our mission: to create a better future for brain injury survivors and their Soul book...........3 families through brain injury prevention, education, advocacy and support. To order online, visit www.biama.org. If you are unable to order online, please contact our offices and speak to Sandra Madden, she can be reached rd 33 Annual Brain at (508) 475-0032 or toll-free (in state) at (800) 242-0030. Injury Conference When you receive your book, look for BIA-MA colleagues’ stories on Round-up.......10-11 pages 64, 86, 177, 310, and 361. Stories written by other Massachusetts residents affected by TBI appear on pages 15, 80, 128, 195, 212 and 307. Check out our BIA-MA Staff Authors and what they have to say about this exciting opportunity on page 3. 2014 BIA-MA Annual Golf Classic......15 For more information about the BIA-MA, call 1-800-242-0030 or visit www.biama.org executive message LAURA HERMAN BIA-MA Board of Directors On Monday June 23rd, we awoke to sunny Officers skies, temperatures in the 80’s and no threat Teresa Hayes, MSW, LICSW of rain. Since this was the day of the President Annual BIA-MA golf outing a weather Kenneth Kolpan, Esq. forecast like this is a really good thing. The Immediate Past President Annual Golf Classic, our major fundraiser, has been held at The Haven Country Club David Dwork, Esq. in Boylston, MA for the past two years. Treasurer Harold Wilkinson, MD, PhD As Chair of this event, the Annual Golf Secretary Classic represents months of work behind the scenes of recruiting sponsors, gathering David “Chip” Bradley, Jr. Survivor Council, Co-Chair auction items, enticing golfers to come and Executive Committee Member play, coordinating schedules, food, timing and all of the activities that make a successful Matthew M. Martino, CFA outing. It was truly a team effort between the staff and the golf Executive Committee Member committee getting all of this accomplished. Members My history with BIA-MA has been lifelong. It really started on a back Helen Brown Bryant, Esq. road in Vermont when the van carrying the daughter of my mother’s best friend overturned. That moment sparked what we see today. John C. Byler Three women, all with similar stories, decided that brain injuries were Survivor and Author underserved and misunderstood. This grassroots effort later became a Robert C. Cantu, MD, MA, FACM national organization dedicated to providing resources and guidance Neurosurgeon & Co-Founder, for those with traumatic brain injuries. It has truly been an inspiration Sports Legacy Institute to see this grow into the operation it is today. As a current board Evan B. Gray member, I look forward to seeing the organization develop and become Family Member the preeminent authority on brain injury education and prevention. Laura Herman There are so many good stories to be told about survival, perseverance, Insurance Marketing Agencies (IMA) and hope. Susan Zellmann-Rohrer As CEO of Insurance Marketing Agencies (IMA), brain injuries and RBM Technologies related traumas are not unusual in my line of work. We see them in Lisa Saba, CBIS auto accidents, workers’ injuries and disability claims. I have been NeuroRestorative lucky to have the support of many of the carriers IMA represents including Arbella Insurance Company, Hanover Insurance Company Marilyn Price Spivack and Philadelphia Insurance. I have also recruited many of my friends Founder of BIAA and Family Member to come play in the Annual Golf Classic and learn more about BIA- Executive Director MA. It’s great, I invite them to play golf and then I get to show them Nicole Godaire firsthand an organization that I’m deeply passionate about. It’s a good trade-off. Advertising The keynote speaker at the Annual Golf Classic, Ryan Farrell, said it To advertise, please contact best in her speech when she quoted the late Maya Angelou, “Surviving Kelly Ethier at [email protected] is important. Thriving is elegant.” Come be elegant with us next year or 508-475-0032, ext. 18. at the BIA-MA golf outing. I will be there. Disclaimer BIA-MA does not support, endorse or recommend any method, treatment or program for persons with brain Are you interested in receiving e-communications from injury. We only aim to inform you. No endorsement is BIA-MA? If so, go to www.biama.org to sign up today. intended or implied. 2 www.biama.org survivor stories Chicken Soup for the Soul; Meet the BIA-MA Staff Authors Suzanne D.K. Doswell, Western Regional Manager Kelly Buttiglieri, “This book is the quintessential book for Sandra Madden, Program Coordinator, Ambassador Program those who want to step into the world of Administrative Assistant “A few years after my accident, I ran into my brain injury and is now a primary resource “Keeping a positive outlook has been key neurologist on a plane, we were both going to in the BIA-MA Western Regional office (for me) to not succumb to the frustrating St. Lucia for a vacation. I felt such pride and library. It is easy to read, full of dynamic and painful consequences of TBI. Many satisfaction in telling her I had graduated law personal stories and exactly what we have amazing and inspirational people have school and was practicing law. I wanted her to needed as we attempt to explain brain come into my life since my accidents and I know she should encourage patients to take injury to the medical world and general keep focus on this, the comfort and joy of small steps to accomplish their former, pre- public. Some readers will shed a few tears these relationships.” TBI goals. She initially discouraged me from as they realize the life altering significance pursuing mine.” of TBI and others may finally be able to address their patient and client needs with a clearer sense of this silent epidemic from the voices of those who know.” Helen Stewart, Barbara Webster, Western Region I & R Support Group Leader Liaison Outreach Coordinator “It takes a long time to heal and “I am so very grateful to be a rehabilitate from a brain injury, part of this book. After reading typically continuing long after most of the stories, I truly believe your insurance coverage has that this is the most powerful ended. It is the hardest work I textbook about brain injury have ever done but it led me to ever written. It has so many the most fulfilling work I have different voices in chorus. The ever done, working with other harmony blends survivors, survivors. My mission is to let family members, caregivers and other survivors know they are professionals into one song. It not alone in their struggles and is not merely academic jargon, to encourage them to think about but relates the experience and “How” they can do something impact of brain injury through instead of “I can’t”. It is a the heart. It bridges the gap journey, not a destination. between words and experience. Never give up hope.” I do not believe that one can read these stories and not gain a deeper understanding of traumatic brain injury and have more compassion toward the people who live with it, in any capacity, on a daily basis.” www.biama.org 3 southeast region events BIA-MA at the Hyannis Art Shanties A stroll down the sidewalk at the Ocean Street docks in Hyannis brings you to Art Shanty #4, location of CapeCodCAN!’s Art is for Everyone exhibit in June. Artwork from BIA-MA’s Southeastern Region’s Touring Art Exhibit was among the creations of over 100 students who represented ten groups across Cape Cod. Using various media, Anne Hitch, our art therapist, helped our survivors create about 40 pieces for the exhibit. Pieces that were decorated included bird houses and watering cans, stained glass, tile, watercolors, and acrylics. BIA-MA’s artists represented were Thomas Fay, Cory Levine, Theresa Sweeney, Jeff Tavares, Tracy Tarvers, Elizabeth Trull, Kevin Korab, and Linda Aylmer.