Faithfully Yours - Portraits in courage
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- Published on Saturday, January 31, 2015
By Neil Strohscein
I have met many courageous people in my life. Some serve with distinction during times of war. Others fight an on-going battle with crime and criminals here at home or risk their lives to rescue someone trapped inside a burning building. Their stories are featured on the nightly news and in the front page articles found in national and local newspapers. The accolades these brave men and women receive are well-deserved and inspire us all.
But there is another group of people whose courage equals those mentioned above. Their battles are not covered publicly. They are fought in secret and often in silence. What victories they win often come after long periods of hard work. But these courageous people refuse to give up. They will keep on fighting until they win or die—whichever comes first.
Fourteen of their stories can be found in a book Kathryn and I received this past week—2014 Acquired Brain Injury Recovery Stories, published by the Brandon and Area ABI Survivor and Family/Caregiver Support Group. They are written by people who have suffered ABIs and by their caregivers. Some will make you chuckle. Some will make you cry. All will inspire you.
No two stories are the same—because no two people are the same. But they share one thing in common. These victims and their families aren’t quitters. They are fighters who are determined to survive and rise above the trauma they have experienced.
I have a vested interest in stories like these because I am married to an ABI survivor. Kathryn’s injury followed a massive stroke that left her unable to walk, unable to talk and unable to feed herself, care for herself or do any of the things she was once able to do. She has made a marvellous (some would say miraculous) recovery thanks to the help of her parents (may they rest in peace), the encouragement of her family, the talents of physio, speech and occupational therapists assigned to her case and the prayers offered by many on her behalf. But their efforts would not have succeeded without courage, determination and hard work on her part.
There are two ways in which the courage of ABI survivors is revealed.
The first is in the way they live each day. They get up in the morning, set that day’s goals and work hard to achieve them. Their homes are often full of lists—things to do, people to call, groceries to pick up and detailed agendas for the next trip to Winnipeg or Brandon. These lists are an ABI survivor’s life line. Take them away, and you take away the survivors’ ability to live independently and look after themselves.
The second way this courage is revealed is in a dogged determination to keep on recovering. This isn’t as easy as it may seem. Doctors and therapists will treat ABI survivors until they are well enough to be discharged from hospital and have completed Outpatient therapy. After that, it is up to the survivors to keep on learning and working to acquire new skills that will increase their independence and quality of life. Many are able to do so. Their success stories encourage and inspire others to stay positive, work hard and never give up hope.
Kathryn and I are proud to have several ABI survivors in our circle of friends. Their stories and their achievements are a constant reminder of an enduring truth: “There is no limit to the things we can achieve through hard work, a positive attitude, a solid support system and faith in God.”
