Participating Artists
PhotoVoice Exhibit Artist
Jane Parks McKay
Like so many people, I've discovered I probably suffered a TBI years ago as a child. Growing up is rough on the body!
I was in grade school when I was hit accidentally by a golf club. I was only inches away and behind a childhood friend who warned me that the club was coming full force against my forehead. Somehow I missed that entirely.
Fast forward years: I sustained a TBI as an adult when I was 54 when I hit my head VERY hard on the trunk of my car. As with many TBI survivors, your surroundings become foreign afterwards and you continue to hit your head accidentally. For me, it was another five times or so not long after the first hit.
While TBI has changed my life, as I look back, it's changed me for the better all the way around. I love more, accept more and I am more supportive and patient with others than I ever was. I am also much more focused as a TBI will narrow your life choices which actually are not a bad idea. There are far too many choices in life today.
Message to the community
No one 'looks' like they have a high functioning traumatic brain injury. In my opinion, everyone in this world has some sort of a disability and when we don't try to understand or learn from others about their challenges, we miss a dear opportunity.
Every person's TBI experience is different, just like the way they sustained a TBI. It's not a disease, it's an injury, and it’s not catching. It can happen to anyone at any time by a lot of ways. Fortunately, as a longtime writer, that was not affected, nor were other skills which I hold dear. But I lost so many other things. Recognize that the TBI survivor may be going through grief over their losses.
Since, most likely, someone you know has a TBI and you or they may not even know it, take the time to visit the National Brain Injury Association website, among others. Books on TBI are bountiful and work with Central Coast Center for Independent Living (CCCIL) to understand this injury.
Never, ever believe that 'nothing can be done about it.' Maybe the TBI won't go away, that is true, but there are many things that can be done to ease you life, add dimensions to it you never thought possible. Speech and language therapy WILL help. Reducing stress, watching what you eat, resting when your brain needs it, the list could be endless. It's the proverbial looking at a milk bottle full, not empty.
Artworks
LUKA
Photographer: Jane Parks McKay
Almost two years ago, Luka graced our lives. When life gets to be too much, I usually bring yet another stuffed animal into our home. But this time, my husband and myself, both traumatic brain injury survivors, decided we would add to our family and get a dog. In all our years of marriage, we have never had a dog and we decided on the Samoyed puppy. We went through puppyhood where at the end of every day, the two of us would lay in bed and be utterly exhausted, with nights of crying and more walks were ahead of us. How one earth could we get through this, we thought?
But all you had to do was to look at Luka's face and realize that this is what Love is about.
OUTSIDE
Photographer: Jane Parks McKay
Since I became had my brain injury, I have found that I don't like crowds or busy places. Not easy in a busy tourist area like the Capitola area, especially during the busy season! When our neighbors moved 3-4 years ago, they gave us this patio set and before you know it, a whole new world opened up to me. This set sits in our front yard, away from the busy street but outside and underneath some lovely trees which allow me to feel part of the world but not IN the world if you know what I mean. I have had friends at this patio set visiting, I've had business meetings and I've shared meals with my husband as well as just gone out there, put my feet up and closed my eyes as the warm sun warms my face. It makes me feel part of the world and it forces me to slow down, stop and smell the roses which are only a few feet away.
For more information, contact CCCIL: Crystal Loutzenhiser 831-462-8728 cloutzenhiser@cccil.org or Irene Garcia 831-757-2968 igarcia@cccil.org
Los artistas participantes
Exposición Fotográfica Artista
Jane Parks McKay
Like so many people, I've discovered I probably suffered a TBI years ago as a child. Growing up is rough on the body!
I was in grade school when I was hit accidentally by a golf club. I was only inches away and behind a childhood friend who warned me that the club was coming full force against my forehead. Somehow I missed that entirely.
Fast forward years: I sustained a TBI as an adult when I was 54 when I hit my head VERY hard on the trunk of my car. As with many TBI survivors, your surroundings become foreign afterwards and you continue to hit your head accidentally. For me, it was another five times or so not long after the first hit.
While TBI has changed my life, as I look back, it's changed me for the better all the way around. I love more, accept more and I am more supportive and patient with others than I ever was. I am also much more focused as a TBI will narrow your life choices which actually are not a bad idea. There are far too many choices in life today.
Message to the community
No one 'looks' like they have a high functioning traumatic brain injury. In my opinion, everyone in this world has some sort of a disability and when we don't try to understand or learn from others about their challenges, we miss a dear opportunity.
Every person's TBI experience is different, just like the way they sustained a TBI. It's not a disease, it's an injury, and it’s not catching. It can happen to anyone at any time by a lot of ways. Fortunately, as a longtime writer, that was not affected, nor were other skills which I hold dear. But I lost so many other things. Recognize that the TBI survivor may be going through grief over their losses.
Since, most likely, someone you know has a TBI and you or they may not even know it, take the time to visit the National Brain Injury Association website, among others. Books on TBI are bountiful and work with Central Coast Center for Independent Living (CCCIL) to understand this injury.
Never, ever believe that 'nothing can be done about it.' Maybe the TBI won't go away, that is true, but there are many things that can be done to ease you life, add dimensions to it you never thought possible. Speech and language therapy WILL help. Reducing stress, watching what you eat, resting when your brain needs it, the list could be endless. It's the proverbial looking at a milk bottle full, not empty.
Obras de arte
LUKA
Photographer: Jane Parks McKay
Almost two years ago, Luka graced our lives. When life gets to be too much, I usually bring yet another stuffed animal into our home. But this time, my husband and myself, both traumatic brain injury survivors, decided we would add to our family and get a dog. In all our years of marriage, we have never had a dog and we decided on the Samoyed puppy. We went through puppyhood where at the end of every day, the two of us would lay in bed and be utterly exhausted, with nights of crying and more walks were ahead of us. How one earth could we get through this, we thought?
But all you had to do was to look at Luka's face and realize that this is what Love is about.
OUTSIDE
Photographer: Jane Parks McKay
Since I became had my brain injury, I have found that I don't like crowds or busy places. Not easy in a busy tourist area like the Capitola area, especially during the busy season! When our neighbors moved 3-4 years ago, they gave us this patio set and before you know it, a whole new world opened up to me. This set sits in our front yard, away from the busy street but outside and underneath some lovely trees which allow me to feel part of the world but not IN the world if you know what I mean. I have had friends at this patio set visiting, I've had business meetings and I've shared meals with my husband as well as just gone out there, put my feet up and closed my eyes as the warm sun warms my face. It makes me feel part of the world and it forces me to slow down, stop and smell the roses which are only a few feet away.
For more information, contact CCCIL: Crystal Loutzenhiser 831-462-8728 cloutzenhiser@cccil.org or Irene Garcia 831-757-2968 igarcia@cccil.org
