Author and Mother
Boise, ID
Introduction:
Pamela Blaxton-Dowd is an author and mother whose daughter, Brenna, died after a series of complications that began after receiving a mild TBI in a car accident.
Remarks:
Senator Crapo, thank you for listening to this mother’s heart and hearing my concerns about people with a brain injury who have limited access to recovery opportunities because they have a pre-existing condition and inadequate health care. I am grateful to all who made this summit possible. I come today to give a mother’s viewpoint.
In April 2009, my only 26 year old daughter suffered a concussion. We were unaware of how critical that diagnosis was. Her vision began to change. Her depth perception was impaired. She screamed when I touched her. On May 26, 2010, after her fourth corrective eye surgery, she suffered an anoxic brain injury.
In April 2009, my only 26 year old daughter suffered a concussion. We were unaware of how critical that diagnosis was. Her vision began to change. Her depth perception was impaired. She screamed when I touched her. On May 26, 2010, after her fourth corrective eye surgery, she suffered an anoxic brain injury.
We were suddenly thrust into a world of unfamiliar medical terminology, the “let her die” attitude, and given no hope of recovery. Brenna was a Type I diabetic and dependent upon Medicare for her health care.
I soon learned that Brenna’s recovery depended on my 100% involvement. She struggled hard to recover. She always recognized her mother and responded to me. She expressed a wide range of emotions. She learned to walk up to 1000 feet in the LiteGait, a walking assist machine.
I soon learned that Brenna’s recovery depended on my 100% involvement. She struggled hard to recover. She always recognized her mother and responded to me. She expressed a wide range of emotions. She learned to walk up to 1000 feet in the LiteGait, a walking assist machine.
Her recovery was not fast enough in our existing system. Therapies were shut down and rehabilitation hospitals refused to accept her. She was effectively warehoused.
Brenna was one of the unfortunates. I did not have the money to buy the care she needed.
In the 16 months of her valiant fight to recover, I spent over 6000 hours by her side, doing what I had been told could not be done—recover from her brain injury. At 15 months post injury, I heard “Ma-um.”
I came to understand that few of the medical staff who treated my daughter were any more familiar with brain recovery than I was. Too many decisions were based on Brenna’s lack of private insurance or cash.
In the 16 months of her valiant fight to recover, I spent over 6000 hours by her side, doing what I had been told could not be done—recover from her brain injury. At 15 months post injury, I heard “Ma-um.”
I came to understand that few of the medical staff who treated my daughter were any more familiar with brain recovery than I was. Too many decisions were based on Brenna’s lack of private insurance or cash.
Brenna died on October 1, 2011, not as the result of her brain injury, but what I view as a breakdown of health decisions that led to a sudden cardiac arrest. She was 28 years old, four classes away from her Masters In Criminal Justice Administration.
With 3.5 million new TBIs each year, TBIs are 15 times more prevalent than breast or prostate cancer. Anoxics are uncounted. We know what happens when we continue down the old paths that lead to rehabilitation failure and warehousing. As a mother I believe that HBOT should be available to all brain injuries in the earliest stages. There is nothing wrong with failure but there is something seriously wrong when we fail to try.
When you have seen one brain injury, you have seen one brain injury. We must find positive answers toward recovery for all brain injuries.
I can do no more for Brenna. I can lead the way to change for others.
I can do no more for Brenna. I can lead the way to change for others.
