Help Dallas Heal From Brain Injuries

My name is Tiffany and I've created this fundraiser to help with medical costs and healing for my daughter, Dallas. You can read the story below of what Dallas is going through, which prompted the creation of this fundraiser. If you don't have time to read the entire story, you can scroll to the bottom to read "Part 3: The Need."

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1: PTSD

In October 2021, my daughter Dallas, was diagnosed with PTSD following a horrific traumatic event. If someone had asked me, before this happened to Dallas, if I understood what PTSD was, I would have said yes. I can tell you now that I had no idea what PTSD was and how it impacts someone’s life, as well as the lives of those around them. I’m still just scratching the surface in understanding it, but here are some of the things that I didn’t know before this:

• There is a significant difference between post-traumatic stress (PTS) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

• People throw around the acronym "PTSD" to refer to all kinds of stress, but it’s actually a very specific disorder. It is diagnosed based on exposure to one of a very specific list of traumatic events. These events are known as “Big T” trauma, while other types of trauma that can cause post-traumatic stress (not the disorder) are known as “little t” trauma.

• Not everyone who is exposed to “Big T” trauma develops PTSD. In fact, only about 6% of people with that exposure develop full-blown PTSD, and it’s usually because of outside factors beyond the “Big T” trauma itself, such as: co-occurring disorders, the strength/safety of a person’s current support system, additional “little t” trauma, when the trauma happened, how quickly it’s treated, etc .

• There is a difference between PTSD, which is a mental injury, and things like OCD, depression, BPD, which are mental illnesses. As a psychological injury, PTSD actually changes the brain.

PART 2: Traumatic Brain Injury

Also in the autumn months of 2021, Dallas had something else happen to her: she suffered a pretty serious concussion. In subsequent months, she suffered several more concussions for various reasons—some because of her impaired spatial awareness (caused by both PTSD and first concussion) and some random (like her mom driving into a Grand Canyon-sized pothole by accident). Her most recent concussion was just two months ago.

In recent months, even while in therapy twice a week for PTSD, Dallas started regressing significantly. She had been noting an increased fogginess in her brain for a long time, but in the spring, the changes accelerated. She said “It feels like something major has shifted in my brain.” Since then, her ability to remember, articulate, process, emotionally self-regulate, interact with the outside world, diminish daily. Even the most basic and simple tasks are very difficult to do. We finally looked into this, and learned that, on top of the PTSD, she has a traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by her concussions. This is a debilitating set of complex symptoms that make day-to-day life right now very difficult for Dallas.

PART 3: THE NEED

The treatments that are available to treat PTSD and TBIs are only partially covered by the best of insurance plans, while not covered at all by basic plans. Dallas aged off of my good insurance plan at UVU when she turned 26 (she is now 27). She does have a basic insurance plan now of her own, which doesn't cover any of the treatments she needs. We have truly searched, and applied for, all the help we can find through government and insurance options, to help fund the medical help she needs.

We do have a potential plan outlined, which is extensive due to the complexity of her diagnoses. The potential plan is to FIRST: treat her traumatic brain injury (and related symptoms, which include vision and spinal therapies), then SECOND: restart PTSD treatments. By treating her TBI first, she can regain and strengthen important brain functions (ie: processing, analysis, emotional self-regulation), which will allow her to re-enter PTSD treatment and actually make some progress. This potential plan includes several doctors, therapists, and treatment protocols for so many different things. The costs add up quickly. Ultimately, Dallas's medical costs will end up costing tens of thousands of dollars, which is the reason for this fundraiser.

Any money donated will be used to pay for:

1. Treatments, therapies, and programs for TBI and related symptoms

2. Treatments, therapies, and programs for PTSD

Dallas is more and more terrified by the day. While her symptoms are debilitating and slowly worsening, they are also treatable with the right medical interventions. Just getting started on these treatments will help her feel some hope and start to see a bit of light peeking through the darkness. Any amount you're willing to contribute will be appreciated more than I can put into words. If you are unable to contribute money at this time, please please share this with anyone you can. Thank you!