Keri's Concussion Recovery

Hello community.

I’ve started this page for our dear friend Keri. Perhaps some who don’t know her will find themselves reading this, but those who do know her are acquainted with her immense, loving heart and community-oriented nature. She is a warm, generous, comfortable, and validating friend to spend time with—a beacon of authenticity. My wish is that she can receive some financial assistance to address her specific and challenging healing needs right now. Here is how she describes her current challenges:

“I have sustained three concussions in the past two years, each one gets more difficult to recover from. My last concussion was in February and at the end of May it became apparent that I needed to take time off work as I was both unable to properly fulfill the required tasks of my job, and my symptoms were getting worse rather than better. I am currently taking time off work to focus on my healing.

My main symptoms include: brain fog (I don't feel present in my own life), headaches, neck and jaw pain, short-term memory issues, difficulty creating consistent long-term memory, mixing up words, increased depression and anxiety, sound sensitivity, light sensitivity and fatigue. Thankfully, I have been experiencing a reduction in symptoms, but I still need to take consistent breaks to ensure I don't trigger my symptoms.

Some concrete examples include:

-I'm unable to be on the computer or read for more than 10-15 minutes at a time before starting to feel the brain fog, headaches, sound sensitivity and memory issues. This means I am unable to watch tv, read or spend much time on the phone without discomfort, this also seriously impacts my ability to return to work.

-I’m unable to do physical activity that gets my heart rate up, as it triggers the same symptoms as listed above. This means I am unable to ride my bike very far, go hiking or do any more high intensity physical activity, all things that keep me happy and healthy. The things I am able to do are limited to very slow walking and easy stretching. These are all things that I love to do that make life enjoyable and fun.

-Also, walking along busy streets or sitting in restaurants/ coffee shops triggers my symptoms from the loud noises and fast-moving vehicles. This means that being out and about can only happen in shorter bursts, and I need to take rests in the car, at a park, or head home after fairly limited activity. When my symptoms have been triggered, before I rest, even the birds chirping outside my window are difficult to listen to.

I have been able to get medical EI, so my living expenses are taken care of, but unfortunately, the type of medical support that I need is not covered by MSP, and my current job does not offer benefits. I am seeing a Physical therapist and an Occupational therapist at a concussion-specific clinic and have been referred to a Neuro-optometrist. I have also found both massage and osteopathy to be helpful in managing pain.

The neuro-optometrist’s theory is that most of my symptoms are coming from the fact that my brain is having to work really hard to put the images that each of my eyes is taking in, and put them together. This is a common issue with folks with brain injuries and can be addressed with medical support.

Sessions for each of these interventions (with the exception of massage) cost between $130-$380, and I am required to go in for a number of follow-up sessions. I am not sure how long it would be before I can go back to work and resume my regular activities without these interventions, but I cannot afford to continue to access them on my own.

Thankfully, my symptoms have been getting less severe since I took time off. A lot of that has come from the work I have done thus far in my OT and PT appointments, but both recommend that I continue to come in for further sessions as well as not return to work until at least the beginning of July.

I am hoping that my community can give what they can to ensure that I access the medical support that I need to get back to my regular life.

Finally, I will not be keeping track of who is donating or how much. I understand that money is a complicated issue, and I don't want anyone to feel pressure to give if they are not able to or do not want to. I am very grateful for my community and all the different ways that I am supported by those who love me.”