Back in 1991, you may remember reading in the Gazette (the forerunner of the Town Times ) about a horrific car accident on Route 17 in the early morning hours. A Middletown policeman was returning to his Durham home after finishing his shift when a pick-up truck changed his life forever. Ken Dale Jr. had become a statistic. He would first battle for his life and then struggle to make that life worth living.
When Ken's brain tries to go back to that fateful day, it does not remember what happened or why it happened. The ability of the brain to repair itself, according Nancy Aborn, Marketing & Fund Development Director for the Brain Injury Association of Connecticut (BIAC) says this is " unchartered territory." She explains that what makes recovery strategies so difficult is each person's brain is as unique as his own personal fingerprint. Even twins' brains will differ because memories and impressions imprinted on the brain's map vary with each experience.
Unfortunately, the downward spiral for the victim and his family does not vary. Ms Aborn says that after the medication runs out, the acute care ends, insurance money is gone, the victim often becomes a recluse. If this person was the breadwinner economic disaster threatens the family.
Probably the saddest part of each person's story is that it was an accident, not a disease or nature's mistake. Although Ken thinks that a shoulder strap in addition to the lap belt he was wearing may have lessened his injuries, one fact is certain. Life threatening motor vehicle crashes make headlines. Only occasionally do the stories of recovery like the one Ken Dale Jr. tells make the news. But Ken's story must be told. It has been fourteen years since Ken was injured. Now he has turned his own life around and is helping others and working full time.
He says his new life began only a few years ago when he accepted his limitations and began focusing on other his other strengths. "I had spent 13 years in denial, meaning I knew I had what was classified as traumatic brain injury, but refused to except that any deficits I may have had were related to it ( poor memory, distractability). I was "the same" as I was before the accident. Once I decided to admit that the deficits I was facing were due to the brain injury, my life turned around. In 2004, I joined the Brain Injury Association." Besides his volunteer work Ken is also a special investigator for the Federal Government.
In his volunteer role, Ken is now helping others to rediscover themselves. He is currently earning a second Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Connecticut to better serve those fighting similar battles. Ken is also very active in BIAC. He is serving his third term on the Board of Directors, yet he still finds time to facilitate the Greater New Haven Brain Injury Support Group, one of the seventeen groups throughout Connecticut. He says the ‘joke' around the BIAC office is that he cannot involve himself in any more activities because there is no space left next to his name.
But that will not stop Ken from participating in the first "Walk for Thought" on October 15 th , at Great River Park on East River Drive in East Hartford. This first annual rain or shine event is a one mile walk sponsored by Ken Corneau, President of United Steel and his son, Kevin, to raise awareness and monies for BIAC. Mr. Corneau has a special interest in traumatic brain injury survivors because both his son and brother are victims.
Nancy Aborn says persons like those in Mr. Corneau's family who sustain a brain injury do not understand what has been lost. Certainly, the family and close circle of friends see the loss and must find ways to cope. However, this is only one part of the brain injury story. The first part that too many of us take for granted is the prevention. Helmets save the brain; whether it is on the slopes, a bicycle or motorcycle.
However, dealing with the situation after it happens is only one part of the brain injury story. The first part that too many of us take for granted is the prevention. For example, helmets save the brain; whether it is on the slopes, a bicycle or motorcycle.
Fortunately, there is a growing interest in raising the awareness to traumatic brain injuries. Legislators are working with concerned citizens to provide laws to reduce preventable tragic mishaps. On March 15 th of this year a bill was introduced in the House of Representatives in Washington Expressing the need for enhanced public awareness of traumatic brain injury and support for the designation of a National Brain Injury Awareness Month. On October 1, in Hartford an act was approved to make permanent the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services' community-based, group home pilot program for people with acquired brain injury.
If you would like to support the Brain Injury Association of Connecticut on its first walk, registration is between 11:00 and noon at East River Drive, Great River Park, East Hartford. The walk which welcomes wheel chairs and strollers starts at 12:30. The donation is $20.00 per person.
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