Hey everyone, help support this great cause!
This has been my passion for almost 30 years. I have done both professional and volunteer outreach work for individuals with Brain Injuries (BI) and their families since 1992. Most individuals I come into contact with have had little to no resources or assistance for several years following a traumatic event that caused their medical issues. Some people either do not seek or are refused medical services for their injury because a BI is an invisible injury. People do not have the insight or knowledge to put words into explaining what they are experiencing post BI, and most do not even realize they have had a BI. As their lives begin to change/unfold after their injury, they may lose their employment, spouse, friends, ability to continue their education correctly, do not feel like themselves, become involved in drugs or alcohol, and may eventually lose the will to live.
I have noticed this need and done something about it after much research and exploration as well as working with hundreds of people on the ground. I have been doing this work on my own until I was hired on a part time basis by the Brain Injury Alliance of NE in 2008 to continue this work while working another full-time job so that I am able to receive benefits. I have worked the entire state of Nebraska and outside of Nebraska until the past 4 years where we were able to hire another full-time resource facilitator that has been very instrumental in getting our people with brain injuries back into living their lives successfully again. We do not ever cease working with them because our services encapsulate their entire lifespan since needs change. Therefore, they are able to contact us at any point in their lives when they perceive other obstacles.
When others ask me about my work with this population of wonderful people, I always have to smile and feel very grateful for all of the exceptional clients, professionals, caregivers, and volunteers that I have come to know throughout my work. Yet, I also feel overwhelmed in knowing that I have limits in what I do since the population of individuals with BI continues to grow and we have never had enough people to assist myself in this line of work which requires much education, passion, commitment and time. Myself and my colleagues at the BIA-NE need your help so that we can continue our work and hire more people. A brain injury can happen to anyone, at anytime, anywhere. Whether that be a simple fall, a car accident, sports accident, a bump on the head from a cupboard. It can change the course of life dramatically for anyone of us and at that time, we are here for you. But am hoping that others can also be here for us to be able to continue our effort.
Thank you for your generous donation, we appreciate you!
Warm regards,
Gina Simanek, MA, LMHP