Brett's Story: Back to College after a Traumatic Brain Injury

Summary

Brett, a pre-med biology major, faced a life-altering accident in 2016, leaving him unconscious and with minimal chances of survival. Through persistent therapy at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, he made incredible progress, from regaining speech with a song to walking and driving. His resilience led to a shift in his career goal to Recreational Therapy, aspiring to help others with similar adversities. The script highlights the transformative power of a positive mindset and the supportive role of the AbilityLab's therapists, who have become like family, in Brett's remarkable journey.

Takeaways

• 🤝 The script begins with an encouragement to make a fist, showing the start of a physical therapy session.
• 🗓️ The accident that changed Brett's life occurred on January 4, 2016, during his freshman year in college.
• 🎓 Brett was a biology major with a pre-med focus, aiming to become a doctor.
• 🏂 The accident happened while skiing, resulting in Brett being unconscious and requiring CPR from his father.
• 🚑 Brett was given a 10% chance to live and only a 1% chance to live with functioning abilities.
• 🔄 The therapy for Brett started immediately, even before he was fully conscious, focusing on reviving him.
• 🎵 Music therapy played a crucial role in Brett's recovery, as his first words were the lyrics of a song he sang.
• 💪 Brett's positive attitude and belief in a growth mindset were key factors in his determination to overcome challenges.
• 🚶‍♂️ Initially unable to walk, Brett progressed from having his legs moved by therapists to walking independently.
• 🏥 Brett's recovery was marked by regaining abilities such as breathing, eating, and walking, which were initially lost.
• 🏃‍♂️ Brett's goals shifted from running to becoming a Recreational Therapist, wanting to help others with similar experiences.
• 🎓 Brett's return to Indiana was a testament to his resilience and the impact of the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab's therapy.
• 👨‍⚕️ The therapists at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab became like family to Brett, who continues to exceed expectations in his neuropsych eval exams.
• 🌟 Brett's future is seen as bright and promising, with the potential to do special things and achieve his goals.

Q & A

What did Brett do before the accident?

Brett was a freshman in college, majoring in biology with a pre-med focus. He always wanted to be a doctor.

What happened to Brett during the skiing accident?

Brett went off a jump, landed incorrectly, and knocked himself unconscious. He wasn't breathing, and his father had to perform CPR on him.

What were the initial chances given for Brett's survival and functioning?

Brett was initially given a 10% chance to live and only a 1% chance to live and be functioning.

How did therapy begin for Brett?

Therapy started on day one even when Brett was not conscious, with the aim of bringing him back to life.

What was the first sign of Brett's recovery?

The first sign of Brett's recovery was when he started singing a song during music therapy, which was his first words after the accident.

What was Brett's attitude towards his recovery process?

Brett had an unbelievable attitude and was a true believer in the positive growth mindset, always pushing himself.

How did Brett's physical therapy progress?

Initially, Brett couldn't walk at all. Therapists would move his legs for him in the harness. Eventually, Brett started moving on his own.

What were the significant improvements in Brett's condition after therapy?

After therapy, Brett was able to walk out the door, which was unexpected as he couldn't breathe, eat, or walk when he arrived.

What changes did Brett make in his life after the accident?

Brett changed his major in college to Recreational Therapy, with the goal of becoming a therapist to help patients going through similar problems.

What was the impact of Brett's recovery on his family and therapists?

Brett's recovery was described as awesome, and his determination and progress exceeded everyone's expectations, including his family and therapists.

What did the therapists at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab tell Brett in his last exam?

In his last exam, the therapists told Brett that he could be and do anything he wanted to, acknowledging his progress and achievements.