Karen's story

  Massanutten, VA, United States

Tell us your anoxic injury story, including how anoxic brain injury occurred. 

Our 21-year old son suffered a Sudden Cardiac Arrest while a Junior in college. He was shocked three times at the site and another three while being transported to the hospital. He sustained an anoxic brain injury while out for approximately 20 minutes. That was 12 years ago. He lost his independence, his future and dreams, his friends, and long-time girlfriend. We lost our future as we had planned also. He has lived with us since the injury and our lives revolve around his care. His injury involved the Temporal Lobe, so he has no motivation, no Executive Functioning skills, short-term memory deficits along with other issues. 

What do you want people to know about you (if you are an anoxic survivor) or your loved one (if you are caregiver or family of an anoxic patient)? 

Yes, he looks the same since brain injury is the "invisible Disability." But he is far from the same. Please don't tell us he "looks great." If you were to meet him and talk (small talk) for a couple of hours, you may not realize he has a brain injury. People should realize that BI survivors often are able to maintain conversation and "act normal" for short periods but those that knew them before will know they are different from their former selves. Also, for good or bad, he has no awareness of his limitations. He thinks he is the same as he was. This helps in that he is not depressed, but does not help with him working towards any kind of recovery. 

What do you want people to know about anoxic brain injury? 

The fact that anoxic brain injuries are not counted in the government's figures for brain injuries per year, per region - in fact, not at all. The registries only count Traumatic Brain Injuries, as if any brain injury is not traumatic to all involved.