Hi Everyone,

Corey and I met with Senator Patricia Vance today. Senator Vance is the Chair of the Public Health and Welfare Committee for Pennsylvania. We met to discuss how we can garner heightened awareness for TBI. In addition we discussed the lack of education, training and funding for research as well as long term acute/post acute care and rehabilitation required to regain functional improvement especially for a survivor of a severe injury.

The Center of Disease and Control recently updated their TBI statistics. 3.5 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury annually. That number represents the spectrum from concussion to severe injury. 5.3 million Americans have lifelong disabilities due to TBI. In the last 10 years, 244,000 service members were affected by TBI.

To put this in perspective 3.5 million injured;
~ Equals every individual currently residing in the State of Connecticut
~ Or represents every individual living in the states of Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island combined.

5.3 million Individuals living with permanent disabilities;
~ Equals every resident in the state of Minnesota
~ Or represents 80% of all residents living in Massachusetts
~ and/or represents 60% of all residents living in New Jersey.

TBI’s annual cost to the government is estimated to be $76.5 billion annually. The average lifetime health care costs for the TBI patient are roughly 85,000 for moderate to mild injuries and can exceed 3 million for severe injuries.

Each state shares the funding for their individual Medicaid/Medicare programs with the Federal Government. Pennsylvania has Waiver programs that assist with funding home and community based programs/services. Currently these programs and waivers are closed for admission and those that have “wait lists” are scheduled for significant budget cuts. The demand for the services exceeds the current financial capacity of the programs.

At the State level, we asked Senator Vance for her help in arranging a Senate hearing to educate our legislators. Although she agreed it could help the TBI cause, she was truly eager to brainstorm with us on how to reach a larger forum and how she could help promote Corey’s Story. We both agreed, she is the perfect “Poster Child” for a successful recovery.

We not only discussed networking within the state but Senator Vance also shared contacts at the Federal level. She offered to make introductions that we hope will lead to more effective networking. We brainstormed on strategies to move along the grass roots line utilizing local public media as well as working with the VA movement in order to reach national awareness.

Corey sat quietly for most of our meeting. At one point, Senator Vance explained some budgetary limitations that could explain the impending funding cuts. Corey interjected, “you’re spending time on the wrong things”. Senator Vance looked at me, smiled and turned back to acknowledge Corey’s statement; “for this cause, I can’t argue with you on that point”.

Overall it was a very productive meeting. Corey and I are very grateful to Senator Vance for her support, enthusiasm and willingness to promote greater awareness for TBI. We look forward to working with her, xoxo

Hi Everyone, we didn’t write to you last night because we were busy preparing for our next big appointment. Tomorrow we head to Harrisburg. We are hoping to carry the BIA message advocating not only for ourselves but for the thousands of families who haven’t found their voice yet.

This is Corey,
I’m going to tell the Senators how hard getting better is but you can not give up. Basically my life goal is to get better. I can not do this by myself. I need someone to hold onto me because I can not walk alone. If I did not have help I would be a lump of love. It makes me a little bit sad when families don’t get help because everyone should get help so they can get better like me. People can not be in a lottery. Everyone can get far if they can try.

Corey’s last two sentences are quite profound. She has no short term memory and yet she remembers hearing a mother’s call to the BIA-Resource line. The caller was asking for resources for her son. She mentioned on the call that her son’s Neurologist diminished their trauma to the following analogy; “‘Mrs. X, think of it this way, you played the lottery and lost”.
How can a person be denied the opportunity to try to recover? Why is this decision predicated on finances? Imagine if We allowed Corey to quit or took NO from someone that wouldn’t say YES!

We will be representing all families that deserve the right to try, xoxo

Hi Everyone,
(Dictated by Corey to Marie)

C – This is Corey. The evaluation went fine. Thank you for all your prayers. Nervous Nelly stayed away from me today. I was only Confident Corey.

C – Today I did great! I walked a lot with Natalie.

M – Corey’s evaluation was “on land”. She walked over 300’ throughout the first floor halls of Bryn Mawr. She climbed up and down a flight of stairs; facing forward! She also completed all her matte work including attempting to roll over and sit up independently. She was unable to complete that task but she’s getting closer!

C – The walker is so much fun. Do not listen to what other people say about walkers. I promise they are fun. I like walking with the walker because I can hold my weight and walk all by myself. It feels really good to walk again. I have to practice really hard because I want to walk on the beach. Personally I don’t think I am far away from that. I hate that I have to practice because I know I will be able to do it.

C – Tonight I cooked a new dinner.
M – We made Ratatouille.
C – It was super yummy! It feels good to cook because I am finally doing it again. I love cooking because the more I learn to cook the better the food will be that I will eat. Don’t you agree?

C- I missed cooking. I am happy that I am capable to do it now. It makes me happy. I am willing to practice cooking because I want to go to culinary college. Without practice I will not be able to go. Cooking is more fun than doing other things.

C – I am very happy that I am living. I hope you all are doing what you want to do with your life, xoxo