The feeling of being alone is one of the many struggles facing individuals and families dealing with a traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI is invisible, but it can profoundly affect the victim on physical, intellectual and emotional levels.
Individual symptoms of and recovery from TBI are unpredictable. Doctors cannot be sure what kind of damage each TBI victim will face.
Michael Black’s family faced this gut wrenching uncertainty when Michael was in a serious car accident on May 21, 2011. He suffered a severe traumatic brain injury including a sheared brain stem and was in a coma for several weeks. In an attempt to save Michael’s life, doctors removed a portion of his brain. His family was given little hope.
To keep family and friends informed about Michael’s progress, his parents created a Facebook page in his honor. Michael’s family is not the only one that has turned to the Internet to share information, progress and support via social media networks.
The Beans Recovery Group
That is the name of the site dedicated to Michael’s situation. First Michael’s family and friends joined, then people from around the world, many of whom had experience with TBI. The unexpected community provided support, advice and hope to his family when the medical prognosis was very grim.
You Are Not Alone
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1.7 million people per year sustain a traumatic brain injury. Many of those people and their families now turn to the Internet and social media to find community and support.
As Michael recovered, he was told of the outpouring of support from Facebook. That is when he got the idea for a social network for people and families who have suffered TBIs. On May 21, 2012 – the one-year anniversary of Michael’s accident – Trymunity was launched.
Trymunity offers people a place to go when they have no one in their daily lives who can relate to their struggles. While informational sites and a few forums exist for TBI patients and their supporters, there are only a few sites that actively foster communication and friendship amidst the widespread TBI community.
Other online support groups and forums include:
- Daily Strength Brain Injury Support Group
- Brain Injury Support Group – Facebook Page
- Brain Injury Association of America – Facebook Page
Do you know of any other online communities? Please let us, and other TBI survivors, know about them by posting in the comments.
We Can Help
Brain injury can change the course of a life, altering the victim’s ability to work, maintain relationships and go about day-to-day tasks. Financial hardship too often rests on top of this struggle. If you or your loved one has suffered a brain injury, please contact us immediately. We provide a free consultation with one of our knowledgeable attorneys during which we will discuss your legal options for compensation.
