121. The Search for Hope: Overcoming Fear & Anxiety Post-TBI/Stroke - Brain Injury Community Panel
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In this episode…
When you first realized that this brain injury would impact you or your family’s life, what thoughts or emotions came up for you? Today, we’re asking questions about the emotional side of brain injury. We want you to know you’re not alone, and it’s natural to have these feelings… but it’s what you do with them that matters. So let’s explore these very real feelings and talk about how to find hope - together.
In this powerful panel episode, host Cristabelle Braden invites listeners into a real conversation with three inspiring survivors: Gary Brennan, Didi Green, and Ashleigh Mackey. Together, they open up about the emotional side of recovery, sharing honestly about the uncertainties, setbacks, and the search for hope. Through heartfelt stories and practical advice, the panel highlights the value of acceptance, reaching out for help, and creating new meaning after trauma. Listeners are encouraged to find community, embrace their feelings, and remember that no one walks this road alone.
Meet Our Panelists
Gary Brennan: My name is Gary Brennan, and I hold the position of Family and Friend Liaison and Support Group Facilitator at the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts. In 2014, I sustained a traumatic brain injury when my vehicle was impacted by a speeding car, which prompted me to redirect my career from over 30 years in municipal tax assessment to supporting individuals affected by brain injuries. I am dedicated to fostering community engagement, disseminating valuable resources, and providing robust support to both families and survivors, ensuring that their experiences are acknowledged and understood.
Gary is a volunteer with Hope Survives on the Prayer Team.
Didi Green: Didi Green is a six-year concussion survivor, advocate, and entrepreneur who founded Networkhair, a unique collective and business hub for beauty professionals and clients in the Washington, DC Metro area. After experiencing her own brain injury in 2019, Didi has become a vocal supporter for improved resources, services, and self-advocacy within the brain injury community. T Didi combines her passion for advocacy with her creative background, helping build a stronger, more compassionate network for survivors and stylists alike.
Connect with Didi on Instagram: @networkhair1
Didi is a volunteer with Hope Survives on the Brain Injury Community Advisory Council.
Ashleigh Mackey: Ashleigh Mackey is a brain injury survivor and a Hope Survives Ambassador. In 2020 during her next to last semester of nursing school, she suffered her first stroke and what they thought would be her last. Ashleigh then worked as a neurology nurse until last year when she moved into the role of a stroke coordinator. During January of this year, she ended up in the ER after an episode of confusion and started a journey of diagnosis after finding out she had had another stroke sometime in between. In May of this year she was diagnosed with MoyaMoya, a very rare brain disease that causes strokes. In July of this year she had her first of two brain surgeries to correct her MoyaMoya disease. Her next is scheduled for October of 2025. As a stroke coordinator, she is an advocate for stroke patients in her hospital and connects with members in the community to spread stroke awareness. She also uses her Instagram and TikTok to spread awareness of moyamoya disease, share her story, and connect with other survivors.
Connect with Ashleigh on Instagram: @more_than_moyamoya
Ashleigh is a volunteer with Hope Survives on the Hope Ambassador Team.
Thank you to The Functional Neurology Center for sponsoring this podcast - The FNC’s personalized neuro-recovery programs offer hope for those suffering from Brain Injuries, Dysautonomia, Vestibular, Chronic Pain, Stroke, Movement Dysfunction, Developmental Disorders, PPPD, FND and Complex Post Concussion. Learn more: thefnc.com
This podcast is for education and informational purposes only, and not intended for medical advice. If you need specific medical advice, please consult your physician.
