Living with a brain injury, some days hope is the only thing that gets you through.

This week on Hope Survives® | Brain Injury Podcast, Cristabelle is joined by her mother, Cyndie Braden, to speak about lessons they have learned over the 14 years of brain injuries. They speak vulnerably about some of the difficult aspects of the journey, while also sharing the growth in the family, caregiver, and survivor perspectives. You will also hear clips of Cristabelle from 10 years ago in 2012 speaking about her injury, at around the 5 year mark, as we reflect on 10 years of Hope After Head Injury.  

The “loss of identity” can be so hard to describe after a brain injury. On the one hand, you are still “you” - but you also don’t feel like yourself. There is also a grief that comes with losing the life you had before the injuries.

This week on Hope Survives® | Brain Injury Podcast, Cristabelle dives deep into this struggle that survivors face and provides hope in knowing you are more than your brain injury. Then, Cristabelle’s mother Cyndie Braden is here to talk about the caregiver side. Loss of identity does not just affect the survivor, but also the family, as everything changes for them too. We also discuss what is like to grieve the “old life.” You are not alone.

What does it mean to “not give up” on the journey with brain injury?

Let’s talk about it. Cristabelle shares encouragement for survivors and her mother Cyndie Braden offers support for caregivers and families.

We talk about different aspects of choosing to not give up, including family dynamics, the day-to-day things, and how to give yourself grace for the hard days.

Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it's not there.

Brain injury is an invisible injury, and this affects survivors and families on a daily basis.

Today, Cristabelle is joined once again by her mother, Cyndie Braden, for the first week of Brain Injury Awareness Month!

How do we approach brain injury anniversaries? That day can bring up a weird feeling, it can be painful, it can be hard to get through. Each of us will have different experiences with it.

Today we will have perspectives from survivors as well as family members. Wherever you are on your journey, my hope is that this episode helps you to know know you’re not alone, and gives you tools and practical tips for dealing with your anniversary.

Let’s talk about the real-life struggles of this invisible injury, and the reason why hope is so important.

On this episode, host Cristabelle Braden invites her mother, Cyndie Braden, to join for a conversation sharing some of their family’s journey on finding hope through brain injury, the symptoms and struggles they have faced, and encouragement to fellow survivors and caregivers.