Stefanie Beeney - Brain Injury Survivor
Can you share about the brain injury event itself?
The straw that broke the camel's back happened late in the summer of 2019. I was stopped behind another car at a red light, when a large truck failed to make any attempt to stop or avoid the collision. I watched in the rearview mirror as the vehicle continued towards my vehicle without slowing. Because I was stopped, my airbags did not deploy, my head hit both the steering wheel and the headrest of the seat.
How did you feel during the first days, weeks, or months after the injury?
I don't remember much of those early days, but remember that finding care was challenging, and I didn't really understand what was going on. I felt very disconnected from myself and had no sense of where I was in space. As time continued to pass, things were not getting better, but seemed to be getting worse, and the professionals who were treating me at the time just kept telling me it might get better if I wait longer, or it might not.
What kind of rehabilitation therapies or treatment have been most helpful through the process of recovery?
Over the years working with practitioners utilizing the functional neurology umbrella is where I made the most progress, and is where I still continue to find progress.
What have been some of the biggest challenges you or your loved one has faced during recovery?
Aside from the physical challenges, the loss of who I used to be was the hardest thing to face as I went from a nearly 20 year professional career that I loved, to being disabled. I never realized how much of who I was as a person came from who I was as a professional. Discovering myself without a career and with limited capabilities was probably one of the hardest things I have ever done.
If there have been setbacks or repeated injuries, describe that journey:
I try not to view anything as a setback, and I constantly remind myself that progress is not linear. Setbacks and new injuries are just journeys to discover something new.
How has your life changed since the brain injury?
Before brain injury, I was a professional professional, now I am a professional brain injury survivor. I replaced professional meetings with therapies and appointments. My project management tasks went from grandiose things to planning and pacing to make the rehab and appointments work. I traded business suits for comfortable clothing that didn't set off all the sensory bells in my brain.
What role has support from family, friends, or community played in your journey?
Without support from family and friends, I wouldn't be where I am today. I have also lost many friends throughout this period in my life. It's hard for people to understand disabilities that they cannot see, or understand why I can't do things some days that I can on other days.
Have there been any moments of breakthrough or unexpected positives along the way?
Before my accident, I wasn't home much. I worked a lot, and missed out on a lot of time with my daughter (who was with me during the accident, but was uninjured). As a positive impact of the accident, I now have a lot more time to spend with her. It has been amazing to be able to watch her grow up and teach her about all the compassion required to live with someone with a brain injury.
What do you know now that you wish you knew at the beginning of this journey?
I wish I knew that the best help would come from outside the traditional healthcare system we have in the United States. If I only utilize care covered by insurance, I would not be where I am today. By taking the brave stance to step outside the traditional healthcare model and into things that are sometimes questioned by the traditional model, I was able to make progress.
What does "hope" mean to you?
I am a firm believer that the phrase "I can't do that..." should always end with the word YET. Hope to me means that the "Yet" is possible. It means I don't need to have the answers of the how, or the why, or the when. It means that I am trusting the process and the power of YET.
If you could share one encouraging message with another survivor or family, what would it be?
Progress is not linear. What feels like steps backwards or a slow crawl forward may be just what you need to make the kind of progress that feels positive to you.
