My Child's Brain Injury: Family Matters Brain Injury Partners: Navigating the School System Page 1 of 2

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  Learn why educating the whole family about TBI is important.
• The Role of Family-Centered Care
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  Dr. Jeffrey Kreutzer and Dr. Tayrn Strejskal talk about their work as teachers and doctors.
• Family Counseling Services After Brain Injury
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  Transcript of this video.
• Changes in Family Roles After Traumatic Brain Injury
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  Hear how children can be affected by their parents’ addiction. Transcript of this video.
• Jan Brown Talks about Family Support
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  On April 24, 2009, BrainLine had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Kreutzer and Dr. Stejskal to talk about their work with people with traumatic brain injury and their families. Produced by Victoria Tilney McDonough and Brian King. Transcript of this video.
• BrainLine Talks with Dr. Jeffrey Kreutzer and Dr. Taryn Stejskal About What Happens to a Family After Brain Injury
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  Dr. Arango-Lasprilla is currently a research assistant professor in the Department of PM&R at Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Arango-Lasprilla is also the cultural competency coordinator for the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research's (NIDRR) Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems and co-director for the NIDRR-funded Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Program. This is BrainLine's exclusive interview with Dr. Arango-Lasprilla recorded on June 5th, 2008. Transcript of the video here.
• Dr. Juan Carlos Arango-Lasprilla Talks About the Importance of Family in Hispanic Culture
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  BrainLine talks with Jason and Susannah Ferguson about Jason's traumatic brain injury which he suffered in a car accident. The couple discusses how the injury has affected family life, their marriage, and outlook on life. Produced by Victoria Tilney McDonough and Brian King at the 2008 Williamsburg Brain Injury Services Conference. Transcript of the video.
• BrainLine Talks with Jason and Susannah Ferguson About Family and TBI

A child's brain injury is felt by the whole family. It changes the way a family works and challenges even the strongest relationships. Below are some common problems — and solutions — that some families use to help them feel supported and strong.

Changes with spouse
Having a child with a brain injury causes overwhelming stress for parents. Financial difficulties. Changes in roles or jobs. Disrupted family time and social activity. Parents frequently report that having so many responsibilities creates little or no time for each other. All this can lead to a loss of closeness and intimacy. You may feel like your role as husband or wife is on the back burner.

The good news is, statistics show that parents of a child with a brain injury are no more likely than other couples to break up. In fact, many couples use creative ways to manage the stress and find ways to connect.

Some suggestions:

Siblings
Brothers and sisters are affected when a sibling has a brain injury. Younger siblings may suddenly be asked to take on more responsibility, including providing care for their injured sibling. As siblings deal with their sense of loss, their emotions may be compounded by feelings of jealousy, anger, and rivalry for your attention.
When so much of your attention is focused on your child with a brain injury, it’s understandable that your other children may feel left out or ignored. How children express their feelings varies widely. Some become fearful and overly cautious. Others become angry and rebellious. All of these feelings are normal reactions to the uncertainty and disruption of brain injury and the changes in a family. Depending on their age, children may be more likely to act out their feelings than to talk about them.

Frequently, your child with the brain injury will need much more attention and time than your other children — that’s just a fact of your family’s situation. But checking in with your other children and letting them know you’re there will help them feel connected and important.

A few ideas:

Extended family: feeling connected and supported
Many people turn to their siblings, parents, and other extended family members for support and caring when times are difficult. However, many parents report that all types of social support gradually slip away as the effects of their child’s brain injury continue through the months and years. It can be particularly difficult if you feel unsupported by or disconnected from your extended family members.

This lack of support has many causes. Family members may be far away, have hectic schedules, or have difficulty understanding the effects of the brain injury and how your life has changed. You may find yourself frustrated by the need to justify your stress and explain the impact of the brain injury over and over again. You may find it hard to ask for help. When family members say, “I'm just so busy” or “I have problems too,” it can be very difficult to ask them for support.

It is often the case that family members simply don't know how they can support you in ways that are manageable for them, or that don’t intrude on you. How many times do people say to themselves, “I would have called but I didn't want to bother them” or “I'm not sure what they need?” Understanding their lives and asking for specific help can help keep you connected to a broad base of family support.

Some ideas:

From Brain Injury Partners: Navigating the School System, the Oregon Center for Applied Science, Inc. Reprinted with permission. www.orcasinc.com.

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