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TBI Suggested Reading

Personal Accounts:

  • I’ll Carry the Fork! Recovering a Life After Brain Injury
    Kara L. Swanson
    Death didn't find Kara Swanson the day the minivan careened into her own car, but the head injury she sustained changed her life forever. The author presents her painful tale in an style that wraps the hard information in humor and gentle playfulness. Alongside Kara's inspirational sense of humor, medical and legal professionals offer technical input and practical advice to those dealing with or helping someone through the aftermath of brain injury. This funny and informative book will help countless others find their way to a new life, and know that they are not alone on the journey
    Rising Star Press
    888-777-2207
    http://www.risingstarpress.com

  • Over My Head: A Doctor’s Own Story of Head Injury from the Inside Looking Out
    Claudia L. Osborn
    Over My Head is an inspiring story of how one woman comes to terms with the loss of her identity and the courageous steps (and hilarious missteps) she takes while learning to rebuild her life. The author, a 45-year-old doctor and clinical professor of medicine, describes the aftermath of a brain injury which stripped her of her beloved profession. For years she was deprived of her intellectual companionship and the ability to handle the simplest undertakings, like shopping for groceries or sorting the mail. Her progression from confusion, dysfunction, and alienation to a full, happy life is told with restraint, great style, and considerable humor.
    Andrews McMeel Publishing
    800-943-9839
    http://www.andrewsmcmeel.com

  • Ketchup on the Baseboard
    Carolyn Rocchio
    Carolyn Rocchio shares the personal story of her family’s journey after her son, Tim, sustained a brain injury. Chronicling his progress over more than 20 years, she describes the many stages of his recovery along with the complex emotions and changing dynamics of her family and their expectations. More than a personal story, the book contains a collection of articles written by Carolyn as a national columnist for newsletters and journals on brain injury.
    Lash & Associates Publishing/Training, Inc.
    919-562-0015
    http://www.lapublishing.com

  • Where is the Mango Princess?
    Cathy Crimmins
    Writing with grace, candor and remarkable clarity, Cathy Crimmins charts her husband's painful and often astonishing journey through coma and brain injury. From the frustrations of dealing with doctors and insurance plans to the enigmas of personality, mortality, and modern science, this is a chronicle of wisdom, love and resilience. Meeting absurdity with wit, Crimmins takes readers on a voyage - life affirming in even its darkest moments - through neurology, identity, and the mysteries of the human brain.
    Random House/Vintage Books
    800-733-3000
    http://www.randomhouse.com

Children and Youth:

  • Elvin: The Elephant Who Forgets
    Heather Snyder
    When a young elephant named Elvin has a tree branch fall on his head, he learns that changes in memory, learning, and behavior are the most frequent consequences of brain injury. This illustrated story, for preschool and elementary school-age children, shows Elvin’s struggles when he goes back to school, can’t keep up in class, and doesn’t quite fit in with his friends anymore. Not only is this book about how the brain works and brain injury, it also explains adaptive strategies that students with brain injuries can use. It is a tool for teaching all children about differences in abilities and how it feels to have a disability.
    Lash & Associates Publishing/Training, Inc.
    919-562-0015
    http://www.lapublishing.com

  • For Kids Only: A Guide To Brain Injury
    Shanan R. Raines & Pamela K. Waaland, Pamela K. Richmond
    Compiled by physicians experienced in working with children, this booklet offers explanations of what happens when a child’s family member or friend sustains a traumatic brain injury. Frequently asked questions and quotations from siblings of injured children are incorporated into the text. Other topics addressed include coma; physical, cognitive, and behavioral changes; sibling relationship issues; and the role of family and friends in the recovery process.
    National Resource Center for TBI
    804-828-9055
    http://www.neuro.pmr.vcu.edu

  • Why Did It Happen On a School Day? My Family’s Experience with Brain Injury
    Brain Injury Association of Maryland
    This book is written from the perspective of a young boy whose father has sustained a brain injury. It is designed to be used as a tool for helping children to understand what is happening to a parent with a brain injury and the subsequent recovery period. It is written in simple language and supplemented with illustrations.
    HDI Publishers
    PO Box 131401
    Houston, TX 77219
    800-321-7037

Educators (coming soon)

Other Professionals (coming soon)

General Reading:

  • Living with Brain Injury: A Guide for Families
    Richard Senelick, MD, & Karla Dougherty


  • Traumatic Head Injury
    Dennis P. Swiercinsky, Ph.D., Terrie L. Price, Ph.D., Leif Eric Leaf, Ph.D.
    A guide for understanding the causes and consequences of head injury, and the rehabilitation challenge for regaining as much functional independence as possible for adjusting to that which cannot be changed.
    Brain Injury Association of Kansas & Greater Kansas City
    800-783-1356
    http://www.biaks.org


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