001» confrontingttraumatic brain injury, devastation, hope, and healing by william j. winslade. 1998. new haven : yale university press. 

powerful book telling the realities confronting survivors and families of traumatic brain injury (tbi). while since the mid 90s great strides have been made to treat acute tbis through treatment guidelines in trauma centers saving thousands of lives annually, the ability to help survivors and their families during the rehabilitation process is dismal compared to our heroic rescue efforts.

the foreword written by james brady states:

“ winslade details the unfortunate lack of a general public awareness about brain injury, while explaining that this health crisis kills or disables more children and young adults than does any other single cause .

lyndon johnson noted that each year more americans were killed on the highway than died in the entire eleven years of the vietnam war .

brain injury requires a new march in washington to quell the epidemic that is claiming or altering the lives of far too many. ”

the author states:

“ providing the most seriously disabled with appropriate housing, food, supervision, transportation, social and psychological counseling, medical care, and other necessities of life is society's collective responsibility. shifting this burden to the families only creates more victims and robs us of the contributions that caretaking individuals would otherwise make . it is up to all of us to transform the silent epidemic into one heard and responded to in the places where public policy is made .”  

002» head injury the facts , 2 nd edition, by d. gronwall, p. wrightson, and p. waddell. 2002. oxford: oxford university press. 

great book filled with useful information written in new zealand to guide families through the various steps of the trauma of head injury. the authors acknowledge that in many countries the after-care of the victim is inadequate, while families are left to cope. eye-opener quotes:

“ there are still no magic cures. head injury can be, and often is, a long-term, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week problem.

the tragic lack of appropriate rehabilitation for survivors of head trauma is unfortunately seen all over the world.

head injury rehabilitation is a cinderella service.

we need to work together, armed with the facts about head injury, to persuade the holders of the health and rehabilitation purse strings that it is not cost-effective to spend thousands of millions of dollars on saving someone's life after a head-injury accident, and then to cut off the support that would allow them to achieve their economic potential, and gain an optimum quality of life .”  


003» in search of wings by beverly bryant. 1992. maine : wings publishing. 

inspirational book written by a survivor of tbi with determination to gain independence. it is an example of how critical access to rehabilitation services is, as well as, an expanded supportive community in assisting with achieving a quality of life for survivors. notable, this book is published with tbi survivors in mind as the large font size accommodates visually impaired individuals, a common effect of tbi. the author uses some photographs and very powerful poems (“ the poetry readings, remnants, were personal thouhgts and feelings i was never able to express or tell anyone at the time” ), throughout to assist in the sharing of her journey. 

004» listening in the silence, seeing in the dark reconstructing life after brain injury by ruthann kneckel johansen. 2002. berkeley : university of california press. 

eloquently and scholarly written book by mother (and professor) of a tbi survivor, accounting the journey her family experienced by the tragedy and the dynamics it entailed. it is also a significant evidence of the benefits that access to lengthy medical and rehabilitative care can provide a quality of life for tbi survivors, as well as the benefits of an extensive supportive community. caregivers of survivors can get ideas from her experience. the diary entries sprinkled throughout the book provide an intimate reflection of the ramifications of tbi. 

005» over my head , a doctor's own a story of head injury from the inside looking out by claudia l. osborn. 2000. kansas : andrews mcmeel publishing.