I can only imagine the surprise of some readers upon reading this pieces’ title! After all, what does minimally processed pet nutrition and Brain Injury Awareness Month have in common? The mere fact that every 9 seconds, someone in the United States sustains a brain injury warrants discussion of the topic. Whether it’s a traumatic brain injury (TBI), non-traumatic (acquired brain injury from tumor, stroke, or other internal factors), or a concussion, the effects are varied and can change everything for the survivor and their loved ones in a matter of seconds. As a RAWZ team member and TBI survivor from a car accident on July 4th in 2006, I’m honored to share my experience here on the RAWZ blog. After all, with more than 5.3 million people surviving TBI and living with long-term physical, cognitive, and psychological disabilities in the U.S., brain injury truly is a hidden epidemic.
Our family’s start in animal nutrition began with my grandfather’s study of poultry engineering at the University of Maryland. A true entrepreneur, Grampy went on to build Old Mother Hubbard biscuit company. The Scott family later developed multiple successful lines, ultimately leading to my parent’s launch of RAWZ Natural Pet Food. While RAWZ is an amazing 100% cause-based pet nutrition company supporting service dogs, cat rescues, and brain or spinal cord injury causes, it is my own brain injury journey that brings me to our discussion today.
After graduating from the University of Tampa in May of 2006, I returned to my parents’ home in Maine to begin a career utilizing my economics degree. Life was busy and filled with the excitement of a post-collegiate chapter, when on July 4th, I drove off the road in a horrific crash and joined the ranks of being a brain injury survivor. Even today, post-traumatic amnesia has wiped the almost two month period from the middle of that June to August 10th of ‘06 from my memory. Assisted by medical records and my amazing mother’s notes I was able to piece the story together:
After the crash, a passerby saw my body on the side of the road and alerted the authorities. I had lost consciousness and was brought to Exeter Hospital in New Hampshire, but was immediately transferred to the ICU at Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess Center where I remained minimally conscious for 6 weeks. Once medically stable, I was blessed to begin inpatient rehabilitation for 6 more weeks at the amazing Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital where I made great strides. Upon discharging from Spaulding to my parents’ home, although still in a wheelchair and with little to no use of my left arm, having my mom as a caregiver allowed me to transition to outpatient therapy at River Ridge in Kennebunk, Maine. After making great progress, I began transitioning to an intensive Neuro-Day Rehab outpatient program at Portsmouth Hospital for about two years.
Before I go any further, let me tell you about Andy, my brother and best friend. Although 4 and a half years younger, Andy and I have always been best friends, playing the same sports growing up and being each other’s confidantes. Just 15 months prior to my crash, Andy fell from a 3rd story balcony becoming a paraplegic. Having both of our lives altered forever shook my family and set off a few years of shellshocked, triage-like living. Juggling both our recovery journeys and need for care ultimately led my father to leave the industry to, as he likes to say, help my mom “carry the lumber.”
A brain injury, for lack of a better phrase, is just a weird thing. Although its effects may be visible and obvious for some, the symptoms are not evident in general day to day life for many survivors. In fact, the incidence of undiagnosed, undertreated, and certainly misunderstood brain injury, coupled with a lack of societal awareness leaves these injuries commonly called an invisible injury or an epidemic. My recovery has been nothing short of amazing, thanks to phenomenal medical care, the support of friends and family, and perhaps most transformative, my membership at the incredible Krempels Brain Injury Center (KBIC). However, any discussion about building a “New Life After Brain Injury” (to borrow KBIC's tagline) would be incomplete without mentioning the amazing dogs I've been blessed with over the years.
Starting with Boomer, the world-class food thief who graced our family for 14 years. A constant source of love and companionship, Boomer provided consistency and a sense of normalcy through troubling times. Boomer had become my unofficial support animal and roommate as I transitioned to independent living. With the responsibility of canine parenting, I felt like an actual human being, rather than an observer of the world happening around me.
Now to Clooney, the “Silver Fox” and 12 year old lab from Georgia. Prematurely grey like his old man (yeah, that’s me), Cloon and I have an interesting relationship similar to a parent-child bond where the roles are fluid and reciprocal. An early riser who gets me up and moving before I can decide otherwise, Clooney puts himself to bed before me each night, always in my usual spot! This makes for an interesting stand off when I retire for the evening as he pretends he doesn’t know I’m attempting to climb into bed, finally moving to the couch in the living room with an exasperated exhale. At some point, I’m forgiven and he returns to nestle on top of me for the evening where I immediately see him upon opening my eyes each morning.
Throughout my almost 19 years of living post TBI, I’ve been immensely fortunate for the love and support I’ve received from both humans and my lovable canine companions. If there’s one thing that I’ve learned, it’s that the hardest part of living with a brain injury is just that: living with a brain injury. Life as a TBI survivor comes with its own unique challenges, many of which simply come from being a human being in an imperfect world. But one thing’s for certain, my life sure has been made better thanks to pets. That’s why it’s such a blessing to be a member of the RAWZ team with the opportunity to improve the lives of people and pets everywhere!
