2. Common Challenges and Symptoms

Today’s episode is all about common challenges brain injury survivors face! Let’s talk about how survivors are affected every day, strategies and tips to help, and some of the science behind why symptoms happen.

Cristabelle is joined today by two special guests, Monica Vaccaro (Director of Programs for the Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania), and Dr. Jeremy Schmoe (Founder and Director of The Functional Neurology Center). Together, they bring a well rounded view to this topic.

MEET OUR GUESTS:

- Monica Vaccaro has been working in the field of brain injury for over 30 years. She is currently the Director of Programs for the Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania. She is very passionate about advocacy and doing everything she can to bring more awareness to this hidden injury. We have a conversation about brain injury symptoms, how they affect survivors on a practical and emotional level, and some strategies and tips for how to manage them.

- Dr. Jeremy Schmoe is the founder and director of The Functional Neurology Center and Co Developer of The Brain Health Online Summit. Over the past 10 years he has been working with patients with complex neurological dysfunction. He has treated thousands of patients with head injuries, vertigo, dysautonomia, dizziness, movement disorders, neuro-degenerative and developmental disorders. Today, he shares some of the science behind brain injury symptoms. He talks about autonomics, vision and eye movements, the vestibular system, and more. He explains how a brain injury can affect the way that these systems integrate which can then cause difficulties and symptoms that affect survivors every day. https://thefnc.com

CONNECT:

Website | https://hopeafterheadinjury.com

Hope After Head Injury Facebook Support Group | https://facebook.com/groups/hopeafterheadinjury

Every Tuesday at 7pm Eastern, Cristabelle hosts a live virtual brain injury encouragement chat at Facebook.com/hopeafterheadinjury - would love to invite you to join!

Instagram | @hopeafterheadinjury

Cristabelle’s IG | @cristabellebraden

Facebook.com/cristabellebradenmusic

ABOUT CRISTABELLE:

Cristabelle Braden is an award winning singer/songwriter, keynote speaker, writer, and podcast host. After suffering a traumatic brain injury, she began to write music. Since then, she has surpassed medical expectations and thrived in her newfound gift of music; she has come from re-learning daily life tasks in brain injury rehabilitation to setting her feet firmly on the ground as a songwriter, speaker, and artist with a message of hope. Cristabelle has continually persevered through the daily challenges that come with living with a brain injury, and through her setbacks, re-injuries, and struggles, discovered a stronger and clearer voice and message. In 2020 she launched an inspirational and uplifting podcast called Declaration Life. Her journey has inspired her to become a passionate advocate for brain injury, lobbying on a statewide and national level with the Brain Injury Association of America, as well as personally working hard to provide support and encouragement to brain injury survivors and their families through her online community Hope After Head Injury.