The Church & Traumatic Brain Injury

Today's guest, Cristabelle Braden is a brain injury warrior who advocates for others who have experienced this injury. She shared her powerful testimony as a TBI survivor and educated us regarding the impact of this condition. 

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. Releasing multiple albums of original music and touring all over the United States, she brings her powerful testimony and a message of freedom, healing, and love wherever she goes. 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. She is a sought after speaker, both in brain injury and Christian ministry events. She is also a graduate-level Biblical scholar, currently working on a Masters in Theological Studies.  She hosts two podcasts:  Declaration Life, a faith-based podcast about living intentionally, and Hope Survives, a brain injury podcast. 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.

Interview Highlights

· Cristabelle defines traumatic brain injury.

· “It can happen at any age to any person. Brain injuries don’t discriminate.” – Cristabelle Braden

·  Cristabelle shares her experience with traumatic brain injury.

· “It’s been a long journey of finding hope. “ – Cristabelle Braden

· “My mom describes me as like a toddler around that time.” – Cristabelle Braden

· Cristabelle explains how being a TBI survivor has impacted her faith and her perspective on God’s healing power.

· “God started to teach me how to rely on the Holy Spirit instead of on my brain.” – Cristabelle Braden

· “So many times, we disqualify ourselves from things God wants for us.” – Cristabelle Braden

· “Hold on to Jesus and know that He is healing you.”  - Cristabelle Braden

·  Cristabelle shares how the church can support TBI survivors.

· “I really would love for the church to reframe the way that they think about brain injuries and realize it’s serious.”

· “Check on them, love on them, just be the church.” – Cristabelle Braden

· “Chose hope even when it’s hard.” – Cristabelle Braden

Relevant Links & Resources 

* Connect with Cristabelle on her website, Facebook, and Instagram.

* Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

* Learn more about Sherry at https://linktr.ee/sherryspeakslife.

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Remember, the church is not a building. We are the church!