Lifelines: The Brain Injury Wellness and Recovery Groupmeeting at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas
2nd Mondays of the month, 6:30 - 8 PM
Fogelson Building
Classroom A
We celebrate our 10th year anniversary in June 2011!!!
Lifelines functions primarily as an educational forum. We also hold group discussions every few months.
Mission Statement Lifelines: The Brain Injury Wellness and Recovery Group strives to address the various issues that arise during the rehabilitation/recovery period through support, information and education. The group serves to educate its members about brain injury, how to improve brain health and the possibility of recovering brain function. Lifelines also provides an open forum where survivors, caregivers and health care professionals may meet and share their experiences. This exchange allows the group to address quality of life issues.
Purpose "For human beings adaptation to change cannot take place through instincts. It has to take place through something called awareness, motivation, free will and the ability to anticipate the future." Self-Healing: A Personal History, René DuBos from The Healing Brain, A Scientific Reader, Edited by Ornstein/Swencionis
Goals • To assist patients during the rehabilitation/recovery phase of brain injury by providing education about the brain, brain health and the possibility of recovering brain function. • To identify the “silent epidemic” of brain injury and offer a forum for patients and their caregivers to feel supported and find direction during this period of adjustment. • To allow for exchange of thoughts, ideas and experiences.
Calendar - 2011 meeting dates
January 10 - Are You Smarter Than You Think?
February 14 - Sherry Aikman, artist, Arts & Crafts, Making Valentines
March 14 - Brain Injury Awareness Month - How to be your own patient advocate
April 11 - Charlotte Barner, M.Ed., Imagine the Possibilities
May 9 - Jerry Morle, minister - Group discussion on Spiritual Health
June 13 - 10 year anniversary TBA
July 11 - Genie Bodenhamer-Davis and Richard Davis, founders of UNT Neurofeedback Program
August 8 - TBA
September 12 - Robert Whitaker, author of Anatomy of an Epidemic
October 10 - TBA
November 14 - TBA
December 13 - Holiday Social at Qdoba, West Village, Lemmon and McKinney Ave
For the purposes of our group, the most important thing to realize is that the mechanism by which the brain was injured (automobile accident, fall, stroke, ruptured brain aneurysm/brain surgery, congenital) is most significant during the acute phase of care - hospitalization - and post acute - first stages of rehabilitation. When it comes time to address the physical and cognitive deficits in the recovery/rehabilitation/remediation phase, there are enough similarities between the brain insults that allow survivors to meet under an umbrella group.
Our group members have experienced traumatic brain injury, mild traumatic brain injury, acquired brain injury such as ruptured brain aneurysm/brain surgery and stroke and congenital brain injury. Caregivers, other family members (adults only), friends, and health care professionals also attend the meetings.
The challenges faced by survivors depend on what type of brain injury has occurred, so we have a range in physical and cognitive abilities. We usually have an average of 15 people attending presentations.
Past speakers include Dr. Harold Crasilneck presenting the effects of hypnotherapy, Drs. Gray Atkins, Jonathan Walker, Marvin Sams and Sara Hunt Harper discussing neurofeedback (EEG Biofeedback techniques), Tracy Sellers introducing Brain Gym, Betty Erickson (daughter of Milton Erickson) giving a "reality check" with emotionally healthy ways to approach life, Dr. Fran Assaf presenting CranioSacral Therapy, The Center for Brain Health talking about rehabilitation, Dr. Steve Lomber detailing how the brain overcomes injury, Roger Stainbrook and Elijah Hawken discussing the benefits of acupuncture, Dr. John-Claude Krusz discussing neuropharmocology, Jane Shook, M.S., SLP exploring sensory integration and the Interactive Metronome and Dr. Richard Fulbright presenting two lectures - one about neuropsychological testing and the other about psychosocial outcomes following traumatic brain injury.
Note: Additional information is listed under the 2007 posts. For Fun Things to Do, click on June 2007; for Free Things to Do, click on May 2007; for Resource Information, click on May 2007; for information on different therapies/remediating brain injury, click on August 2007.
For more information and/questions about the group, please contact Kimberly at aikmank@gmail.com. Please note that meetings are for adults only - we do not have the facilities to accommodate children.
Directions to Presbyterian Hospital:
Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas is located on Walnut Hill Lane, just east of U.S. 75 (Central Expressway). The meetings are in the
Fogelson Building, Ground Floor, Classroom A
Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas
8200 Walnut Hill Lane
Dallas, TX 75231
Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas
8200 Walnut Hill Lane
Dallas, TX 75231
When turning into the campus from eastbound Walnut Hill, the best route to take may be the driveway prior to the light for the main entrance. The driveway curves away from the main entrance (direction towards North Central Expressway) and the entry to the parking lot is on the left (gated entry). The Fogelson Building has a small dome on top and is next to the Margot Perot Center.
Using the underground parking is the easiest way to reach the meeting location; if entering from the main floor, cross the foyer (past the stairs) and take the elevators to the ground floor. Haggar Hall is to the left off the elevators.
Remember that parking is now free! Be sure to get your validation sticker at the start of the meeting.
Neither Lifelines nor Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas endorse or recommend any method, treatment, or a program for persons with a brain injury. The intent of the group is to provide support and make information available. Attendance in the group is not a substitute for an informed discussion between a patient and his/her health care provider. No endorsement is intended nor implied.
