Next meeting: April 11, 2011

Lifelines: The Brain Injury Wellness and Recovery Group
meeting at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas.


The April meeting is scheduled for Monday, the 11th, from 6:30 – 8:00 PM (directions below).

We are thrilled to have Charlotte Barner, M.Ed, come and lead us in a group discussion: "Imagine the Possibilities - Putting Thoughts to Action."

What better way to continue to celebrate our name change from Brain Injury Support to Group to Brain Injury Wellness and Recovery group than having a conversation about possibilities?
Charlotte gave such a wonderful presentation in October about how to "Imagine the Possibilities" and we are thrilled to have her show us how to "Put Thoughts to Action."


Charlotte Barner is a doctoral candidate in Human & Organizational Learning from The George Washington University. Her master of education in Curriculum Design & Instructional Technologies is with honors from George Mason University; and her undergraduate degree in Business & Human Resources Administration is from Barry University.

Charlotte has over 20 years of experience in the area of human and organizational learning and development. Prior to joining SMU, she held senior corporate leadership positions responsible for creating and implementing development strategies and systems. Most recently, she established and lead Organizational Effectiveness for one of North America's top sales and marketing companies with clients such as AT&T, Best Buy, Disney, HP, Microsoft, and Wal-Mart, as well as the major movie and gaming producers.

Her philosophy and passion is that the journey of learning and development--from the individual to the organizational level--can be filled with positive possibilities that result in a life of well-being.


Group discussion - "Imagine the possibilities - putting thoughts to action."

Together, we will explore how our perceptions about ourselves influence our ability to envision future possibilities. We will be hearing about real life stories of individuals who discovered what they thought was “impossible” was really “possible!”

A fun tool we will use is called “Visual Explorer”—a set of several hundred images, chosen for their ability to support constructive conversations in a wide variety of situations. The images are deliberately diverse and global in subject, context, and aesthetics, sampling the spectra of the human condition.

We will also explore techniques for mindfulness and practical ways to turn thoughts into positive action.

As with all meetings, you can participate as much or as little as you like. Charlotte will also share her experience caring for her father who survived a brain tumor early in life and a stroke in his later years.


Before the meeting, think about how you would answer the following questions.

1. Think about a time in your life, any time. What did you discover that you could “do” or “be” that you first thought was impossible, but was actually possible?

2. Imagine a time in your future. What are you “doing” or “being” that you want to imagine is possible?

3. How did you accomplish these things, e.g. what thought did you put to action?


Preview of Visual Explorer

Please send a reply email to Kimberly Aikman (aikmank@gmail.com) or call 214 289 0286 so we know to expect you.

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

When turning into the campus from Walnut Hill, the best route of entry may be the driveway prior to the light. The Fogelson Building is to the right when facing the main hospital entrance, 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. Classroom is to the left off the elevators.

The parking booths are no longer staffed in the evening and the exit requires machine payment. We have a couple more months worth of parking stickers, but they didn't work in the machines at the March meeting. Please bring a couple of dollars for parking.

Neither Lifelines: The Brain Injury Wellness and Recovery Group nor Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas support, 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.

Next meeting: March 14, 2011

Lifelines: The Brain Injury Wellness and Recovery Group
meeting at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas.


The March meeting is scheduled for Monday, the 14th, from 6:30 – 8:00 PM (directions below).

In celebration of Brain Injury Awareness Month, we will discuss ways to be our own patient advocates.

After my ruptured brain aneurysm, stroke and brain surgery almost 11 years ago, I found myself facing the silent epidemic of brain injury. Without reliable information from doctors and other brain injury professionals, I was told to "go home and watch television" as my rehab. I started Lifelines in order to help other survivors avoid falling through the cracks and to illustrate the idea that brain function can be restored.

11 years later, I've had another ruptured brain aneurysm and brain surgery. I again risk falling through the cracks. This, even after 11 years of experience advocating for myself and others.

The bad news is that the brain injury rehabilitation model has not improved in the last decade.

The good news is that you can make sure you get the services you need.

How?

Here are some scenarios we'll discuss at the March meeting:

1. The neurosurgeon tells you for a week that you'll be discharged to in patient rehab. One morning, his assistant tells you that you'll be going to in patient rehab later that day. That afternoon, the nurse comes in your room and says you're being discharged home - immediately.

What do you do?

2. The out patient rehab clinic doesn't call you for a week. After three phone calls, you finally get a call back. The scheduler says you can start on March 16th, one month after you've been discharged from the hospital.

What do you do?

3. The home health service doesn't call back for two and a half weeks after the initial evaluation. When you call them, you are told that your insurance company doesn't reimburse enough to make it profitable to provide services to you.

What do you do?

Join us for the March meeting where we'll explore these scenarios and more, talk about how to advocate for ourselves, and explore patient advocacy resources.

Please send a reply email to Kimberly Aikman (aikmank@gmail.com) or call 214 289 0286 so we know to expect you.

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

When turning into the campus from Walnut Hill, the best route of entry may be the driveway prior to the light. The Fogelson Building is to the right when facing the main hospital entrance, 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. Classroom A is to the left off the elevators.

Please note that parking is only free for a few more months! Be sure to get your validation sticker at the start of the meeting. Future cost is $2.00 per meeting.

Neither Lifelines: The Brain Injury Wellness and Recovery Group nor Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas support, 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.