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Kara L.
Swanson
September 15, 2005
by Chuck Wagner
Kara Swanson, brain injury survivor,
lecturer, and author of the book, I'll Carry the
Fork ! – Recovering a Life After Brain Injury, allowed
glimpses into her soul for all those attending the
Clubhouse's September Information and Awareness
Meeting. The meeting was held in an unusual place:
Summa Health Systems Professional Center South on
Thursday, September 15. The auditorium was
filled with over 75 attendees.
After an introduction by our
Executive Director, Betty Bacalu, Kara grabbed us
verbally by accusing us of being New England Patriots
fans. After explaining her reason for doing that
(just to get our attention, Kara is an admitted
sports follower and knew she was in northeastern
Ohio), she held our attention the rest of the evening
by using laughter, tears, and every emotion in between,
in her talk about traumatic brain injury. Kara gave
many examples of her own injury and her subsequent
recovery. She related instances of her trials in
caring for her parents after their multiple strokes.
Kara told of her brother who to this day does not
know that she accidentally substituted dog food
for gravy when she prepared her first family meal
after her brain injury. Kara read a good part of
her speech and explained that her reason for doing
so was because of her loss of short term memory.
She successfully sprinkled charm, wit, humor, sadness,
and joy while relating the appropriateness of her
saga to the saga of all other survivors in the room.
Other points of the discussion:
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Kara mentioned that TBIers
shouldn't have to apologize for their
conditions (loss of short term memory, balance
problems, slowness of speech) any more than
a cancer patient should have to apologize for
the hair loss that occurs during chemotherapy.
"They come with the territory," she observed.
-
Kara told of a work colleague
with TBI who began taking her small appliances,
like a hair dryer, microwave, curing iron, blender
to work so she wouldn't have to keep going back
home to make sure they were all turned off.
-
Kara praised survivors, saying
that no one could understand the pain and suffering
that a survivor felt. She challenged survivors
to contribute to the general good by telling
parents to get their children to wear their
bicycle helmets to help prevent TBI.
-
Kara praised caregivers,
saying they made survivors feel cared for and
wanted. She challenged caregivers to make every
day more comforting to their survivors.
-
Kara closed with a Gaelic
prayer that effectively asks God to afflict
unsympathetic people so they could become more
understanding.
-
Kara spent well over an hour
after the discussion answering audience questions
and signing copies of her book. She didn't just
autograph the books, she made each dedication
page fit the recipient of the book. If you were
there, we are sure that you enjoyed the evening
with Kara Swanson. If you weren't there, we
hope you will consider joining us at the next
Information & Awareness Meeting. They are held
on the third Thursday of every month, usually
at Edwin Shaw Rehabilitation Facility, 1621
Flickinger Road, Akron, OH 44312. You just might
find an inspiring speaker like Kara Swanson
at the next meeting.
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