In Their Words - Survivor Stories
We are very fortunate to have several traumatic brain injury survivors as part of the Heads Up! Durham team. Read inspiring stories detailed below from:
- Garrett Bell, TBI survivor and co-founder of Heads Up! Durham
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On October 16, 2008 Garrett Bell, a 22-year-old Trent university student, suffered a Catastrophic Brain Injury when hit from behind by a van while out on a longboard.
During his 48 days in ICU at St. Michael's Hospital and years of rehabilitation, his mother Linda became determined to one day devote her energy to saving other families from this largely preventable tragedy - and Heads Up! Durham was born! |
- Kerry corbett, injured playing soccer, vice-chair of heads up! durham and sports tbi prevention advocate
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I experienced a concussion while playing soccer in a women’s league back in 2014. It seemed like a mild concussion at the time.
I attempted to return to work two weeks later; however persistent symptoms such as vision problems, dizziness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating and migraines forced me to put my career on hold. |
While attempting to navigate the healthcare system post concussion, I began to fully understand how difficult it was to find the help I needed in Durham Region, and how concussions can affect peoples’ lives long term.
I came across Heads Up! Durham during an online search and eagerly joined their steering committee representing parents, coaches and athletes. My experiences and observations continue to drive me to help other Durham Region residents who experience concussions and other Traumatic Brain Injuries.
I am part of the Technical Staff at Whitby Football Club (FC) where I help enrich people’s understandings of concussions and support Ontario Soccer’s efforts to change the culture and attitudes around managing head injuries in sport.
I came across Heads Up! Durham during an online search and eagerly joined their steering committee representing parents, coaches and athletes. My experiences and observations continue to drive me to help other Durham Region residents who experience concussions and other Traumatic Brain Injuries.
I am part of the Technical Staff at Whitby Football Club (FC) where I help enrich people’s understandings of concussions and support Ontario Soccer’s efforts to change the culture and attitudes around managing head injuries in sport.
- Sarah Ginn, car crash survivor and member of Heads Up! Durham’s P.A.R.T.Y. Committee (Prevent Alcohol and Risk related Trauma in Youth)
My name is Sarah Ginn and I am a survivor of a very serious car crash in 2003. I was in the front passenger seat in a car when an oncoming vehicle crossed the centre line and hit mine head on. I was strapped in with a malfunctioning seat belt.
In the back seat behind me, my sister’s boyfriend wasn’t buckled up at all. The impact of the collision threw him into the back of my seat, crushing it down over top of me. The faulty seat belt unravelled and snapped, pitching me violently into the windshield.⠀⠀
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I was airlifted to Sunnybrook Hospital’s trauma centre where I was only given a 10% chance of survival. My lungs collapsed, my liver was cut in half, and my brain was bleeding. I remained in a coma for six weeks, but miraculously regained consciousness.
I have limited recall of the first seven years of my recovery, which included 18 surgeries, speech and cognitive rehabilitation, and physical therapy. I moved forward with the love and support of my family and friends.
I’m a proud member of Heads Up! Durham’s P.A.R.T.Y. Committee (Prevent Alcohol and Risk related Trauma in Youth), a program that originated at Sunnybrook Hospital where I also volunteer.
Learn more about Sarah's second chance at:
https://www.durhamregion.com/news-story/4594644-sarah-s-second-chance/
In the back seat behind me, my sister’s boyfriend wasn’t buckled up at all. The impact of the collision threw him into the back of my seat, crushing it down over top of me. The faulty seat belt unravelled and snapped, pitching me violently into the windshield.⠀⠀
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I was airlifted to Sunnybrook Hospital’s trauma centre where I was only given a 10% chance of survival. My lungs collapsed, my liver was cut in half, and my brain was bleeding. I remained in a coma for six weeks, but miraculously regained consciousness.
I have limited recall of the first seven years of my recovery, which included 18 surgeries, speech and cognitive rehabilitation, and physical therapy. I moved forward with the love and support of my family and friends.
I’m a proud member of Heads Up! Durham’s P.A.R.T.Y. Committee (Prevent Alcohol and Risk related Trauma in Youth), a program that originated at Sunnybrook Hospital where I also volunteer.
Learn more about Sarah's second chance at:
https://www.durhamregion.com/news-story/4594644-sarah-s-second-chance/
- David Macdonald, injured in Afghanistan and member of Heads Up! Durham
In honour of June being Brain Injury Awareness Month, and every other month, we can help reduce brain injuries, especially among our children, by simply wearing a helmet while doing things like riding a bicycle or playing contact sports.
My name is David Macdonald and I hope this can be highlighted through my experience – during the war in Afghanistan.
I served in the Canadian Army for 15 years. I deployed to Afghanistan as part of Canada’s contribution to the rebuilding efforts and the war on terrorism. My role in the country was to provide security for supply convoys – basically drive (and walk) down roads to find the Improvised Explosive Device (I.E.D) bombs the Taliban liked to use before our trucks ran over them.
During a tour in 2009, I was in a serious vehicle accident crash while out on patrol. I was badly injured including a broken pelvis, leg, hand and neck. I also fractured my skull that resulted in a brain injury and a 14-day coma – the only thing that saved me that day was my helmet.
We always wore our helmets as part of our Full-Fighting Order (FFO). They were uncomfortable, hot and heavy. There was nothing better than pulling into a safe area and being able to take off your helmet. On the day of my injury, the helmet took the brunt of the force of my head hitting the armoured plating. Because of my helmet, I am alive today and have been able to fully recover. Without my helmet, I would not be able to write you this today and share my story on this Brain Injury Awareness Month.
Always remember to wear your helmet when it is needed. It will save your life!
My name is David Macdonald and I hope this can be highlighted through my experience – during the war in Afghanistan.
I served in the Canadian Army for 15 years. I deployed to Afghanistan as part of Canada’s contribution to the rebuilding efforts and the war on terrorism. My role in the country was to provide security for supply convoys – basically drive (and walk) down roads to find the Improvised Explosive Device (I.E.D) bombs the Taliban liked to use before our trucks ran over them.
During a tour in 2009, I was in a serious vehicle accident crash while out on patrol. I was badly injured including a broken pelvis, leg, hand and neck. I also fractured my skull that resulted in a brain injury and a 14-day coma – the only thing that saved me that day was my helmet.
We always wore our helmets as part of our Full-Fighting Order (FFO). They were uncomfortable, hot and heavy. There was nothing better than pulling into a safe area and being able to take off your helmet. On the day of my injury, the helmet took the brunt of the force of my head hitting the armoured plating. Because of my helmet, I am alive today and have been able to fully recover. Without my helmet, I would not be able to write you this today and share my story on this Brain Injury Awareness Month.
Always remember to wear your helmet when it is needed. It will save your life!
- Meagan Patterson, injured playing hockey and member of Heads Up! Durham
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I am a proud mother of two wonderful kids and am happily married to a wonderful man who has been so supportive throughout my concussion recovery!
I have played competitive sports (hockey, rugby, field hockey) throughout my youth and since graduating from University have continued with recreational sports. Goaltending and playing hockey was always my passion and I was a team member for Stouffville Midgets winning All Ontario and Lambeth All Ontario Intermediate Women’s. |
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Over the years I hit my head several times playing sports especially being a goalie where I would take a shot off the helmet and there would be moments of ringing and disorientation but the play is still going so you have to keep going. My older brother and his friends would warm me up before a big game in the driveway rattling shots, sometimes off my helmet (my brother recorded slap shot @ 85 mph)!
I would substitute and play “rent a goalie“ for men’s recreation Leagues. I never thought much of my head being hit and would just shake it off and keep going despite my Mother’s concerns. One night playing Uxbridge recreational women’s hockey (beer league) a player on the other team who was not an excellent skater, couldn’t stop and ran into me causing me to fall backwards, the back of my head hit the crossbar hard. I must preface that I still made the save. I felt off instantly. My good friend and Teammate followed me out as she knew something was not right too. The next day I went to work and was wobbly, really struggled with composure and could not focus. I ended up leaving to go to my doctor who said I had a concussion and was referred to a concussion specialist. The concussion caused damage to my eyesight and the eye doctor was actually able to see the impact of the concussion through comparison of previous pictures of my eyes to the current pictures of my eyes. I ended up needing glasses with special lens since I had incurred such severe light sensitivity.
Over the next 2 ½ years I underwent frequent visits to specialists, physio & mental therapies, acupuncture, consults with other “head injury persons”. I am very fortunate to work for such a supportive boss and employer who was able to accommodate me.
Hearing my family and friends tell me afterwards how I was for months following the incident was surreal, they tell me sometimes that I couldn’t hold down a sentence or remember what someone had just told me, I couldn’t always take care of my children by myself and was not always the cheery self I normally am.
I was very fortunate with physiotherapy, supportive family and friends and a tremendously supportive work environment and supervisor. I was able to recover to a new near normal but it’s been a 2 ½ year journey back.
I still go to physiotherapy every so often for maintenance as I do still regularly experience headaches from crowds, loud noises, being tired; but it is manageable – some people are not so lucky.
The Doctor’s speculate my challenge wasn’t the one big bad hit but an accumulation of hits to the head culminating with the real hard clinker to the back of the head into the crossbar.
The goalie helmet I wore was out of date and offered very limited protection at the back of the head; its design is for pucks.
My children who lived through my experience with me have learned that wearing a helmet is so very important; they remind me frequently when doing anything that I should wear a helmet.
I met Linda from Head’s Up Durham not long after I returned to work after my injury and this group has given me such a wonderful gift – to be able to make something positive out of what happened to me.
Lessons learned: I would tell anyone playing sports to check the expiration dates on any of their equipment especially their helmet – it is a valuable investment.
Today, I still really miss Hockey and have to get my fix watching and cheering on my children’s sports and helping out with their Teams where I can; and of course waiting for Carey Price to return to the Montreal Canadiens line up!
- bethany benson, car crash survivor and member of heads up! durham's P.A.R.T.Y. Committee (prevent alcohol and risk related trauma in youth)
My name is Bethany Benson and I am a survivor of a very serious car crash in August 2010. I was in the front passenger seat of a car, napping with my feet up on the dash when our car hit a tractor-trailer. The exploding airbag changed my life forever. I would never be the same active young lady again.
I remember nothing of the crash; however I am reminded of it daily as my legs are still crippled, my brain is still damaged, my eye socket is now plastic, and I still find pieces of glass under my skin. Here is what I do know:
I remember nothing of the crash; however I am reminded of it daily as my legs are still crippled, my brain is still damaged, my eye socket is now plastic, and I still find pieces of glass under my skin. Here is what I do know:
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My then-boyfriend Paul was driving us back home to Oshawa from Michigan. I had reclined my seat a little, put my feet up on the dashboard, and fell asleep. Traffic was stopped on the highway for an accident, but for some reason Paul didn’t notice and drove into the back of a transport truck at high speed.
The front of the car was caved in by the impact. Paul was able to pull himself from the wreck. He was cut by flying glass and required 100 stitches to his face, hands, chest and neck. Paul was fully conscious and able to drag me from the car although I was unconscious. Seatbelts saved our lives and the airbag inflated to prevent me from being hurled into the dashboard and windshield. Unfortunately, my legs were in the way of the airbag instead of being tucked down in the foot well. I always used to put my feet up as it was easier on my back. I never knew it could be so dangerous!
When the airbag inflated at more than 300 km/h my feet were rammed upwards and through the windshield glass and my knees were slammed backwards into my eyes. I was unconscious and would not wake until the next day.
My left eye socket and left cheekbone were cracked. My nose was broken and my brain began bleeding. Eight bones were broken in my left foot and three bones in my right foot. Four years after the crash I still wore a cast because the bones in my left foot didn’t heal properly. My feet have been compacted and are now almost two sizes smaller than before the crash.
The front of the car was caved in by the impact. Paul was able to pull himself from the wreck. He was cut by flying glass and required 100 stitches to his face, hands, chest and neck. Paul was fully conscious and able to drag me from the car although I was unconscious. Seatbelts saved our lives and the airbag inflated to prevent me from being hurled into the dashboard and windshield. Unfortunately, my legs were in the way of the airbag instead of being tucked down in the foot well. I always used to put my feet up as it was easier on my back. I never knew it could be so dangerous!
When the airbag inflated at more than 300 km/h my feet were rammed upwards and through the windshield glass and my knees were slammed backwards into my eyes. I was unconscious and would not wake until the next day.
My left eye socket and left cheekbone were cracked. My nose was broken and my brain began bleeding. Eight bones were broken in my left foot and three bones in my right foot. Four years after the crash I still wore a cast because the bones in my left foot didn’t heal properly. My feet have been compacted and are now almost two sizes smaller than before the crash.
I awoke in hospital the next day unable to communicate. I had been a history and French student at Trent University, planning to become a high school French teacher. The accident took away my knowledge of French completely and I was left barely able to speak English. I had also been a keen athlete, about to compete in my first amateur boxing bout.
I still have no memory of anything until months later and had to be reminded about what happened every time I woke up for those first few months because I could not retain the information. My left eye socket is plastic, I have a permanently dilated left pupil so I have light sensitivity now and as a result of the brain injury noise sensitivity as well.
I also suffer from anxiety and my mother suspects I now have the emotional maturity of a 14-year-old. My family is preoccupied with fighting lawyers for insurance coverage to pay for bills. My mother’s retirement plan have been put on hold to ensure her benefits package can help pay for my medication, specialized equipment and the numerous out-of-town trips for medical consultations.
I’m a proud member of the Heads Up! Durham Steering Committee and the ‘Durham Region P.A.R.T.Y. ‘ sub Committee (Prevent Alcohol and Risk related Trauma in Youth). I am one of the injury survivors who is available to present as part of this program. I share my experience to warn others about the dangers of putting their feet up on the dash.
Learn more about Bethany’s story by reading the Toronto Star’s article at: Auto safety: The danger in relaxation and a similar article on Driving.ca: Grave reminder not to put your feet up on the dashboard | Driving
I still have no memory of anything until months later and had to be reminded about what happened every time I woke up for those first few months because I could not retain the information. My left eye socket is plastic, I have a permanently dilated left pupil so I have light sensitivity now and as a result of the brain injury noise sensitivity as well.
I also suffer from anxiety and my mother suspects I now have the emotional maturity of a 14-year-old. My family is preoccupied with fighting lawyers for insurance coverage to pay for bills. My mother’s retirement plan have been put on hold to ensure her benefits package can help pay for my medication, specialized equipment and the numerous out-of-town trips for medical consultations.
I’m a proud member of the Heads Up! Durham Steering Committee and the ‘Durham Region P.A.R.T.Y. ‘ sub Committee (Prevent Alcohol and Risk related Trauma in Youth). I am one of the injury survivors who is available to present as part of this program. I share my experience to warn others about the dangers of putting their feet up on the dash.
Learn more about Bethany’s story by reading the Toronto Star’s article at: Auto safety: The danger in relaxation and a similar article on Driving.ca: Grave reminder not to put your feet up on the dashboard | Driving
Want to share your story?
We would love to hear about your experience with traumatic brain injury, including what lead to the injury, how you and your family dealt with managing your traumatic experience, etc. Your shared experience empowers others facing adverse scenarios in their recovery.
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