Traumatic Brain Injuries are said to be the leading cause of death in South Carolinians from the ages of 1-44, per statistics from the Brain Injury Association of South Carolina. The known leading causes for TBI are said to be falls and motor vehicle collisions according to the Brain Injury Association of America.
As illustrated in a recent article in The Greenville News, TBI affects a range of cognitive, behavioral, emotional and physical functions, which can include anything from problems with short-term memory, personality changes and speech impediment to lack of coordination and persistent fatigue. As awareness of these type injuries is increasing, there are still believed to be over 60,000 South Carolinians living with traumatic brain injuries.
Rebecca Hadel was in a t-bone collision when she sustained a traumatic brain injury, along with other severe physical injuries. The Greenville News article, "Recovering, Step by Step", highlights her personal story along with information about TBI. As Hadel states in the article:
“Brain injuries don’t ever go away…”
To learn more about traumatic brain injuries and the resources available, click on any of the below links:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Traumatic Brain Injury;
- Brain Injury Association of America;
- Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center;
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke;
- Brain Injury Association of South Carolina;
- South Carolina Department of Disability and Special Needs;