A Nurse Practitioner’s Road Back After Traumatic Brain Injury with Kelly Tuttle

Send us Fan MailA thunderous crash, a “normal” scan, and a life running on fumes—until falling asleep at the wheel forced a reckoning. We sit down with nurse practitioner Kelly Tuttle to chart the unvarnished path from concussion to diffuse axonal injury and the hard-won strategies that actually make daily life safer and work possible. Kelly breaks down what CT and standard MRI miss, why diagnosis still leans on history and symptoms, and how the right referrals—PM&R, vestibular therapy, neuro-optometry, cognitive rehab—can turn chaos into a plan you can trust.What surprised us most is where help finally came from. Kelly’s access to advanced imaging and top specialists arrived through a legal channel, not her health plan. That twist opens a bigger conversation about navigating the system, documenting symptoms with precision, and becoming your own advocate when you hear “you’re fine” but your body says otherwise. Kelly’s story doesn’t end at recovery; it evolves into purpose. She shifted from cardiology to neurology, then designed resources for survivors: her book After the Crash, an audiobook for low-vision and low-tolerance days, a recovery journal, a Substack, and a growing library of videos. If you or someone you love is struggling after a brain injury, you’ll leave with language to use at appointments, a map of which specialists to seek, and encouragement to slow down without giving up your life.If this resonated, follow the show, share it with someone who needs hope today, and leave a review so more people can find these tools. Your story could be the lifeline someone’s waiting for.To connect with and purchase Kelly's book visit her website at: kellytuttle.org or purchase her book, After the Crash from Amazon.Support the showTo download a free chapter of host Sylvia Worsham's bestselling book, In Faith, I Thrive: Finding Joy Through God's Masterplan, purchase any of her products, or book a call with her, visit her website at www.sylviaworsham.com