Survivor Story: Blessings Hidden in the Moments with Elle Gargano

We survivors understand the world in a different way. We have found that the worst of times shape you in a fundamental way like nothing else can. The silver linings are plentiful.  Building a life after injury that holds these new perspectives in the forefront takes courage and an openness to become something new. Elle Gargano has taken her experiences after surviving a mass shooting to shape her life into the one she wants it to be.  Recovering from a brain injury doesn’t mean you get over it. It means you learn how to find joy every day, accepting and incorporating all parts of yourself. You have the power to be you and make an impact in this world. Live Brave! @brave_the_labelIn this episode:Elle survived a gunshot to the head suffered on October 1, 2017 at a country music festival mass shooting in Las VegasAs horrific as the shooting was, Elle found silver linings; “blessings hidden in the moments” (6:54).  Goodness is there even in the worst timesAt a time when people were faced with saving themselves, complete strangers helped her, her friend, and others get out During your time on earth, the most important thing about it is the connections you make with others.  Things don’t matter; it's the people in your life that give it value and meaning. Near-death experiences give a valuable and life-changing perspective that others may not understand.  A testament to the power of good: complete strangers helped Elle and her friend make it out of the venue and took Elle to the hospitalMaking connections with other survivors of the event is really hard.  Everyone is in a different place with processing it. It can be very overwhelming to revisit the trauma.  Elle needed a craniectomy to remove the bullet fragments and a piece of her skull.  A few weeks later she needed a cranioplasty (synthetic skull insertion).  She had side effects of hydrocephalus which is a build up of fluid in her brain that eventually required a third surgery to insert a shunt.Loss of self and lack of identity after brain injury-- That feeling of not identifying with your past self and interests.  Not knowing yourself anymore--your interests and abilities are different post-injury.  You have to relearn who you are after injury.  Changing from your previous over-achieving self to someone with a different level of performance is not only hard on you but it changes the roles you play within your social contexts. Family, friends, and yourself all have to adjust to the new you and figure out the new role you play. It is hard on everyone.Joe Borges ep. 30: Before our injuries we were caterpillars in the dirt but after injury we are butterflies soaring.  Yet everyone expects us to still be caterpillars.  The adjustment to being homeHer initial mentality post-injury was filled with gratitude for being alive but as time has gone on she has learned many things about herself and dealing with trauma.  Elle’s career path changed post-injury from a conventional corporate path to one where she could be more mindful of her needs with a controlled pace and a focus on helping others.  Elle started a business: Brave the LabelBrave the LabelElle’s company: When she was thinking of names she considered what she wants people to embody while wearing her clothes: Bravery, a feeling of empowerment, confidence, you can do anything you put your mind to, you have it in you!!The business is helping others while helping Elle regain her sense of purpose,...