We deserve better

Tonight we will explore how a concussion impacts the victim, as well as the victim's family, friends, and lother oved ones. Melinda Richard suffered an accident in her 30's while teaching pre-school at a Waldorf school in Northern CA after 7 years. After her concussion, she was forced to take a sabbatical in what became a life altering event in her teaching career. That was difficult as this was her dream position (as the innovator who had spear-headed the pre-school department for the Marin Waldorf).   She is the mother of 4 and her aunt, Sandra Berrios, became her caregiver. That partially defines Sandra's life as she comes from a very large Puerto Rican family, and has been placed into that role before. Sandra is a family-oriented individual and is often in the position of caring for the various family members. Melinda suffered the common, but disoriwnting effects of brain trauma in the form of persistent or severe headaches; the cognitive effects of amnesia, sleepiness,and mental confusion; the gastrointestinal symptoms of nausea and vomiting; the sensory problems of ringing in the ears and sensitivity to light; the physical effects such as blackout, fatigue, or poor balance; and the emotional trauma of irritability and mild depression. Sanda will discuss the changes seen and experienced, the persistence of these events and the strategies for dealing with the reality of the head-trauma.