In 2016 Andrew suffered a traumatic brain injury after a fall from a chair. His life instantly changed from that point forward and he struggled to adapt to this change in ability.
Andrew credits his mother for giving him some tough love in telling him to move on with his life. After some thought, Andrew returned to a job in technical support and began to concentrate on other ways to move ahead with his life.
“A person with a brain injury doesn’t need to realize what they can’t do – they see that every day of their life. What they need to know is what they can do,” said Andrew.
Andrew connected with Easterseals Crossroads for resources and worked with a resource facilitator specializing in brain injuries to learn more about coping mechanisms. He gained advice from our assistive technology specialists and found that simple changes like a standing desk made a huge difference in managing his chronic fatigue, another effect of brain injury. Andrew has learned to embrace adaptations to help him succeed and move forward.
Looking ahead, Andrew has 20 hours completed toward his private pilot’s license and he is working with the FAA to continue. He has come to realize that even if he cannot continue independently, he will still keep flying with a certified flight instructor.
“Sometimes with a brain injury you ask yourself, ‘Can I really do this?’ I reasoned in my head that I cannot be the first pilot to ever be afraid. I flew for a good week — almost every single day — and I got over the fear,” said Andrew.
”I realized that by trusting myself, I could end up being me, which is what I was always trying to achieve in the first place,“ said Andrew. “But this time,
I didn’t fight myself for it; I worked with myself.”
For more information about brain injury services, contact us.
