Brain Injury stopped snowboarder Kevin Pearce when many competitors could not. The world watched American Shaun White win his second Gold Medal in the Men's Halfpipe competition. American Scott Lago won the Bronze Medal and the third American, Louie Vito placed fifth.
Scott Lago dedicated his performance to Kevin Pearce and Danny Davis, fellow competitors who were knocked out of the Olympics by injuries. Kevin was the 2007 - 2008 Swatch TTR (Ticket to Ride) World champion. Olympic Gold Medalist Shaun White had been the 2006 - 2007 Swatch TTR champion. The 2008 - 2009 champion, Peetu Piironen from Finland, won the Silver Medal in the 2010 Olympics.
As fellow TTR champions White and Piironen stood on the platform to receive their medals, Kevin Pearce watched from Denver's Craig Hospital, a facility that specializes in brain injury treatment. Kevin was transferred to the Denver facility after spending weeks in a coma and critical care at the University of Utah Hospital.
Dr. Elaine Skalabrin, one of Pearce's doctors at the Utah hospital and medical director of neuro-critical care said, "Kevin has made tremendous progress since being admitted to University of Utah Hospital on Dec. 31. He is able to walk and do many daily activities with some assistance."
Brain Injuries Are Real
Brain injuries, it has been estimated, happen every twenty-three seconds in the United States. That's over 3,750 per day - PER DAY. Kevin is fortunate to have been diagnosed quickly and for treatment to begin as quickly as it did. So many victims are not so fortunate. (continued below)
Kevin, at this time, is only seven weeks out from his injury and, as many know who live with brain injury everyday, the extent of his "personal" brain injury can not be known at this time. Brain injuries are definitely personal. No two brains contain the exact same information prior to being injured, and no two brain injuries are exactly the same. With millions and millions of brain cells and axon connections, so to speak, it would be rare, very rare, to find two injuries in which the same cells and axonal discharges were affected.
As we pointed out in our book, Brain Injury Survivor's Guide, every brain is different before brain injury. Memory and cognitive and behavioral skills were unique. Likewise, what happened after brain injury is unique as well.
For instance, Beth forgot the multiplication tables and could no longer multiply. She also lost her peripheral vision and short term memory. The onset of migraine headaches that put her in bed every six days like clockwork caused many changes in her (our) lifestyle. Simon and Pia Pearce, Kevin's parents, are learning and will continue to learn how brain injury affects entire families.
Our thoughts and hearts are with them. Brain injury survivors are more than willing to share information with others, and the Pearce's may learn that the strategies used by so many survivors are helpful. Our hope is that Kevin will need very little outside information. We hope that his brain can heal itself as much as possible and more quickly than most.
We welcome them to our world, knowing full well they don't want to be here any more than the rest of us.
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