Hi Everyone,

It’s that time of year again! The Brain Injury Association of PA’s annual conference. We’re fortunate to be chosen to be speakers on Tuesday. This year we are presenting with Devina Kumar and Dr. Cole Galloway on the research study for the GoBabyGo Cafe and Harness House. We’re also excited Enliten will erect a free-standing unit for Corey to give a live demonstration. Our presentation would not be effective without Caitlin’s video, photography and tech talents. I come up with the idea and she makes it happen…thank goodness!

Our presentation will begin with a video history of Corey’s recovery timeline prior to the cafe and harness house. Mid-point, Devina will present her clinical data to support the project’s theory ‘Immersion in a real-world environment aides in advanced recovery’; Cole will present how they hope the harness will bridge mobility to enable a TBI survivor’s transition to their community; and we will close with Corey’s video/voice-over of her recent experience at Not Your Average Joe’s and her shopping trip to the grocery store. She will give a live demonstration as we open for Q&A.

The timeline footage is truly powerful. When you get caught in the day-to-day routine, it’s easy to forget where we started and all we’ve done to overcome each challenge. I’m so thankful we have her 5 year recovery documented. It’s also critical to the study as most survivors and their families are not documented beyond their second year.

Watching the presentation has been an excellent reminder – no matter how hard it gets, despite every minute we want to quit or take a break, we have to keep the hope of what we want for the future present as we try to cope each day…thank goodness for tenacity and our mantra – Never Give Up and Never Give In! xoxo

Hi Everyone,

this is an entry from Corey.
I realize its been awhile, however, i’m still pluggin’ forward at getting better one day after the other i believe?

i’m making progress so i just keep on truckin.

beside the physical concept, i am also getting better at my voice. meaning i’m taking singing lessons. they’re fun! it will help me speak better and as a bonus, i will learn to play the guitar which will help my left hand.

another new thing is a really cool brace to wear on my left leg to help me progress to walk more. its really cool because i picked a cheetah leopard print. i really really like it because cheetah and leopard go with everything so i never have to worry about being mismatched.

okay, i’m off for reading class now for more progression!
talk to you some other day!! xoxo

Hi Everyone,

Last night our ‘little chef’ was back in the kitchen. Corey draws quite a crowd, Not Your Average Joe’s called in extra staff to handle the 160+ reservations. By 6pm there was a 45 minute wait for walk-ins!

We arrived at 3:30 and Corey was hard at work with Chef Mike by 4:00. This week the team prepared Mexican food; homemade guacamole, poblomo cream sauce and lots of enchiladas. Corey stood for 90 minutes before I insisted she take a water break and rest her sinking legs. She agreed to 15 minutes. Chef Mike wanted her in the pizza station but the orders were adding up. Corey agreed to switch roles and work the front of the house walking around greeting our family and friends for an additional hour before we sat for dinner.

The evening was a success for the research program and brain injury awareness. There were actually 5 families we are currently working with and/or know through our journey that came out to join us including a survivor that happened to see Corey’s story on CBS.

The evening’s greatest success was revealed today.

Corey’s first visit to NYAJ’s was March 8th. Although she was in her element and exuded intense joy, she had no memory of her experience the subsequent days or weeks after. When I show her the CBS television spot she likes it but can’t quite connect to it, then she is sad she doesn’t remember it.

This morning she slept in (not a surprise after such a busy night). She commented her left leg was sore.
M – That’s normal after a busy night. You stood for a long time. You worked really hard.
C – What did we do last night?
M – Try to tell me. Take a guess. Can you picture anything?
C – (after a long silence) there were lots of people. (pause) I can’t remember.
M – (excited at the glimpse of clarity I encouraged her) yes you can. What were you wearing? (each answer from this point on, took several minutes to recall)
C – a white shirt
M – that’s right! it was actually a Chef’s coat. Can you describe anything about where you were? What did it look like?
C – there were big stoves with doors
M – close; they’re called ovens
C – haha, I forgot the name.
M – picture where you were, what can you see? What were you doing?
C – (corey mimed a rocking motion with her hand)
M – That’s right! Can you tell me what you were doing with that motion?
C – it reminds me of Papa…lots of vegetables
M – Chef Mike was showing you how to keep the tip of the knife on the cutting board. Every time you lifted the handle up and down you would move the knife forward making a fluid, smooth cut instead of lifting the knife like a samurai giving a rough chopping cut. He called the motion “Rocking the boat”.
M – can you picture the cutting board? What were you doing?
C – JULIENNE!
M – Yes!! You were chopping lots of vegetables and Chef Mike was working with you on using your left hand to steady the vegetable while the right sliced Julienne style.
M – This is so exciting…what else can you see?
C – I hate that I can’t remember everything.
M – I know but today you remembered so much! You didn’t remember any of the details from the first time.
C – did I work there before?
M – yes, last night was the second time you were there
C – OH MAN…

Corey was silent on the walk from the chairlift to the kitchen. We entered the kitchen; she put the harness on and began to walk towards the pantry to get her cereal box. She stopped and with great pride and some surprise, she said, “I can’t believe I remembered Julienne, that’s huge”!
M – Yes it is!

Conversation in the late afternoon brought more memories of some of our friends and some new introductions. No memory was precisely described, more of a foggy description with a few details that helped me know who or what she was describing. I would casually bring up a leading question to see if her memory of the night was sticking. As the day/night wore on, Corey’s fatigue increased and she had no recall of the event…but it’s in there, somewhere deep down inside, the seeds of her memory are starting to take root.

The HARNESS HOUSE research study is based on the theory that immersion in a real world environment will help a survivor strengthen all aspects of PT, OT, Speech, Cognitive and Emotional/Behavioral therapies. The whole body working together; moving, thinking, reacting and problem solving with each step, each reach and instinctual thought. We build on this with living life as it should be; every trip to the grocery store, each therapy session, any social event and even the tedious household chores.

The moments we shared today doesn’t lure me into a false sense of hope that magically Corey will “wake up” but it does help me regain confidence that eventually that symbolic root will stand firm. Corey will not only continue to strengthen her abilities she will begin to truly flourish. Never Give Up and Never Give In, the Lotus flower is growing, xoxo

Hi Everyone,

The Go Baby Go Harness system has been installed and Corey’s loving it!. She enters the kitchen each morning, puts the Harness ‘suit’ on (it looks like she’s ready to jump from a plane) and off she goes. She maneuvers the kitchen to get the ingredients for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as walking to the cabinets and drawers to get her cooking tools, plates, bowls and spoons.

Her new found independence is exciting to watch. The free standing harness system gives her the confidence to know she will not fall as she continues to learn how to balance and walk independently. Although Caitlin and I technically don’t have to hold her gait belt, we do stand within a foot or two just to make sure if she stumbles she won’t glide forward like swinging on a zip line.

Tonight we head to Not Your Average Joe’s for the Harness House – Brain Injury Awareness month fundraiser. Corey’s memory of tonight’s event is intermittent. She’ll ask, “what are we doing today”?
M – Can you guess? (I don’t like to continually give her the answers, she must try to recall them with limited verbal que’s)
C – am I going to work?
M – yes, do you know where?
C – that part I forget…
M – a REAL restaurant
C – Joe’s?
M – You got it!
Corey’s facial expression is both excited and terrified then she adds
“I have been working hard every day and it’s finally happening”!
“what other restaurant can I work in next week”?
M – can we please get through today?!

We will take lots of pictures of Chef Corey wearing her new chef’s coat. Keep tuned for our next update on the carepage and Facebook xoxo

Hi Everyone,

Happy BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS Month! Thank you to everyone that shared our facebook event page for the TBI & HARNESS HOUSE research event. Corey is looking forward to working in a ‘real’ kitchen.

For those of you NOT on facebook, Not Your Average Joe’s in Glen Mills, PA will be donating 15% of each lunch or dinner check each Tuesday in the month of March when you mention you’re there to support TBI and the Go Baby Go Harness House research project. We are so grateful for their support and that there are 5 Tuesday’s this month! In addition, Corey has been invited to be a guest Chef on the 8th and the 22nd.

The Harness House research project is a perfect story for Brain Injury Awareness. There are 5.3 million TBI survivors living with permanent disabilities from their injury. Of that number 1.6 are seriously disabled and do not have funding and/or coverage for long-term rehabilitation. The data we collect from this research project will help us effectively advocate at the state and federal levels. This will change the lives of not only the survivors but for their caregivers and family members as well.

Another interesting fact about TBI (even a mild concussion), is something known as Brain Allergies. The more families we meet, the more we discover the survivors can no longer eat or have a sensitivity to certain foods. They have developed food allergies to gluten, dairy, egg, mustard seeds, nightshades, rice, red/yellow dyes, and artificial chemicals. In Corey’s case, her TBI is linked to inflammation in her gut and her red blood cells. We’ve changed her diet to help with the inflammation and in doing so have begun to see a change in her sinus pressure, constipation, headaches and mood swings to name a few!

Now that we are focused and diligently researching nutrition, I’m amazed at how little is ‘out there’ to help new TBI families with this critical information. When Corey was learning how to swallow and eat, no one told us about or guided us to keep an eye on fat content or possible food triggers and food allergies. In fact, this year was the first time we heard of a test to identify 90 possible food allergies with a simple blood test.

In keeping with her vision of becoming a Chef, she’s adding a new recipe to her cookbook. She recently purchased a Spiralizer with her Christmas gift money. This weekend, we cooked a version of a recipe she found in a cookbook called Inspiralized by Ali Maffucci called Bikini Bolognase. For those of you looking for a nutritious, filling and calorie conscious meal to get ready for the beach, Corey’s take on Ali’s recipe is delicious!

Finely chop celery, carrots, onions, mushrooms and chicken breast
You will need diced tomatoes, oregano, basil, olive oil and salt/pepper (we don’t use garlic as I am allergic to that!)
Corey uses two saute pans.
In one pan, drizzle olive oil, add celery and carrots to saute on medium heat.
When the celery and carrots begin to get tender, add the chopped onions
When the onions become tender but not yet translucent, add mushrooms, a hefty shake of oregano and basil and a few twists of salt/pepper (only a real Chef eye’s her spices…she cooks like my mother)
Simmer for about 5 mins and add a can of diced tomatoes
Turn on low

In the second saute pan, drizzle olive oil, add/cook the chicken, season lightly with oregano, salt/pepper.

while the chicken is cooking, spiralize the zucchini. We use 2 zucchini’s per person.

When the chicken is cooked and looks tender, add it to the vegetable bolognase.

Rinse your meat pan, add a drizzle of olive oil and toss in your zucchini noodles. Cook for 2-3 minutes. It’s best to serve them al dante.

To plate, use spaghetti tongs to grip the zucchini noodles and ladle the chicken/vegetable bolognase on top. Finish with fresh parsley to garnish. For those of you allowed to eat dairy, add pecorino romano grated cheese.

You’re bikini and beach body will thank you! Bon Appetite xoxo

Hi Everyone,
We have big news to share…

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that I was asked to write about Corey’s progress on Leap Day! From the moment I answered the first call after her accident, every critical decision, every therapy choice, every specialist we consult with, every ‘out of the box’ idea we try has been based on a Leap of Faith.

We had no idea what Traumatic Brain Injury was. In Hollywood and on TV, when a person comes out of a coma they wake up, stand up and remember most everything. Corey looked like a Hollywood actress. Her injuries were severe, she was hooked up to multiple machines that were keeping her alive; yet, as I stood looking at her, her face was perfect, her makeup and hair was untouched. Why wouldn’t I think she’d survive? That was October 2, 2010. I’m not saying we won’t have a happy ending, in fact, I’d say Hollywood should base their next reality show around Corey’s recovery. We’d call it, Never Give Up and Never Give In.

Corey worked hard at the acute care and neuro-out-patient rehab for the last 5+ years. She has re-learned every basic movement we non-injured people take for granted; moving her eyes, holding her head up, turning to look at something. She re-learned to sit, stand, cough, swallow, eat, talk and laugh; yes, she hasn’t forgotten humor. Her daily task, among many, is re-learning to walk and dress independently as we wait for her left side to fully wake up.

Corey’s dream was and IS to become a Culinary Chef. We have incorporated what we call ‘cooking therapy’ into her everything we do. When she was in a coma, I held aromatic spices hoping their scent would cause a reaction. We bought adaptive cooking utensils to use during home therapy. The meals she prepared were donated to our local churches for meals on wheels. We started reading recipe books, attending cooking classes, meeting local Chef’s and working towards her standing at the stove so she can realize her culinary dream.

I have often said; watching Corey as her brain heals is like watching an old wooden foot-bridge being built. Each new connection is a plank. Unfortunately, not all the planks line up or are easily strung together. After all this time, there are several planks still missing! Corey recently participated with the University of Delaware’s Go Baby Go Café research project. The café has helped her find her missing pieces. When Corey works in the café, her movements within the kiosk coupled with the interaction with customers and her co-workers ties each connection; this is called neuro-plasticity. The Café has tied years of separate Physical, Occupational, Speech, Cognitive, Emotional and Behavioral therapy’s immersing her in a real-world workplace. The stride’s Corey’s made throughout her last five years has taken a giant leap forward with her work at the Café.

We are about to take a new Leap of Faith as the first family to partner with the researchers of the University of Delaware’s Go Baby Go Cafe called HARNESS HOUSE. The spin-off of the Café will combine function, food and family! We will have a harness system in her bedroom and our kitchen. Corey will be able to walk about her bedroom to get dressed for the day and enter the kitchen to make her own breakfast or she will be free to stand and walk to the refrigerator to get a drink if she’s thirsty. What we are most looking forward to is her ability to stand and cook for her friends that come to visit; after all, we all know the best parties are always hosted in the kitchen!

HARNESS HOUSE is perfectly timed as March is National Brain Injury Awareness month. There are 2.3 million new TBI injuries annually. 5.3 million Survivors live with permanent disabilities whether it is from concussion to coma. Limited funding from private insurance, Medicaid and Medicare not only inhibit a survivor’s length of stay as an inpatient, but their long-term rehabilitation coverage as well; both of which is critical to their recovery.

Not Your Average Joe’s in Glen Mills have chosen Brain Injury Awareness month and HARNESS HOUSE as their Not Your Average Cause. Each Tuesday in March, you can help to raise funds for the Go Baby Go HARNESS HOUSE by eating at Not Your Average Joe’s in Glen Mills, located in the Glen Eagle Square Shopping Center. Just let your server know you’re part of the cause and they will donate 15% of your check to this amazing research study. Farmcat Media will continue to document Corey’s next leap in her recovery, so please stay tuned for the upcoming video documentary at www.farmcatmedia.com

Hi Everyone,

We’d like to reassure you that although we haven’t posted in two weeks, we are not taking a break to sit around and eat bonbons. In fact, Corey has been working hard and we’ve been working on a few surprises that will launch just in time for March which happens to be BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS month.

To catch you up, (but before we launch our big surprise), Corey has been working hard! She’s started working at the Brain Balance Center in Springfield, PA. There are several young woman her age and a little older she is working with. The ladies complete a series of complex visual and auditory lessons. They spin for vestibular therapy and this week started balancing exercises which include standing on a tilt board!

During Corey’s initial evaluation, she completed a 5 1/2 hour cognitive reading and math exam. The results were both informative and emotionally shocking. Her reading and math scores are on a 1st grade level because of her memory loss. Her reading comprehension is at Kindergarten level. Some of her vocabulary recognition and vocabulary decoding skills place her on a 5th, 6th and 7th grade level. As difficult as this is to accept, we now have a baseline and know where to begin and what we need to work on. We are incorporating ‘school work’ in her weekly schedule.

As you can imagine, watching Corey read aloud and struggling to process a word or a sentence, trying not to lose her place as she moves from one line to the next, breaks my heart. I sit watching and listening as she reads a 3 line paragraph from her first grade reader, remembering what she was capable of as I witness what is her current reality. When she’s finished, she looks up at me, takes a deep sigh, smiles and says, “that was really hard but I did it”! The look of pride and accomplishment in her eyes initiates a rush of emotions within me. I force to swallow the lump in my throat and return her smile as I resume my cheerleader role, “That was really, really good Corey”!

In addition to her vision, vestibular and cognitive therapies, Corey is also working in the Go Baby Go Cafe once a week. She enjoys the interaction with customers and her co-workers. Corey can be arguing with us all morning but the minute she gets into the harness and starts working in the kiosk, she’s finds herself. She’s in her element. It’s a joy to watch. It also renews and refreshes my sense of hope. She walks throughout the kiosk restocking supplies, taking an order, taking payment while working the computerized register and closes every sale with a big smile as she confidently states, “Thank you, have a nice day”!

This morning as she practiced her dressing skills, she noticed a sign hanging on her bedroom wall. Her Aunt Diane had it custom made for her when she moved up to her room. It’s her mantra, “NEVER GIVE UP and NEVER GIVE IN”. She read it aloud,
C – Never give up…where did that saying come from?
M – I don’t know when we started saying it, but that’s been our mantra for 5 years.
C – It’s a good saying you know why?
M – no, why?
C – because if I give up, I’ll never get better…
xoxo

Hi Everyone its Corey

Today a little video of me is going on YouTube and Facebook. It’s about me working hard to get better and working in the café. I hope it helps show people a different way to get better. If you know anyone else with brain injury, please show them my video so they can get better to, xoxo

View the video from FarmCat Media below