06/05/2020
Joseph Edward Weber
Live for today brain injury group
3 de June at 18:07
My name is Joseph Weber, and I am a traumatic brain injury/brain cancer survivor! After being involved in brain injury support groups over several years' time, I was inspired to find out more about what I would need to do to create and facilitate my own group. My first step was to do some online research to see what others had done before me.
Not long into my search, I stumbled upon the T.B.IS.N and sent a long-winded message to Craig. He contacted me right away and informed me he was now looking for someone to facilitate a TBI support group for the county in which I lived. He built me a website for my group, which I entitled Live for today brain injury group; a friend created flyers for the group, and my care giver drove me all around town, where we posted them up all over the place. I was also fortunate enough to be able to advertise the group over the radio. Since that time it has always been my heart to help out brain-injured folks use their God given talents, and educate others with brain injuries how to reintegrate back into society and the workforce in a functional and meaningful way, by rediscovering each one's "human potential.
My testimony!
On Friday night of President's day weekend 2002 I began to experience of what appeared to be the onset of my first migraine headache ever! Having had been very healthy and physically fit up until that particular time in my life, the headache; the left-sided weakness; and just the overall feeling of general malaise, came as a complete shock! As the evening progressed, I found myself taking any type of over the counter pain and fever reducing medication I could find, and more than the recommended dose of two Tylenol capsules every other hour. As I lay in bed with an ice pack placed under my head I imagined every possible scenario as to what medical condition(s) could be at play here!
My first thought was that I may have incurred this increasing unbearable headache simply due to work-related and family stress. During that era of my life, I had been in a rocky marriage for 6 years and was working a highly stressful job. With a young son in tow I was willing to do whatever I could to bring in as high an income as possible. I was jumping at any overtime hours I could get to help pay off my student loans and finance a new vehicle I was also trying to do my utmost to maintain the yard and make any improvements on the home, all the while engaging in my church ministries of ushering and being the lead guitarist at our church.
Just as my headache began, I had become so angry at simply life itself that I began shouting out to God at the top of my lungs. I remember being in the bathroom and staring at myself in the mirror and seeing my face turning beat red and looking as if I wanted to smash everything around me. After my several minute rant, I took my first two ibuprofen capsules, grabbed the ice pack and headed for the bed. Not being to really focus due to the pain I was in and out of consciousness. By the time my wife and son returned from shopping I could barely get up out of bed to make it to the door to help bring in the groceries. My wife was, indeed, surprised that I was in such an incapacitated state that she left the groceries and helped me to the car, where our five year old was still in his car seat. She rushed me to our medical facility and I waited in the car with my son while she quickly retrieved a wheelchair.
Within minutes she had me into urgent care, and since I was in acute distress, they took me right back to a room. The nurse took my vitals, which all checked out normal. I saw a PA who did a quick sinus eval and told us that my sinuses were clear, Interestingly, however, he prescribed me with medication only to treat a sinus infection.recommended I get lots of rest. I pleaded for something for the pain, and he prescribed me with Percocet. After returning home that evening I took my first doses and looked forward to being able to get a good night's rest, and once the pain medicine kicked in, I slept almost through the whole day Saturday.
When I awoke the headache had become much worse than ever in just a few minutes time. That was the breaking point, and in tears I got into our van, and my wife rushed me to the ER at Saint Peter's Hospital in Olympia. On the way over I became so nauseated that I had her pull the car over to the shoulder and I got rid of whatever I had managed toconsume that day!
At that time of my diagnosis I had already been employed by WA State Division of Disability Determination Services for four years, and another son had joined our family on 06/28/2002. Having already been employed by the agency since 9/98, my medical knowledge was already quite extensive. I had been twice promoted and was earning a fairly decent wage. I had everything I could have ever dreamed about up to that point in my life: a lovely wife, two beautiful young boys, a very nice home, two cars, and the list continues!
Upon being diagnosed, my world was literally flipped upside down. Surviving brain surgery, radiation treatments, and chemo presented some MAJOR necessary adjustments; but the worst was yet to come. I not only began to feel as if I were losing my own human identity, but my family as well. Were it not for my own personal Christian beliefs, I would have given up on this life. I knew it was only right to uphold my responsibilities as a husband and a father. So, what next?
I did my best over the course of several years to maintain my high job-level performance, take care of my spouse and help her to raise our three kids. At work I was very well liked and appreciated, hence management did their best to accommodate me for as long as they could. Not only was I allowed a lighter caseload, but I was treated with utmost respect and human dignity. That was to be expected within the very context of my position. Unfortunately, the road had to become really rough before the potholes could be fixed
First there were the demotions and the divorce. As you can imagine, these events added insult to injury. I became a broken man, with no hope, or even will to live. My faith in Jesus, along with my kids, were literally my saving grace.
I realized it was now when the rubber must meet the road. I made my own choice to fill in those blasted potholes and move on with my life. I found that continuing on with any type of volunteer employment or volunteer services, uplifted my spirits, and determination really began to spread its wings.
I gleaned tremendous support from my family, my friends, and of course, from my dear precious children. Personally speaking, I cannot rule out miracles and I am simply unable to leave God out of the equation. As soon as I surrendered my situation to the Lord, the doors flew wide open to renewed strength and success. I was so poignantly reminded of the dream I said to myself,” I’m going to make this happen. Along with that proclamation came an optimism that hasn't stopped to this day!
My first step among baby ones, was to reestablish my identity as a confident, outgoing, and intelligent human being. Having had to stop working and go on Social-security disability benefits was no doubt tough. However, this had provided me with firsthand knowledge experience for my present-day facilitator role within the TBISN.
I was diagnosed with a large bleeding -out brain mass on C.A.T. scan at my local hospital (Saint Peter's in Olympia, W A) on Sunday night, over President's day weekend 2002. Because there would be no neurologist on staff until Tuesday, i was admitted. It was at that point when my former wife intervened and began to complain to nursing staff about the bleeding. After many long moments had passed she was finally able to consult with the Hospitalist on what should be done next. His reply was to wait a few minutes for a helicopter. They came right away and airlifted me to Harbor-view hospital in Seattle(fun ride). I had been in such excruciating pain that I was given inter-venous morphine some 30 minutes prior to the departure..
what appeared to be the onset of my first migraine headache ever! Having had been very healthy and physically fit up until that particular time in my life, the headache; the left-sided weakness; and just the overall feeling of general malaise, came as a complete shock! As the evening progressed, I found myself taking any type of over the counter pain and fever reducing medication I could find, and more than the recommended dose of two Tylenol capsules every other hour. As I lay in bed with an ice pack placed under my head I imagined every possible scenario as to what medical condition(s) could be at play here!
My first thought was that I may have incurred this increasing unbearable headache simply due to work-related and family stress. During that era of my life, I had been in a rocky marriage for 6 years and was working a highly stressful job. With a young son in tow I was willing to do whatever I could to bring in as high an income as possible. I was jumping at any overtime hours I could get to help pay off my student loans and finance a new vehicle I was also trying to do my utmost to maintain the yard and make any improvements on the home, all the while engaging in my church ministries of ushering and being the lead guitarist at our church.
Just as my headache began, I had become so angry at simply life itself that I began shouting out to God at the top of my lungs. I remember being in the bathroom and staring at myself in the mirror and seeing my face turning beat red and looking as if I wanted to smash everything around me. After my several minute rant, I took my first two ibuprofen capsules, grabbed the ice pack and headed for the bed. Not being to really focus due to the pain I was in and out of consciousness. By the time my wife and son returned from shopping I could barely get up out of bed to make it to the door to help bring in the groceries. My wife was, indeed, surprised that I was in such an incapacitated state that she left the groceries and helped me to the car, where our five year old was still in his car seat. She rushed me to our medical facility and I waited in the car with my son while she quickly retrieved a wheelchair.
Within minutes she had me into urgent care, and since I was in acute distress, they took me right back to a room. The nurse took my vitals, which all checked out normal. I saw a PA who did a quick sinus eval and told us that my sinuses were clear, Interestingly, however, he prescribed me with medication only to treat a sinus infection.recommended I get lots of rest. I pleaded for something for the pain, and he prescribed me with Percocet. After returning home that evening I took my first doses and looked forward to being able to get a good night's rest, and once the pain medicine kicked in, I slept almost through the whole day Saturday.
When I awoke the headache had become much worse than ever in just a few minutes time. That was the breaking point, and in tears I got into our van, and my wife rushed me to the ER at Saint Peter's Hospital in Olympia. On the way over I became so nauseated that I had her pull the car over to the shoulder and I got rid of whatever I had managed toconsume that day!
At that time of my diagnosis I had already been employed by WA State Division of Disability Determination Services for four years, and another son had joined our family on 06/28/2002. Having already been employed by the agency since 9/98, my medical knowledge was already quite extensive. I had been twice promoted and was earning a fairly decent wage. I had everything I could have ever dreamed about up to that point in my life: a lovely wife, two beautiful young boys, a very nice home, two cars, and the list continues!
Upon being diagnosed, my world was literally flipped upside down. Surviving brain surgery, radiation treatments, and chemo presented some MAJOR necessary adjustments; but the worst was yet to come. I not only began to feel as if I were losing my own human identity, but my family as well. Were it not for my own personal Christian beliefs, I would have given up on this life. I knew it was only right to uphold my responsibilities as a husband and a father. So, what next?
I did my best over the course of several years to maintain my high job-level performance, take care of my spouse and help her to raise our three kids. At work I was very well liked and appreciated, hence management did their best to accommodate me for as long as they could. Not only was I allowed a lighter caseload, but I was treated with utmost respect and human dignity. That was to be expected within the very context of my position. Unfortunately, the road had to become really rough before the potholes could be fixed
First there were the demotions and the divorce. As you can imagine, these events added insult to injury. I became a broken man, with no hope, or even will to live. My faith in Jesus, along with my kids, were literally my saving grace.
I realized it was now when the rubber must meet the road. I made my own choice to fill in those blasted potholes and move on with my life. I found that continuing on with any type of volunteer employment or volunteer services, uplifted my spirits, and determination really began to spread its wings.
I gleaned tremendous support from my family, my friends, and of course, from my dear precious children. Personally speaking, I cannot rule out miracles and I am simply unable to leave God out of the equation. As soon as I surrendered my situation to the Lord, the doors flew wide open to renewed strength and success. I was so poignantly reminded of the dream I said to myself,” I’m going to make this happen. Along with that proclamation came an optimism that hasn't stopped to this day!
My first step among baby ones, was to reestablish my identity as a confident, outgoing, and intelligent human being. Having had to stop working and go on Social-security disability benefits was no doubt tough. However, this had provided me with firsthand knowledge experience for my present-day facilitator role within the T.BiSN...
After having been wheeled out, I was immediately rushed to radiology where an MRI was performed. The MRI yielded lightening speed results, and a radiology specialist was speaking over head. He spake in slow motion, and all I can remember him saying is," Mr. Weber, you have a large brain tumor." I was taken to a waiting room where I sat with my wife. Under the influence, I beg an to proselytise, pulled out the check book and wrote a check to a homeless man for $50.00. I had the brain surgery done on the upcoming Friday. I did know the Lord at the time, so I beg an to ask Him to come into my heart to bring me the peace tha t transcends human understanding. I remember going on walks with my wife throughout the facility, and then returning to my room. Soon the ominous day arrived. Many relatives rallied round and joined hands and prayed that my surgery would be successful. I was soon under anesthesia, and the op began. All I recal during the 13 hour long operation to debulh the tumor is having terrible nightmares. The next thing I knew I was repeating my kid's names, my Social security number etc. but while I was wheeled into the ICU my speech was unintelligible.
After having been debulked/sent to pathology at the Mayo clinic,the mass came back as malignant, and was termed as a W.H.O. Grade III terminal brain tumor. what appeared to be the onset of my first migraine headache ever! Having had been very healthy and physically fit up until that particular time in my life, the headache; the left-sided weakness; and just the overall feeling of general malaise, came as a complete shock! As the evening progressed, I found myself taking any type of over the counter pain and fever reducing medication I could find, and more than the recommended dose of two Tylenol capsules every other hour. As I lay in bed with an ice pack placed under my head I imagined every possible scenario as to what medical condition(s) could be at play here!
My first thought was that I may have incurred this increasing unbearable headache simply due to work-related and family stress. During that era of my life, I had been in a rocky marriage for 6 years and was working a highly stressful job. With a young son in tow I was willing to do whatever I could to bring in as high an income as possible. I was jumping at any overtime hours I could get to help pay off my student loans and finance a new vehicle I was also trying to do my utmost to maintain the yard and make any improvements on the home, all the while engaging in my church ministries of ushering and being the lead guitarist at our church.
Just as my headache began, I had become so angry at simply life itself that I began shouting out to God at the top of my lungs. I remember being in the bathroom and staring at myself in the mirror and seeing my face turning beat red and looking as if I wanted to smash everything around me. After my several minute rant, I took my first two ibuprofen capsules, grabbed the ice pack and headed for the bed. Not being to really focus due to the pain I was in and out of consciousness. By the time my wife and son returned from shopping I could barely get up out of bed to make it to the door to help bring in the groceries. My wife was, indeed, surprised that I was in such an incapacitated state that she left the groceries and helped me to the car, where our five year old was still in his car seat. She rushed me to our medical facility and I waited in the car with my son while she quickly retrieved a wheelchair.
Within minutes she had me into urgent care, and since I was in acute distress, they took me right back to a room. The nurse took my vitals, which all checked out normal. I saw a PA who did a quick sinus eval and told us that my sinuses were clear, Interestingly, however, he prescribed me with medication only to treat a sinus infection.recommended I get lots of rest. I pleaded for something for the pain, and he prescribed me with Percocet. After returning home that evening I took my first doses and looked forward to being able to get a good night's rest, and once the pain medicine kicked in, I slept almost through the whole day Saturday.
When I awoke the headache had become much worse than ever in just a few minutes time. That was the breaking point, and in tears I got into our van, and my wife rushed me to the ER at Saint Peter's Hospital in Olympia. On the way over I became so nauseated that I had her pull the car over to the shoulder and I got rid of whatever I had managed toconsume that day!
At that time of my diagnosis I had already been employed by WA State Division of Disability Determination Services for four years, and another son had joined our family on 06/28/2002. Having already been employed by the agency since 9/98, my medical knowledge was already quite extensive. I had been twice promoted and was earning a fairly decent wage. I had everything I could have ever dreamed about up to that point in my life: a lovely wife, two beautiful young boys, a very nice home, two cars, and the list continues!
Upon being diagnosed, my world was literally flipped upside down. Surviving brain surgery, radiation treatments, and chemo presented some MAJOR necessary adjustments; but the worst was yet to come. I not only began to feel as if I were losing my own human identity, but my family as well. Were it not for my own personal Christian beliefs, I would have given up on this life. I knew it was only right to uphold my responsibilities as a husband and a father. So, what next?
I did my best over the course of several years to maintain my high job-level performance, take care of my spouse and help her to raise our three kids. At work I was very well liked and appreciated, hence management did their best to accommodate me for as long as they could. Not only was I allowed a lighter caseload, but I was treated with utmost respect and human dignity. That was to be expected within the very context of my position. Unfortunately, the road had to become really rough before the potholes could be fixed
First there were the demotions and the divorce. As you can imagine, these events added insult to injury. I became a broken man, with no hope, or even will to live. My faith in Jesus, along with my kids, were literally my saving grace.
I realized it was now when the rubber must meet the road. I made my own choice to fill in those blasted potholes and move on with my life. I found that continuing on with any type of volunteer employment or volunteer services, uplifted my spirits, and determination really began to spread its wings.
I gleaned tremendous support from my family, my friends, and of course, from my dear precious children. Personally speaking, I cannot rule out miracles and I am simply unable to leave God out of the equation. As soon as I surrendered my situation to the Lord, the doors flew wide open to renewed strength and success. I was so poignantly reminded of the dream I said to myself,” I’m going to make this happen. Along with that proclamation came an optimism that hasn't stopped to this day!
My first step among baby ones, was to reestablish my identity as a confident, outgoing, and intelligent human being. Having had to stop working and go on Social-security disability benefits was no doubt tough. However, this had provided me with firsthand knowledge experience for my present-day facilitator role within the T.B.I.S.N.
