Brain Health Collective

10/10/2026

October 10 is World Mental Health Day ❤️🧠

Today is a reminder that mental health is just as important as physical health. Whether you’re navigating stress, experiencing a difficult season, or simply trying to keep up with everyday life, your mental health deserves attention and care.

Remember:
🌿 You don’t have to have everything figured out.
💚 Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
🤝 Checking in on someone can make a difference.
✨ Taking care of yourself is important, even when life gets busy.

Let’s continue creating space for open conversations, reducing stigma, and making mental health support accessible to everyone.

You matter. Your mental health matters. And you don’t have to navigate it alone.

Visit https://wmhdofficial.com for resources and events!

09/29/2026

Small Wins & Adapting to Life After Brain Injury
After the uncertainty of the first days, Lisa faced a long road of rehabilitation and adjustment. Through physical, occupational, speech, cognitive, and vision therapy, she worked hard and celebrated small victories along the way.
Finding the Small Wins:

Q: You went through several types of therapy. What was the hardest part—and what was a small win that meant a lot to you?
For Lisa, one of the hardest parts wasn’t therapy itself. It was being inside all day after a lifetime of loving the outdoors. She worked hard and excelled throughout her therapies. When asked to complete 10 repetitions, she would do 11 and say, “One more for Jesus.”
Learning to Adapt:

Q: Losing your sight in your right eye and experiencing changes in your left eye is a big adjustment. How have you and your family learned to adapt?
The brain injury changed the way Lisa experiences the world around her. Together, Lisa and Abel learned to adjust everyday routines and find new ways to navigate their environment—from managing lighting and crowded spaces to traveling and getting around.
Finding Support After Discharge:
Returning home brought a new set of questions and challenges. Lisa and Abel found support through family, the VA, the Brain Health Collective, Play4Payne, and their church community. Their experience also showed how overwhelming it can be for families to figure out what comes next after leaving the hospital.
A Message of Hope:

Q: What would you tell someone who just experienced a brain injury and feels overwhelmed or scared?
Lisa: “Be patient, it gets better” and “Upon discharge, a wise doctor told me live life in slow motion.”
For caregivers, Abel emphasized the importance of staying informed, asking questions, participating in care, and building a support system. He also shared an important reminder: “Don’t forget to take care of yourself so you can be there to take care of your loved one.”
“I giveGod all the honor and glory for my survival and recovery.” -Lisa
Thank you, Lisa and Abel, for sharing your story and helping others understand what life after brain injury can look like. 💜

09/28/2026

🧠 DON’T MISS THIS UPCOMING CEU SESSION AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN RECOVERY BECOMES A LIFELONG JOURNEY

Join the Brain Health Collective on October 16 for an engaging session with Kathy Stachowski, OTR/L, CBIST, exploring the latest research, evolving policies, neuro-informed care practices, and collaborative approaches to lifelong brain injury support.

✨ 1 General CEU
💲 $20
📅 October 16, 2026
🕛 12:00–1:00 PM
📍 1401 S. Main St., Dayton, OH 45409

🍴 Lunch sponsored by Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley

Registration is still open!

🔗 Register using the active link in our bio or scan the QR code on the flyer.

09/24/2026

ONE MONTH AWAY! And it is FREE! Register while you can! Register: https://form.jotform.com/262294469515062

Active link is in the bio!

We’re happy to share this upcoming free community workshop, designed to help individuals with brain injuries and their care partners build stronger communication, better understand emotions, and strengthen their relationships.

📅 Saturday, October 24, 2026
⏰ 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
📍 Fitz Center for Leadership in Community, University of Dayton
1401 S. Main Street, Dayton, OH 45409

09/17/2026

Meet Lisa:
Lisa is an adventurous, optimistic, and faith-filled person who has always embraced life’s challenges. After a mountain bike accident that resulted in a life-threatening brain injury, Lisa faced a long road of surgeries, rehabilitation, and adjustment. In this survivor story interview, she and her husband, Abel, share their story of recovery, hope, and finding support along the way.

Facing Recovery:
Q: You’ve spent your life doing tough, active things, from your experience in the Air Force to climbing Mount Whitney in California. How did your background help you face your recovery?
“I was raised on a farm by faith-filled parents and family. I learned that if you can make something better, you do it. And if you can’t, you make the best of it. I try to have a forward focus and positive outlook toward life and the future.”
The First Days
Q: You shared Dr. Staarmann saved your life that day. Abel, what was the initial hospital experience like?”
Abel: “Dr. Staarmann met with me before she took Lisa into surgery and told me this is a grievous injury, unlike anything she has seen before. She shared she would do her best to save Lisa. In the first few days, we were not certain if Lisa would make it as the trauma, brain bleeding, and swelling continued to emerge. I stayed with Lisa 24/7 because I did not know which way this was going to go.”
For Lisa, the compassion of everyone who supported her throughout her hospital stay—including doctors, nurses, therapists, social workers, clergy, administrative staff, and cooking and cleaning support staff—made a lasting impact.
💜 Stay tuned for Part 2: Small wins & Adapting to Life After Brain Injury.

09/08/2026

Join the Brain Health Collective for an engaging session exploring how brain injury extends far beyond acute recovery and can become a lifelong journey.

Speaker Kathy Stachowski, OTR/L, CBIST will discuss the latest research, evolving policies, neuro-informed care practices, and collaborative approaches that empower individuals living with brain injury.

📅 October 16, 2026
🕛 12:00–1:00 PM
📍 1401 S Main St #100, Dayton, OH 45409
💲 $20 | 1 General CEU

🔗 Scan the QR code on the flyer to register!

Link: https://tinyurl.com/2a73v82w

Lunch sponsored by Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley.

09/08/2026

We’re happy to share a resource that can help students, families, and educators navigate the transition back to learning after a brain injury.

ReturnToSchool.org offers practical, person-centered tools to support school re-entry, including information on IEPs, Section 504, and academic, environmental, and behavioral accommodations.

The site also includes resources on Immediate Temporary Accommodations Plans, which can help provide timely support while a formal IEP or 504 plan is being developed.

Whether you're a student, family member, or educator, these resources can help make the return-to-school process more informed, collaborative, and supportive. 🧠💙

🔗 Explore the resources: ReturnToSchool.org

09/08/2026

Relationships can change after a brain injury. Communication, emotions, and everyday interactions can sometimes feel more challenging than they used to. We’re happy to share this upcoming community workshop designed to help individuals with brain injuries and their care partners build stronger communication, better understand emotions, and strengthen their relationships.

📅 Saturday, October 24, 2026
⏰ 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
📍 Fitz Center for Leadership in Community, University of Dayton
1401 S. Main Street, Dayton, OH 45409

Participants will explore:
🗣️ Communication and listening skills
👀 Interpreting nonverbal cues
💭 How emotions can affect relationships
🌡️ Identifying emotions and their intensity
🔄 Connecting triggers, thought traps, and behaviors

The workshop is FREE, with materials included, plus a light breakfast, lunch, and snacks! Participants and their care partners must attend the full workshop.

If you or someone you love is navigating the challenges of communication and relationships after brain injury, this could be a great opportunity to learn, connect, and grow together. 💙

08/13/2026

Recovery doesn’t end at discharge— that’s often when the hardest part begins.

Read the Dayton Daily News column featuring
Dr. Susan Davies, director of the Brain Health Collective.

She shares how the BHC is connecting providers, educators, and families so no survivor navigates recovery alone. 💙

Read the full story today!
🔗

Brain injury recovery doesn’t end when a patient leaves the hospital. For many Dayton families, that’s when the hardest part begins.

07/29/2026