Main areas of research:

neuroplasticity

Interests/keywords:

myself
This is different. I had a severe brain injury and was in a coma. Then I was brain dead (I beg to differ. What would that doctor say now?). Quad...then hemiplegic...then hemiparesis...now working on left-handed (was right). Couldn't talk, had dysphagia. Now talk and orally takes Ensure (just a little). I obviously am not cognitively impaired (surprising considering the severity of the bleed), but I have my own theories involving imprinting on several areas of the brain (remember that?) and the re-wiring of neuroplasticity. I've been in 5 hospitals, inluding Stanford, where the embolizations and last craniotomy were done. Also, there has been a sub-acute hospital and 2 nursing homes (licensed and not) since 2002 when this happened.

This is a post I did, but it explains best:

I had an AVM bleed. It was located in the cerebellum, right next to the pons, and the way it bled was also like a brainstem bleed. Although I immediately sought medical attention at a clinic, I wasn't taken to a hospital for surgery until hours later after I lost consciousness and other things. I cover it in here where it's a more interesting read, http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aha/strokeconnection_20090708/index....

I was in a coma about 5 weeks. I do know I could hear the latter part. Upon opening my eyes, that's all I could do. I had Locked-In Syndrome. After some therapy, I could minimally move my left (was right-handed and I believe this was important for neuroplasticity). Around 8 mos post bleed I started making sounds, and was scoped. Nothing was found. I now fully talk. A few years post bleed, the AVM was removed. At that time, I started moving my right--hemiparesis.

Now I do have a BA in psychology and an MA in special education. I specialized in infant intervention and biomedical intervention. For a while I was a program manager of an early intervention program. When my bleed happened, I had just moved and started a new career as a behavior therapist. I do know my bleed would have been classified as a Grade IV, and the prognosis very poor. But I also saw something else going on-progression. It has been this PROGRESSION that has driven my interest in neuroscience. I didn't get an answer from a top university, so I've researched on my own. I've later learned this PROGRESSION is neuroplasticity (my BA was in '89 and the theory not taught). I do know what I am doing has never been done before. I could blow you away with what I know and what I've experienced.

Current title/position:

N/A
I'd say that I am speaking for those who can't.

Current affiliation/employer:

N/A

Collaborators:

I maintain profiles on MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, and Google.

Personal or laboratory homepage:

http://https://plus.google.com/?tab=XX#114061315171466252323/about

Publications:

http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aha/strokeconnection_20090708/index...