Click
here
to
order
|
Mindstorms
The
Complete
Guide
for
Families
Living
with
Traumatic
Brain
Injury
John
W.
Cassidy,
MD
(With
an
Introduction
by
Lee
Woodruff,
coauthor
of
In an
Instant:
A
Family’s
Journey
of
Love
and
Healing)
For
anyone
whose
loved
one
has
experienced
a
traumatic
brain
injury
(TBI),
you
know
that
it is
a
life-changing
event.
It
may
feel
as if
your
world
has
shifted
on
its
axis,
and
you’ll
never
get
your
bearings.
Navigating
your
way
through
the
morass
of
doctors,
medical
terms,
and
the
healthcare
system
can
be
daunting,
especially
when
you
want
only
what’s
best
for
your
loved
one.
Dr.
John
Cassidy
has
devoted
the
past
twenty-five
years
to
helping
families
cope
with
traumatic
brain
injury;
Mindstorms
is
his
compassionate,
comprehensive
manual
to
demystifying
this
often
frightening
condition.
More
than
6.3
million
Americans
live
with
a
severe
disability
caused
by a
traumatic
brain
injury.
In
fact,
it’s
so
commonplace,
but
little
talked
of,
that
TBI
is
often
referred
to as
the
“silent
epidemic.”
In
these
pages,
Dr.
Cassidy
walks
you
through
the
different
types
of
brain
injury;
the
common
myths
surrounding
it;
the
ways
in
which
TBI
may
affect
memory,
behavior,
and
social
interaction;
what
the
newest
options
are
in
treatment
and
rehabilitation;
and
how
to
hold
onto
your
own
sense
of
self
as
you
journey
through.
Along
with
the
practical
information
you’ll
need,
Mindstorms
offers
a
constellation
of
stories
from
families
and
patients
who
are
slowly
but
surely
finding
their
way
back.
May
their
stories
inspire
you
and
yours.
John
W.
Cassidy,
MD,
an
award-winning
neouropsychiatrist
and
former
Harvard
Medical
School
professor,
helped
found
the
traumatic
brain
injury
program
at
Boston’s
McLean
Hospital.
He is
currently
the
president
of
Nexus
Health
Systems
and
lives
in
Houston,
Texas,
with
his
wife.
Praise
for
Mindstorms:
“One
of
the
greatest
gifts
a
loved
one
can
be
handed
in
the
midst
of a
storm
is a
life
raft.
This
book
is
that
raft.”—Lee
Woodruff
Readers Comment on Mindstorms:
“I read Dr. Cassidy's book, MINDSTORMS, and
was impressed with his knowledge and
insight.” Jan, TX
“I recently found your book (John W Cassidy)
and I want to thank him after all these
years. I had a head injury but also have
impairment of my left ear/eye(legally
blind)was in a coma for 8 days with blood
clot in the brain and traumatic amnesia I
was told, still don’t remember the
accident.., Your book is a open book of my
life.” Christopher, NV
"I had a stroke in Aug2003, this month will be 8 years in for me. Through a friend of a friend, I used Feldenkrais Physical Therapy for 3 years. We had tremendous success in alleviating excruciating pain in my left shoulder, but then zero success in regaining any function of my left arm and hand. a few months ago, during an oasis Feldenkrais session given to me by the wife of a dear friend during my visit to her husband, she loaned me your wonderful instructive book, “Mindstorms”. My wife read it cover to cover in that first week. me, on the other hand, only read a few chapters at a time, including yesterday, which reminded me and stimulated me to communicate with you, so I could express my sincere thanks and admiration for your ability to describe so succinctly the many faceted nuances of TBI. I consider myself very fortunate to have only a few physical left sided disabilities, cannot walk normally, no function in my left arm or hand, back pain while sitting, etc. I think that cognitively I lucked out, but nevertheless as you so aptly describe in the book, my family dynamic has suffered greatly. My wife, my loyal caregiver, is my husband. My 5 adult sons are my 5 fathers. Over the years, I say to myself mostly, although occasionally to others, – “ I no longer know who I am or what I am doing”. Ok, I’m getting away from my reason of writing you. Even though my own symptoms are miniscule in comparison to many of your real life vignettes, your descriptions and commentary made me feel so comfortable, so peaceful. I believe in hindsight, as I am thinking and writing now, that it is soothing to have some semblance of understanding about what has and is happening to me as a result of a wound to my brain. I’m writing you to give you extra strength and fortitude to continue in your important endeavors, knowing they are touching others in ways that add tremendous quality of life. I like to indulge myself by expressing my feelings, rather than remain indebted to the person that gives me something of benefit. In your case, I felt I had to thank you, knowing I am not alone n my feelings, but quite possibly alone in having the desire, the freedom and the ability to communicate with you. I was and still am a nature digital photographer. My handshake or little hug is sharing images via communications." Dovid
"My daughter suffered a traumatic brain injury last September. She has made tremendous progress since then however, there are still many issues she is faced with. Her courage and determination is astounding.
Mindstorms is informative, well written, and yes, encouraging. The author goes into the many facets of brain injury in simple language. He explains the hardships that the patient endures to reach his or her greatest potential. The author brings understanding to the lay person and care giver from the medical and patient perspective.
For those whose loved ones or friends have gone through traumatic brain injury this book gives great insight into the issues involved with TBI." M. Wirth "Chey", Tucson
"It's unfortunate that Mindstorms has so few reviews here. In my opinion, it is the best overview of brain injury available today. In just over 200 pages, it covers every aspect of brain injury, from the emergency room through rehabilitation to reentering the real world. It even has a chapter that reminds family members to take care of themselves. Mindstorms is clearly written. Vignettes of real-life patients treated by the author--who as a neuropsychiatrist is intimately acquainted with brain injury--illustrate and humanize the topics addressed. At times, however, the reader is challenged by medical discussions and terminology. Perhaps most importantly, this book paints a realistic picture of the permanent life-altering aspects of brain injury, while offering the hope that comes from knowing that countless survivors of a brain injury live full, happy, and productive lives." Garry Prowe
"This book provides a great overview of the progression of TBI. It also explains the process of good TBI care and the sequence of facilities that a patient moves through, from an ER to the rehabilitation center. Reading the book helps set realistic expectations for the timetable for patient improvement." JT, Network
"This book is very informative & highlights many personal accounts of life following a traumatic brain injury, not only for the victims, but for the caregiver, family or friends. It covers everything. I highly recommend it for anyone trying to educate themselves concerning life after a TBI."
"Amazing book...would highly recommend it to anyone working in the field of brain injury and anyone who has a loved one who has suffered a head injury!!!" Meghan K Durkin
"Great overview of the possibilities/options at every treatment stage of the TBI game. As a TBI survivor I really liked this book to better understand my treatment options, and come to terms with what had been done during my PTA (post Traumatic Amnesia). Good to fill one in on the terminology too, permitting one to talk the talk effectively." TomH
"This was an amazing revelation for me after dealing with my husbands TBI for 2 years...I wish someone had advised me of this book at the beginning of the journey!! I have now passed it on to a friend whose son had an accident and has TBI. It's an incredibly informative and helpful book. Dr. Cassidy makes it so easy to understand the most Medical of terms...something I feel our physicians have not." LaurieA
"This book is brilliant, very well written and easy to understand. When a loved one suddenly has a catastrophic accident and has TBI (traumatic brain injury), you life is suddenly out of kilter. There's a whole new language being spoken, and you really need something like this book to be informed during a chaotic time. I'd recommend it to anyone with a brain injury." KarenZ
|
