Williamsburg/Newport News brain-injury survivors share challenges, interests

Keen curiosity, self-awareness, empathy and humor were all on display at the monthly meeting of the Williamsburg/Newport News Brain Injury Survivors Group at The Denbigh House in Newport News. The group, founded and led by Sara Lewis, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a 1977 car accident, celebrates its first anniversary in June.


“Every brain injury is different depending upon which area of the brain is damaged. Many people (like me!) who are injured in car crashes experience frontal lobe injuries which affect aspects of personality like acting out , frustration, not wanting to deal with details, being impulsive," said Lewis, who just completed a degree in speech pathology. She is also writing a book about her experience with brain injury, and is training her dog Cici, a Jack Russell terrier and Shih Tzu mix, to become a therapy dog.


"This is wonderful for him," said Mary O'Connell, who has accompanied her son, John "Jeb" O'Connell, 44, a graduate of Johns Hopkins University, to the meetings for the past year. Jeb had his first brain surgery to remove an arachnoid cyst at 18. Five years ago he opted for additional, elective surgery to alleviate his seizures, but it has caused other problems. O'Connell recommends that caregivers and family attend the meetings. "It helps you understand about the sleep problems, the anger, to answer the 'what happened?'" she said.



"I had to sleep about three years," he said. "Now I don't sleep." Others concurred that after their initial injury, they slept a lot, but that as time passed they rarely enjoyed prolonged, regular sleep. The ensuing discussion zig-zagged between the importance of REM sleep, the dangers of the long-term use of over-the-counter sleep aids, and ways to achieve better sleep.

Alex Watson, program coordinator for the Denbigh House, chipped in occasionally, but mostly counseled participants to consult with their doctors on any specific problems.

The conversation meandered from the state budget to the need for humor to get through the day to recommendations for yoga, meditation and Tai Chi as ways to handle stress. They discussed sleep apnea, their risks of developing Alzheimer's, and the effects of their medications.

Next month, they agreed, they'd discuss strategies for social situations.

"Brain injury is a lot like old age, but it hits you all of sudden," concluded Lewis, citing an article she'd recently read, as she wrapped up her presentation exactly at the designated time.


Want to attend?

What: Williamsburg/Newport News Brain Injury Survivors Support Group

Who: Survivors and their families, friends, and caregivers

When: 5:30 to 7 p.m. third Thursday of the month; next meeting June 19

Where: The Denbigh House, 12725 McManus Blvd., Newport News

Format: Participants bring snacks and socialize, followed by a program with discussion; typical topics include memory strategies, coping with fatigue, relationships, etc.

Information: Sara Lewis, group facilitator, 757-784-0344, slewis@cox.net, or Alex Watson, Denbigh House program coordinator, 757-833-7845, alex@communitybraininjury.org. The Denbigh House for community brain injury services offers a weekday clubhouse program.

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