Everyone on this earth is unique in their own way. We are all different and that's what sets us apart from everyone else. One of the reasons we are different however, has to do with some of the many brain injuries many of us suffer either at birth or at a given time throughout our lifetime. With this in mind we must investigate and understand the causes of brain injuries so we can help with the rehabilitation and the recovery of all that are impacted, to help them live productive lives.

 

As we discuss the effects of traumatic brain injury we must first understand the science behind what goes on in the brain and how different events can affect the brain in many different ways.  The term used for the study of the brain is known today as Neuroscience.  This wide spread study is made up of scientist and researchers that are determined to find out how the brain and the nervous system work together and to find out what happens in given instances of injury. These are the people that are motivated to understand the vast range of behaviors that are demonstrated by people with brain injuries.

 

Many people have said that the importance of this study cannot be overstated; this is due to the fact that there are over 1000 different disorders of the brain that all affect people in different ways. It has also been stated that this group of disorder affects more people than that of cancer and heart disease combined, causing a wide spread destruction, it has been stated that neurological disorders affect in access of 1 billion people around the world.  This unbelievable fact has not taken into account those who have been afflicted with mental health and addiction disorders.  While treating any disorder the costs can arise quickly, the national average for Neurosurgery was said to be as high as 1 trillion dollars in Europe in 2010. 

 

When talking about traumatic brain injuries or (TBI) the first thing that comes to my mind is infants that are affected at the time of birth and what needs to be done to help them overcome the many obstacles that they may face throughout their lives. Most of the problems that arise while dealing with a premature infant have to do with the development of the brain and how the brain responds to the many tasks that are required of it on a daily basis.  This has become a wide spread epidemic of the past years, whereas premature birth has risen nearly 20% since 1990. These startling facts are also connected with other statistics that show that even with neuro-development, the number of people with disabilities due to these situations has changed very little over time. 

 

In addition there are many different disorders that can arise when an infant is born. One of the first and most evident could be as simple as problems with breathing and respiration. Other and more serious issues can lie deep within the brains structures and can cause some serious implications if they are not treated correctly. One disorder has to do with the Cerebellum and coordination of motion and is located at the base of the skull, in a location known as the post Terroir Fosa. This disorder begins to appear when at birth a child is born with a malformation at the base of the skull and is characterized by a downward displacement of by more than four millimeters of cerebral tonsils into the spinal canal.

 

While a person is in distress with the symptoms from a disorder like this they may show a sign of many different symptoms that may arise after the onset of the disorder has begun. One of the first symptoms an onset of very bad Migraine headaches. This may occur due to the abnormal amount of spinal fluid that may be present in the brain. Sometimes these headaches can happen at the base of the brain at the neck area due to compression of the spine into the base of the skull. Another and more irritating symptom may be a loss of sensation in the upper torso. Some patients may even collapse due to loss of muscle control.

   

Another disorder that is evident in new born infants is known as Hydrocephalus. This debilitating disorder can affect people in a range of ways, from very mild symptoms to life altering symptoms that can alter how a person lives and thinks on a daily basis. This is a disorder that is defined as being a collection of access fluid builds up within the ventricles of the brain. This is a condition in which access spinal fluid is built up on the brain and it is sometimes said that it is water on the brain, when in reality it is access spinal fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal column.

 

The fluid displacement has its share of systems that can arise when someone is diagnosed with Hydrocephalus. Some patients may have the onset of major headaches that are caused by the access fluid on the brain; most others will also have periodic vomiting and sometimes the occasional seizure.  Hydrocephalus can be regulated with the installation of what is known as a Shunt. A shunt is a plastic tube that goes up through the abdominal region and is fixed permanently in the skull and has a small pump that helps drain fluid from the brain.

 

Playing sports can be a really exciting time in one's life, watching them can be amusing to the fans that cheer for their team on a regular basis. However, within the world of sports there can be serious implications when it comes to health. Football is a contact heavy sport that can see many big hits on the players. Some of these hits are taken to the head that can cause serious problems as well neurological setbacks. One of these setbacks is a condition known as CTE. CTE was first discovered in the 1920's and has to do with the repetitive hitting of the head causing injury.  CTE is often associated with dementia, memory loss and major changes in personality of the victim, and can even include problems with ventricular dilation which occurs due to the many head to head hits that these players take on a game to game basis. 

 

A good example of how this affects a person would have to be Mike Webster. Webster was said to be one of the greatest centers to ever play the sport of Football, while he was playing with the Steelers at the beginning of the 1974 season. He was a legend in football starting 150 straight games from 176-1986. He also won the Super Bowl four times and was honored as an all pro player seven times.  With all his success, Webster did have some serious ailments that forced him into retirement after the 1988 season. One of the most serious was CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) would be responsible for his death in 2002.

 

Everyone on this earth is unique in their own way, and we all are different in many different ways. With these differences come obstacles that many of us must overcome. Some of these obstacles have to do with the neurological make up of our brains and how we develop. As a nation, we must recognize and acknowledge these neurological differences and provide awareness of the many different forms to traumatic brain injury. Through greater awareness comes discovery...and through discovery there is hope.  

   

The Reece Endeavor has an opening at the Hines Duplex at 1209-1211 West Hines.  This one-bedroom duplex rent with be $475 and will include gas, electric, snow removal and lawn care. It is not accessible and has no laundry facilities.  

 

Potential tenants need to be receiving support from another community agency and have enough support to maintain the unit in the condition received.  This is a nonsmoking unit. 

 

If you have someone who is interested in this unit, please return the attached application ASAP.  Do not wait!  I will set up a personal viewing.  Applicants will be considered in order of applications received!  If you have questions, please call 989-835-9700

 

   

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