TBI in the Media

By Jessica Bahny
Activities Team
NeuroCare Center

Lately I am noticing TBI is showing up a lot more often in the mainstream media. This is great for brain injury awareness.

The Free Press recently interviewed Rick Schroeder, the actor, and it was brought up that his teenage son experienced a TBI following a dirt bike incident. They talked some about the situation, and he acknowledged that TBI recovery can be a lengthy process, requiring patience and work on the parts of all family members. I thought this was cool. Maybe it can help family members understand that they’re not alone.

Also, the Lifetime show “Army Wives” has been dealing with TBI quite a bit in this last season. So much so in fact, that one of the main characters is being portrayed as suffering a “silent” TBI when her vehicle was near a blast. She experienced headaches, personality change, forgetfulness, and other issues after coming home. The TBI was not caught at the overseas hospital. It was due to a reverberation in the vehicle, which jiggled her brain.

The show is handling the issue wonderfully. The character has integrity, dignity and pride. It has followed her through the various steps that she has to take to “relearn” some simple tasks, in order to become ready for deployment again. It’s also dealing with the dynamics of family, exploring her husband’s experience with the changes, as well as the challenges of raising a toddler when one parent has TBI.

As someone working with individuals recovering from TBI, I’m usually wary of the way they’re portrayed in the media. Older movies such as “Regarding Henry” made me frustrated; some of the rehab scenes were so unrealistic. I'm glad that TBI is becoming such a hot topic and is finally coming close to receiving the attention it deserves, in a respectful manner.