Dana Wynn-Stockert

Twenty-four years of living with a traumatic brain injury has been no easy task. Some people find it difficult to understand me because they don’t see and quickly make connections that I’ve grown to adapt over the 24 years of my life that have been impacted by TBI.

I was sixteen when the accident happened, and doctors told my parents they were not sure that I wouldn’t be quiet the same as before, but as they saw the success I made, my adaptability and progress was credited to my youth. Luckily, I was able to graduate high school on time with my peers, I had a baby at 20- not a teen, but my brain was still recovering and now a new mother too. I managed to stay strong and resilient through my 20s and after my 2nd child had started pre-K, I set ablaze my own new path to a Bachelor’s degree in environmental sciencr, which easily progressed into a Masters degree in sustainability, two areas that I am blessed to have a deep knowledge of and advocate for.

Today is May 31st and I have planned my summer to prepare for law school preparation, with my summer focused on 2-4 intense days of studying for the LSAT. Individuals with brain injuries can achieve success in numerous ways, but the small wins that lead to big change are the ones I want to share about my own experience. I am blessed.

If you or someone you love has been affected by a brain injury, read, not limited to literature on brain injuries, but read to connect new and untapped neurons, a new way of thinking, like learning to Think Again (Adam Grant).