Brain Storm A Journey Of Faith Through Brain Injury

Brain Storm is the story of Bruce and Laura Allen who, when confronted with the immeasurable challenges of brain injury, found courage, determination, and strength from God to forge through the seemingly insurmountable obstacles of Bruce’s intense and often heartbreaking recovery. The overwhelming struggles that consumed the next year changed their lives forever. Brain Storm views these incredible hurdles through the separate eyes of both the survivor and the caregiver. It recounts how God miraculously led them through each step of the journey. This candid, intimate, and often humorous approach to recovery from brain injury will encourage and inspire readers—especially those who are currently traveling a similar path. You will learn why Bruce decided, “This has been the best year of my life.” “Brain Storm is not just the story of a man’s experience recovering from brain injury, but it is also one of loss, grief, acceptance, and transcendence to find one’s purpose in life. This is a true testament to how fragile our lives are and how resilient we can be in the face of adversity. Bruce’s story is an inspiration to me, his physician and friend, and will be to you as well.” —Darryl L. Kaelin, MD “Bruce and Laura Allen have allowed us to journey with them in their remarkable, honest, painful, and miraculous story of faith, hope, and love. This is a must-read for anyone walking through extended physical suffering either as a patient, caregiver, or family member. You will laugh, cry, and rejoice—but most of all you will experience God.” —Dr. Mark L. Walker

From Night to Light is Donna's first book about her 13 1⁄2 year brain injury journey. It details Donna's symptoms, challenges, quirky moments, and how she overcame the obstacles stacked against her. When everyone counted her out as a hopeless victim of circumstances, never to return to her normal self, through faith and a miracle from God, she defied the odds! Donna's journey to recovery is sure to be awe-inspiring to all.

I was two months away from getting married when I suffered my very first out-of-the-blue epileptic seizure. Along the path set before me in the years to come, with all its twists and turns, I learned to trust in God that although many things were out of my control, I was put on this blessed but sometimes broken road with purpose and I wasn't alone. I could choose to fear each of the unknown curves and bumps along the way or to have faith through them. Painful as each may have seemed at the time, I needed to endure each challenge placed before me for a specific reason. Blessed with Brain Damage is my story of faith, strength, survival, and taking things one day at a time. I may have come out of these experiences with both emotional and physical scars (from invasive brain surgery), but I have learned how much richer my life is by adopting the attitude of gratitude. Many angels, here on earth and from up above, came to my aide along the way and by sharing my encouraging story, I hope I am in my own small way paying forward the kindnesses I received. I wanted this to serve as a reminder for to my daughters of their own inherited strength as they navigate whatever roadblocks they may come across in their own lives. Blessed With Brain Damage is an essential read for anyone struggling with epilepsy, addiction, or simply in need of a message of hope, positivity, and gratitude while encountering challenging circumstances in this crazy thing called life! *A portion of the proceeds from book sales to go to the Eastern Pennsylvania chapter of the Epilepsy Foundation*

The life of a charismatic, independent, business owner and break-dancing instructor young man changes suddenly and dramatically after a motorcycle accident suffering a traumatic brain injury. He loses his ability to speak and walk, his business, his independence but not his faith. The struggles, suffering and adjustments of family members and friends are embraced with faith, hope and love for one another. The desire to live his reality with true joy and the uplifting and positive spirit of this young man continues to motivate others through his faith even without words. Ana Maria Curras was born in Miami, Florida. At the age of five her family moved to Puerto Rico. In 1989 she moved to Central Florida with her husband Jorge and their children Eduardo, David, Fernando, and Ana Carolina. There, she established a successful career in the newspaper industry. David Arroyo was born in Puerto Rico. At an early age he found a deep respect and appreciation for the arts. This passion inspired him to establish an entertainment company. He also founded a Hip Hop club at his local college and as a dance instructor inspired many to learn the skills and joy of break-dancing. Moving to Miami, David excelled in the service industry particularly as a manager of successful night clubs, restaurants, and venues. Then, at the age of twenty-seven, David was involved in a serious motorcycle accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury. This event changed his life and the lives of his family. This experience led David to share his story of hope, faith and overcoming obstacles. Through his blog, www.arroyocurras.com, David aims to encourage and uplift the spirits of others that have encountered life-changing events.

In August 1996 Tamara Puffer was a young, newly married violinist-turned-pastor serving a large suburban church. Her growing work with people living on Atlanta’s streets was beginning to reshape her theology and her calling, but a serious car accident derailed her carefully planned career path. Forgetting the Former Things is a rare tapestry of first-person faith journey woven with gritty theological reflection and persistent hope. Puffer writes honestly, poignantly, and often humorously about her efforts to accept limitations and to reimagine her life under radically altered circumstances. She finds solace in the stories of biblical women as she also wrestles with negative images of disability in Scripture. She embraces her self-described role as a “minister of vulnerability” in this troubling national moment—as jobs, healthcare, and affordable housing are evaporating for so many, as countless people feel terrorized by discrimination or the threat of deportation—boldly casting her lot with others whose marginalization cuts deeper. At a time when traumatic brain injury is in the national spotlight, and many families, churches, and communities seek deeper understanding, Tamara Puffer provides in these pages an insightful, inspiring, and much-needed gift.

What would it take for you to stop loving God? At some point thinking Christians must wrestle with the question, "If God loves me, why did He let this happen?" In Wounded Head, Wounded Heart the question is not explored theologically, but experientially. As the story opens, Robb's mom is questioning God because of the poverty they have endured since returning from the mission field. Then Robb, age seventeen, is in a car accident which leaves him in a deep coma with multiple injuries. Who is this God? God claims to protect us, but bad things happen. God claims he is just, but life is unfair. God claims to love us, but life hurts. Robb's mom cannot deny her experiences, yet she knows the Bible is true. She cannot reconcile what she knows of Scripture to what she has seen and experienced. So, she begins her quest for a way to harmonize God's claims and her reality. This emotionally intense and thought-provoking story will challenge readers to consider how their own experiences have impacted their faith. Wounded Head, Wounded Heart is a story of hope for everyone who has ever asked, "God, why?"

Why do our lives sometime go in unexpected and even unpleasant directions? The apostle Paul in Romans 5:1-5 provides a major insight into dealing with this life question when he reflects upon the life sequence of suffering, endurance, character, hope, hope not disappointing us, and joy. This book discusses all this and is also a wonderful testimony to the role of the Christian faith in helping anyone to recover from tough life events.

This memoir shares one individual's journey and his testimony to the goodness of God. Entranced in the complexities of life, he was enjoying his childhood-until the accident ... A head injury has these components: physical, behavioral, psychological, physiological, perceptual, emotional, spiritual, and cognitive. Till Death Do Us Part explores struggles for dealing with the head-injured; physical aggression and rage and whether they can be overcome; family dynamics; hope for the head-injured community; and conflict tips. In this book, you will read of some tragic behavior and its consequences. May you experience God's peace as the details are sewn together. "With God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26 NIV). This is a cursory glance at my life. It hones in on the head injury (TBI) I suffered as a youth. It traces my development into young adulthood and enters into my married life. My relationship with Dana is briefly romanticized and the arrival of our children glorified. The union with my beloved bride started to change dramatically over time. Often with the distractions in life, I lose my focus and then my cool. My head injury was the source of these changes. It became the greatest culprit of all. Unfortunately, my wife fell victim to my relentless physical aggression, albeit unintentionally. As the story unfolds, for my wife the question would be her reaction-Till Death Do Us Part ... or not?