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Brain Trauma: Shining a light on the dark corners of the mind

Exploring brain injuries in victims of assault, domestic violence, sports and recreation
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As more we learn about the brain, we含羞草研究社檙e learning more about how even the slightest injury can have the most dire consequences.

Over the years we含羞草研究社檝e heard from victims of assault, those who have suffered concussions in sports and recreation, and even those who have simply been in fender benders and struggled to make sense of a life after brain injury.

With one man含羞草研究社檚 struggle after an assault as a starting point to look further into the issue of brain trauma, 含羞草研究社 reporters wrote this series to shine a light on the dark corners of the mind.

Crime and punishing injuries: A victim含羞草研究社檚 struggle with brain injury

By Kathy Michaels

It took just nine minutes to destroy the life John Smith spent decades building.

He was walking his daughter to school April 1, 2016, with her backpack slung over his shoulder.

含羞草研究社淲e had literally just stopped holding hands after crossing the road and he got us,含羞草研究社 said Smith, who asked to use a pseudonym for this article, due to ongoing fears of his assailant.

His attacker levied multiple blows to Smith含羞草研究社檚 head, with a story that made headlines across the city, his life was forever changed.

Ex-athlete living in concussion含羞草研究社檚 wake

By Warren Henderson

Giving up his lifelong passion was the most difficult decision Josh Leins ever had to make.

A series of concussions over the course of several years forced the Kelowna man to reluctantly leave his days on the soccer pitch behind for good.

A talented player coming up through Kelowna含羞草研究社檚 minor system, the last and most severe of several head injuries ultimately led to Leins含羞草研究社 retirement in 2010. During a game that summer for the Pacific Coast League含羞草研究社檚 Okanagan Challenge, while leaping for a ball, Leins took the full brunt of an opponent含羞草研究社檚 head square on his temple.

含羞草研究社淚 kind of knew that would be it for me,含羞草研究社 said Leins, 27, now living and working in Calgary.

Head injury prevention a 含羞草研究社榥o brainer含羞草研究社

By Alistair Waters

BrainTrust Canada wants everyone含羞草研究社攂ut especially the young含羞草研究社攖o use their heads, not lose their heads含羞草研究社攚hen it comes to preventing brain injuries.

Play the game, save your brain

By Alistair Waters

Okanagan-based, not-for-profit association BrainTrust Canada is launching an innovative game to increase awareness of the seriousness of brain injury among youths aged 11 to 18.

The game, found online at www.protectyourhead.com, has three themes含羞草研究社攕kateboarding, hockey and workplace safety含羞草研究社攁ll potential risks for brain injury.

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June is brain injury awareness month

By Carli Berry

The Pushor Mitchell Okanagan Symposium on Brain Injury is back for another year on Thursday, June 1 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ramada Kelowna Hotel and Conference Centre.

Project studies brain injury in domestic violence

By Carli Berry

A new project in the Okanagan is studying traumatic brain injury in survivors of domestic violence.

The study will be conducted by UBC Okanagan associate vice-principal for research Paul van Donkelaar and his team, along with the Kelowna Women含羞草研究社檚 Shelter, the Elizabeth Fry Society, and the Kelowna Friendship Society.

The organizations will be recruiting participants for the study.

Editorial: Be cool and wear your helmet

By Kevin Parnell

It含羞草研究社檚 always so nice to see young families out riding bikes together.

There含羞草研究社檚 the littlest one, wobbling along on her princess bike, tassles and streamers and training wheels and a nice shiny new helmet all part of the package as she learns a skill never to be forgotten.

Her brother rides circles around her on his new BMX, his black skater-type helmet adorned with stickers, the chin strap safely done up in case of a tumble where head meets cement.

The kids are all armed and ready with the proper safety gear. How about mom and dad?

Michaels: Time for powers that be to deal with what contributes to crime

By Kathy Michaels

More than one in 10 men and nearly one in three women held in federal prisons have mental-health problems, according to 2009 figures from the Correctional Service of Canada. Those numbers represent a near-doubling in the total proportion of inmates with mental illnesses between 1997 and 2009.

Adding to that, nearly 80 per cent of prison inmates have suffered a brain injury.

What is the strategy for identifying or treating these issues before they become fodder for grisly headlines?



About the Author: Black Press Media Staff

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