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Who We Are
The volunteer Board and Staff of the Brain Injury Hope Foundation (BIHF), a Colorado nonprofit 501(c)3 formally known as the Brain Trust, provides resources and education about the life-changing symptoms of head injuries and what to do to get better. The BIHF is one of a kind with its Emergency Financial Funds to help pay for living expenses for Mild to Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI) survivors in Colorado. To request an application for emergency funding, please go to Contact Us. A new program recently added, Survivor Series, is for brain injury survivors, their families, caregivers and medical professionals. To learn about this remarkable service, which provides a sense of belonging, a sense of community, a meal and training, please click Survivor Series.
What’s New
Please remember the Brain Injury Hope Foundation (BIHF) during this season of giving! BIHF is a non-profit volunteer organization and relies on donations to continue our mission.
What is an MTBI?
An MTBI is defined as a blow or jarring of the head. This type of brain injury can be caused by a fall, whiplash, sports or vehicle accidents, or a blast wave injury. Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to hit your head or lose consciousness to sustain a brain injury. If you suffer more than one concussive injury over time, the effects accumulate and even a small impact to the head, may manifest as more serious cognitive, emotional and/or physical symptoms, disabling for months or even years. Please note, there is nothing mild about MTBI, which is often unidentified and misunderstood. For the official definition from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), please click here.
What are the Symptoms of MTBI?
Neurological examinations and brain imaging studies, such as MRI and CT Scans, may be normal even if you have sustained a brain injury. Concussion, also known as MTBI, usually has a number of signs that may not be immediately apparent. Each MTBI is unique and individuals may experience symptoms, such as nausea, dizziness, headache, memory issues, vomiting, sleep disturbance, blurred vision, sensitivity to light and sound, brain fog, slowed reaction time, etc. Emotionally, they may feel a shaken sense of self and out of control. Very often, there is an overlap of symptoms of TBI and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). To learn how to detect and know what you can do to recover fromMTBI, please click on Books.
The Power of Your Donation
The Brain Injury Hope Foundation (BIHF) is a small foundation with big ideas. The BIHF is funded by donations/grants from individuals, organizations and fundraisers. Your donation gives double benefits by educating MTBI survivors in Colorado through the Survivor Series program and contributes to the Emergency Financial Funds to assist MTBI survivors with living expenses, such as rent, utilities and food. This is considered a “hand up” not a “hand out” to help survivors stay in their homes during recovery. Make a difference today with your Donation.
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Getting Hit, Getting Up, Moving Beyond
Getting Hit, Getting Up, Moving Beyond: My Journey Through Brain Injury is the compelling story of one woman’s challenges as she faced sequential “hits” and how she handled adversity with resilience time after time. Joanne Cohen, Vice President of our Brain Injury Hope Foundation (BIHF) and Managing Partner of CTAT, LLC, shares her honest and authentic journey that depicts the path to “move beyond” and create a full life that includes supporting others with tools to help enrich their lives. According the Dr. Mary Ann Keatley, co-founder of BIHF and author of Understanding Traumatic Brain Injury, “Reading this book is like having a personal coach by your side as she openly shares her fears, frustrations and insights into the recovery process.” You can purchase this book at Amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com
“Joanne Cohen provides a road map for anyone who is dealing with various kinds of the “damage” we can experience on this journey of life. This book is filled with inspiration, compassionate understanding and practical life lessons to share with fellows on the journey and the people who support and advocate for them. This is a handbook for thriving.” Joanne McLain, Ph.D., LPC, LAC
“I met Joanne in 2007 at a Brain Injury Survivor’s meeting that she was facilitating. It was obvious then that she is passionate about helping people (like me) with brain injuries. As a brain injury survivor/thriver herself, she nows what she is talking about, as this book demonstrates. This well-written chronicle, a combination of both practical advice and spiritual musings, could serve as a “How to Thrive after Brain Injury” manual.” Doris Sanders, BA, MPA, BI Survivor (12 brain injuries), BI coach, colleague and friend.
Understanding Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
This clearly written guide is for those who have sustained a head injury, concussion or MTBI. Learn about the common symptoms that show up in daily life and how Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and MTBI overlap.
Since MTBI is often unidentified and misunderstood, this book is an essential reference for athletic coaches, teachers, parents and medical practitioners.
This book is available in paperback and eBook on Amazon and other eReader websites.
Understanding Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI): An Insightful Guide to Symptoms, Treatments, and Redefining Recovery: 9780982409411: Medicine & Health Science Books @ Amazon.com
“Understanding Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI) is a most wonderfully written, comprehensive, and empowering self-help book that I routinely recommend to my patients and their significant others.”
— Steven Kalisch, PhD, Clinical Psychologist”I just finished your book. You and your colleague have done well and are to be commended. I wish I had your book when I was supporting a local brain injury support group years ago. It would have been valued by that group who provided me with inspiration as they moved ahead with their lives with nobility and distinction.”
— James M. Schear, Ph.D.
