Lizzy

My name is Lizzy.

I have had two different brain injury incidents

Written By: Myesha Choudhury BC’23, Mohammad Khalil CC’23, Claire Shubeck CC’23, and Raisa Alam CC’21, Columbia University Synapse Operations Team

We are very pleased to share Lizzy’s story for the “Humans of ABI” Initiative! Follow Lizzy at: https://www.instagram.com/lizzygeorgegriffin/?hl=en @lizzygeorgegriffin

**TRIGGER WARNING: PTSD, Anxiety, Emotional Distress** 

My name is Lizzy. I have had two different brain injury incidents. When I was 8, I was playing by myself on the playground and I tried to jump to the fourth monkey bar. I missed and landed on the ground on my face. When I was 15, I was hit in the head with a basketball a couple times at a scrimmage. I was not diagnosed with traumatic brain injury until my second brain injury occurred. I saw countless doctors before I found one that would listen to me and really try to figure out what had happened. When I was first given my prognosis, I was skeptical. They would say that it was really bad and then say things like "But you're really young, so there's a chance that you could just wake up one day and it will be gone." But I never wanted to latch onto that hope because I knew that that probably wasn't going to happen. My neurologists were condescending and not very understanding. They saw me as a patient first and a person second. In regard to my first injury, it changed how I perceived the world and everything felt scary and dangerous. I had OCD, PTSD, Panic Disorder and some schizophrenic symptoms, so life was terrifying. Additionally, I didn't really have a support system. My home life was very unpleasant when I was young. During my second injury, my symptoms were more physical; I couldn't do much and I was very depressed and frustrated with having to be on bed rest as a 15 year old. This time though, my neurologist and a lot of my teachers offered a lot of support. I also felt support online. I read a bunch of articles which gave me a lot of agency because I could finally ask my doctor specific questions and request certain tests and treatments. The advice I have for others with brain injury is that you can live with it, and one day you will be able to feel like a person again, even if you aren't healed. My advice to people trying to learn more or research about brain injury is that the studies you read and all the hypotheses and tests, just remember they are/will be performed on people who had whole lives and are now in an extremely vulnerable position. It's never worth it to make them feel unsafe/uncomfortable, even if it's "in the name of science."

When did the injury occur? 

My first brain injury happened when I was 8 and the second one when I was 15.

How did the injury occur?

When I was 8, I was playing by myself on the playground and I tried to jump to the fourth monkey bar and I missed and handed on the ground on my face. The second one (at 15) I was hit in the head with a basketball a couple times at a scrimmage/practice.

What was your experience with the diagnosis of your injury? (knowing that there are no clear signs of how to diagnose a concussion)

My first injury was not diagnosed until I was diagnosed with my second one. I saw countless doctors before I found one that would listen to me and really try to figure out what had happened.

How did you feel when you were given your prognosis?

Skeptical. They would say that it was really bad and then say things like "But you're really young so there's a chance you could just wake up one day and it will be gone." But I never wanted to latch onto that hope because I knew that that probably wasn't going to happen.

Who did you have as a support system? 

For the first one, I didn't really have a support system. My home life when I was young was very unpleasant. For the second one, my neurologist offered a lot of support and a lot of my teachers were supportive.

Did/do you feel supported by the medical/science community? 

I felt supported online, I read a bunch of articles and it gave me a lot of agency because I would finally ask my doctor specific questions and request certain tests and treatments.

How did you feel during your recovery? 

For my first one, I was very messed up mentally - it changed how I perceived the world and everything felt scary and dangerous. I had OCD, PTSD, Panic Disorder and some schizophrenic symptoms, so life was just terrifying. For the second one, my symptoms were more physical; I couldn't do much and I was very depressed and frustrated with having to be on bed rest as a 15 year old.

What was the hardest part of recovery for you?

Being in pain and everyone, including doctors, not knowing what to do.

What would you have improved about your experience with the medical community?

I would have had my neurologists be more understanding and less condescending. It's important to see patients as people first.

Do you have any advice for other people with brain injuries/concussions?

Just know that you can live with it and one day you will be able to feel like a person again, even if you aren't healed.

Do you have any advice for those trying to learn more or research about brain injury?

The studies you read and all the hypotheses and tests, just remember they are/will be performed on people who had whole lives and are now in an extremely vulnerable position. It's never worth it to make them feel unsafe/uncomfortable, even if it's "in the name of science."