Keye's Story
As a teenager, my son was assaulted at a local restaurant by someone high on methamphetamine, leaving him with an undiagnosed Traumatic Brain Injury. Within a year, he deteriorated to the point of being unemployed, homeless, substance involved and facing a 40-year prison sentence.
Thanks to an extensive training offered by Brain Injury Alliance of Nebraska (BIA-NE), the mystery of my son’s behavior became clear when I realized that he likely had a brain injury, complete with impulse control and judgment deficits. I then scheduled him for a SPECT scan, which confirmed a blood flow pattern indicative of TBI.
Fortunately, we were able to assemble a compassionate team of professionals willing to understand the ramifications of a brain injury in efforts to help him recover and avoid prison. Support from BIA-NE’s resource facilitation program was absolutely a sustaining force during a very difficult time for us.
Now 10 years post diagnosis, we are proud to say that he has successfully completed probation requirements, graduated from community college on the dean’s list, and is working productively at the career he aspired to.