Why We Walk, Run and Roll - Survivor Spotlight : Meet Lauren

Lauren was a very talented and busy young person: a lifelong dancer, a gifted musician that played the flute, and a hardworking college student with two jobs. In fact, she was involved in so many different things that her mom would often say, "Slow down, you are doing too much!" To which Lauren would just respond, "I have dreams Mommy!".

But those big dreams suddenly changed on September 27, 2014 when Lauren, then a 21 year old junior in college majoring in Early Childhood Education, was on her way to a part time job at Cedar Point for HalloWeekends. As she drove through an intersection she had passed through countless times before, her car was hit by an uninsured and unlicensed driver. The accident was so severe that Lauren needed to be extracted from her car with the Jaws of Life and life-flighted to Toledo Trauma Center. Meanwhile, Lauren's mom was waiting at home to hear from Lauren as she would usually call when she got to work, or at least text a photo when she had all of her Halloween make up on. But hours passed by with no communication.

When the phone finally rang, it wasn't Lauren... it was the Chaplin at the hospital telling them to come quickly because the situation was "very bad". Lauren was diagnosed with a subdural hematoma on her brain. Doctors had tried to do surgery to insert a shunt, but it was unsuccessful. Lauren flatlined for 15 minutes. Still, Dr. Jason Schroeder and his medical team did not give up. They performed a craniotomy and removed part of her skull to help with the swelling in her brain. Unfortunately, following the surgery, Lauren got an infection which left her in the ICU for 27 days.

Over the next 11 months, Lauren was transferred to several different locations to get the care she needed. Lauren needed to relearn everything: how to eat, swallow, communicate and move. Even the simple task of moving her head was daunting due to the fact that she wore a helmet and had limited mobility on her right side. But thanks to daily intense therapy, innovative treatments, persistent and loving parents, and caring medical staff, Lauren slowly began to improve. One particular Trainer named Marc—who also had also suffered a brain injury years ago—was pivotal in her progress. Every day, he worked with her and moved her arms and legs and strengthened her muscles.

Eight and a half years later, Lauren's progress has been amazing. She is able to use the specialized bike and the stepper at the gym. At one point she was walking independently for short distances, but seizure activity and required medications have interfered with her ability to walk independently for now.

Her mother said talking to people through support groups and learning about their stories has been incredibly helpful and powerful. "In the beginning you think, 'It's going to be fine, she's going to get better,' so you are more hesitant to reach out. But then you realize it's permanent and you want to talk to everyone".

The Brain Injury Association currently offers over 20 support groups (virtual and in person) throughout Ohio for traumatic brain injury survivors and their caregivers. The groups, which are led by experienced professionals, provide a forum where families can connect with each other, support each other and also learn about new opportunities for care. Lauren's mother said, "I never knew how devastating a brain injury could be until I went through it and met other families."

The first two years following the brain injury are incredibly important. The earlier people can get help, the more likely they are to make improvements. Unfortunately, Lauren's mom said that finding the right care and being able to afford it is a huge challenge. Many people get dropped from their insurance plans, are restricted by the number of treatments, or are limited in their capacity to try certain specialized treatments because they are excluded from the plan. A perfect example of this is a Stem Cell Treatment that Lauren received (using her own stem cells) in California. In addition to travel expenses, this specialized treatment cost $20,000 and was not covered by insurance so the family paid out of pocket. Another example is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, an innovative treatment that is proven to promote internal tissue healing. One month of this treatment is a minimum of $4,000 and it is not covered by insurance. These additional financial expenses leave families struggling financially when they are already dealing with the physical, mental and emotional toll of caring for their loved one.

But just like Lauren and her family, these resilient families keep moving forward and searching for new opportunities for treatment and help. Lauren's mom explains, "You do what you have to do because it's your choice." Despite the ongoing challenges, the family is full of gratitude for the caring and compassionate people and places they have met along the way. Dr. Schoeder, Toledo Trauma Center, Green Springs, Sara's Garden, her trainer Marc, and a wonderful aid named Danielle have all brought light to some very dark days.

This past January, Lauren turned 30. Her life is nothing like she envisioned, but she is still busy as ever. Daily therapy, medical appointments and assisted care is a 24 hour job.

Just like any young millennial, she loves to take photos and will painstakingly stretch her thumb over the camera so she can do it with her one hand. With the help of her family, she even visited relatives in Italy this past summer. Lauren still has big dreams ... but they are very different. Her traumatic brain injury has made life different for everyone. But with strong support and continued access to medical care, every achievement—no matter how big or small—will continue to be celebrated by this inspirational family.