We feel fortunate to have Kara Swanson as our
keynote speaker for the Annual Conference. Ms. Swanson of Center Line,
Michigan, suffered traumatic brain injury in January of 1996 when a minivan
running a red light struck her car. The accident caused few visible injuries,
but left Kara with a "mild" brain injury that effectively ended life
as she had known it.
Prior to her accident, Kara's life had been
active and full. After high school, she studied social work at the University
of Michigan and was a member of the women's basketball team. She also coached
high school basketball and softball, motivating others with her inspirational
talks. After college she worked as a catering manager at the Detroit Institute of
Arts.
Kara has spent the months and years since the
accident learning how to cope with her "new" life and make the most
of it. Though her life has changed radically, Kara is still much the same
person she used to be. Her yearning to
share with others
¾
and her sense of humor
¾
remain intact.
Although Kara can no longer work in a
traditional setting, she uses her motivation and education to help others who
have suffered brain injuries. In an effort to reach out, she wrote a book in
which she shares her experiences about the daily obstacles faced by closed head
injury survivors and their families. The book, I'll Carry the Fork!, also provides useful information about
caregiving, and dealing with physicians and lawyers.
Kara also brings her experience to medical
professionals and community groups. She has been keynote speaker for the annual
meetings of the Brain Injury Associations of Maryland and Georgia, and has
addressed numerous support groups and TBI-related organizations in her native
Michigan.
While she still struggles daily with
impairments, Kara lives on her own and cares for her father, who also has
suffered cognitive damage due to multiple strokes.
Kara has learned to face the challenges of
dealing with a disability by reaching out to others through her inspirational
writing, and by actively celebrating everyday life. In May of 2000 the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan (Detroit
Medical Center/Wayne State University) honored her for "the outstanding
accomplishments of an individual who has been living with a disability for less than five
years." The award was
appropriately called the Rising Star Award for Excellence in Achievement.
Please plan to join us in welcoming Ms.
Swanson on October 6th in Wilsonville. The Association wishes to
express its appreciation to Care Medical for its generous assistance in making
Ms. Swanson's appearance possible. We also appreciate the assistance provided
by Kara's publisher, Rising Star Press.
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