Client & Volunteer Stories

I had a stroke almost 2 years ago. I spent time in both the Victoria and Nanaimo hospital. Initially there was a whole gamut of changes I experienced, both physically and emotionally. I had to think about what my life was now. I was unable to do things that came naturally to me like math, which was a huge part of my job. In restoring my confidence I needed to become productive. I needed to fill my life with new things so I started volunteering for the Nanaimo Brain Injury Society. It’s been a great journey so far. Hope is always going to be there for you short-term and long-term. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. That’s how I live my life now.

I am a brain injury survivor after an aneurysm caused by an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) ruptured in the right hemisphere of my brain when I was 21 years old, requiring an emergency and life-saving brain operation. And as a part of my recovery, I was referred as a client to NBIS. Then, when I felt ready, I trained as a peer volunteer in what has now become an important and ongoing part of my recovery. Being a peer volunteer gives me the opportunity to contribute my experience to someone else’s recovery, offering hope, empathy, and support. And the confidence, support, and hope I also receive in being a peer volunteer has encouraged me to return to academics at Vancouver Island University, where I am studying towards a Bachelor of Science with a Major in Environmental Chemistry. As an enthusiastic and passionate environmentalist, if I’m not in my role at NBIS, you’ll find me kneeling beside a shrub I have yet to identify, thumbing through the pages of one of my many field guides, and exploring the island I’m fortunate to live on.

The greatest lesson I've learned, I learned from a tree: "that which does not bend is sure to break." When I was 23, my life changed forever after my first TBI (traumatic brain injury). At 28, I had another TBI, which eventually left me in a wheelchair for five years. I was 34 when I was finally diagnosed with TBI. As much as I wanted it to, life never slowed down. During my 30s, I lost nine immediate family members, my youngest was diagnosed with diabetes, and we moved frequently. Through it all, my wife's patience, creativity and unwavering love kept us steady. I found connecting to nature became a source of healing. My recovery journey led me to NBIS, where I found purpose in supporting others with TBI. Giving people hope has become one of the most meaningful parts of my life - showing that after life takes an unexpected turn (or many), there's still a way forward.

Over twenty years ago Darrel sustained a severe brain injury in a vehicle crash. It was a living nightmare for Darrel, complicated even further as a single parent with three dependent children. Darrel described the early days of his recovery as a very dark time in his life, riddled with pain, depression, and despair. Eventually, he started to recover from his injuries over the course of four years and credits his recovery to the perseverance of his family, in particular his mother. It was a time of a lot of ‘soul searching’ according to Darrel. When asked about resources and inspiration, Darrel did not hesitate to mention NBIS: “I always felt so welcome in the (NBIS) group. I was with people who knew how I felt. They truly understood my challenges. They helped me get back on track. Staff were great about always checking in with me to see how I was doing and still are. I don’t know what I would do without you guys” Fast forward twenty years, Darrel remains an integral part of the NBIS family. Every week he provides volunteer custodial services to NBIS, and he never misses a shift. Thank you, Darrel, for your volunteer service!

I am a traumatic brain injury survivor. In the fall of 2010 I was in a serious car crash. I sustained, among other things, a severe injury to my head. I was in a coma for 3 weeks. I.C.U. for a month, and rehabilitation for another 5 months. I was nineteen at the time. I had to learn everything all over again. It was a terrifying time for me. I was confused, angry, and frustrated. It was like being in a nightmare. If you are experiencing these same kinds of things, here is my message to you. Hold on to your hope, it is real. I eventually came to understand the more I put into my recovery, the closer I felt to being my old self again. I relied on what I called the three Fs: Family, Friends and Faith. Fast forward 11 years. I just completed a diploma in ‘Counselling youth’ through the ministry. Anything is possible when you have hope.