Mention the name Bob Woodruff and most people think medical miracle. His story offers hope to hopeless problems. Does it do that for your courage when you confront challenges?
Woodruff's accident almost claimed his life ... and instead it staged a narrative
about superhuman capability in a human brain’s plasticity. Who'll ever forget this amazing story of recovered strengths. There’s rarely been a case so strikingly hopeful for the recovery of people who suffer brainpower loss. How so?
Back at work fulltime for ABC – Woodruff has already reported top notch stories from his recent travels to
Without question, recovery’s still in progress for Woodruff – and he admits that once familiar names he reaches for sometimes seem to vanish, along with well-known words. He’s also spoken of frustrations when steps barely inch forward.
So where is the amazing miracle since challenges still exist? People who knew Woodruff's keen intelligence, stand back amazed at mental powers that returned.
People everywhere spoke of signs of this magical comeback in February – when ABC reported Woodruff’s story along with evidence of his comeback success. Since that time, this wounded anchor has fought relentlessly to help others who suffer head injuries through accidents or war. Why do some make it back and others slip further into disability?
Interestingly, many speak of an unusual determination Woodruff clings to that most people in similar situations lack. That inspires a life-changing question….
What does determination and persistence have to do with mental success and career growth where you work? Challenges hold many people back at some point or other, and at times trials seem almost insurmountable.
What do you do to strike back when your brain takes a hit, or when courage lets you go for a day?
Dear Dr. Weber:
Indeed, Bob Woodruff has been extremely lucky. And so has his wife and spousal caregiver, Lee, with whom he co-authored the book, In an Instant, an account of the accident and its year-long aftermath. Normally Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) can lead to lifelong problems with memory, cognition and loss of emotional control.
I'm the President of the Well Spouse Association, a non-profit group that supports husbands, wives and partners of people with chronic illness and/or disability. About 10% of our members, and most of those under the age of 50, have a spouse with TBI. I can tell you, it's no picnic being a caregiver for the person with TBI.
I am writing, mostly for information purposes, and also to tell everyone who reads this, please think of the caregiver, too. They are the often unsung heroes, especially if it's a spouse being cared for, just because marriage is a relationship of a different, more intense quality than other family relationships, and the effects of illness can be even more pronounced on a marriage, than in other situations.
Please remember to ask the spousal caregiver how _they_ are doing, and to tell them about the WSA.
Thank you!
Posted by: Richard Anderson | September 3, 2007 5:05 PM | Permalink to Comment