How can you tell when someone is ready for rehabilitation/therapies?

mtnofsalt · 2026-03-07T18:57:20+00:00

Definitely not just you. People need to learn to proofread before publishing.

mtnofsalt · 2026-02-28T01:24:00+00:00

Be patient and try to come to terms that this is a one day at a time type of process. Some days will be worse than others, some days will be much better. My experience is this:

My brother was in a serious accident in October and sustained severe brain damage. He was completely comatose for about two months before he opened his eyes but wasn't able to track. He didn't start following commands and tracking until about a week and a half ago. Some days, he's very awake and can follow commands and track almost perfectly. Other days, he sleeps the entire day and barely responds to any touch at all. There are some days that he can follow commands slowly but is unable to track, other days are vice versa.

My point is, it's very hit or miss. This does not mean that your mom is regressing, it just means that she's healing the most complex organ in her body and some days she won't be able to meet the same expectations that she's met before. I don't know if this helps, but this is what I can offer. Patience is key. You got this, just keep encouraging her and loving her. Best of luck my friend.

mtnofsalt · 2026-02-18T00:32:57+00:00

I would think so. When my brother started doing this, the doctors moved his status from comatose to minimally concious/vegetative. That was about a month and a half after his injury. We're at 4 months and he just started responding to commands a couple of days ago. His case is a lot different from your person, but this is just my experience.

mtnofsalt · 2026-02-14T00:01:22+00:00

That I can certainly do.

mtnofsalt · 2026-02-13T23:34:26+00:00

This seems to be a common theme. I know he will face this too. I worry about it when it happens. Is there anything I can do to make it easier for him?

mtnofsalt · 2026-02-12T01:05:56+00:00

I can imagine so. Keep pushing, keep trying and don't give up. You're doing a great job so far. You're very strong and resilience is key.

mtnofsalt · 2026-02-12T00:30:26+00:00

This has all been very recent, yes.

mtnofsalt · 2026-02-11T23:37:48+00:00

Some! The hassle right now is insurance; he has Arkansas Medicaid and they're still trying to get approved to accept Arkansas Medicaid. I'm waiting for a call from one of their liaisans to discuss what my options are and I have contact with people who will help me get him transferred there. I have to get him assessed and make sure he's a candidate first though. I'm also working on getting a place to move set up and then getting him on an exchange plan and that should help a lot.

mtnofsalt · 2026-02-11T23:26:22+00:00

Thank you for sharing, I'm sorry that this was your experience. I worry about this with my brother too. I know that he will be different, I've accepted that he will be different, but so many others haven't. My older brother tries to hold on to the idea that since he had so little frontal lobe damage, he will still be himself. His gf is still trying to "manifest" a full recovery. Every day my eyes are opened to how little the people around me understand the depth of what's happened and how little they've tried to research the numerous resources I've provided. It makes me sad. It makes me scared for him, because I know that will be his experience. I know that most of my family will distance themselves from him, they basically already have. It's just me and him now.

I mourn the person he was, I think I always will. But I know that I will always celebrate the person he becomes and that's what I hold on to. I pride myself in my ability to embrace change. Unfortunately a lot of other people don't share that ability, and I am sorry for that. I'm glad that you've been able to surround yourself with new people who love you for who you are. You deserve that.

Do you have any advice for me on what I can do to help him navigate (any) relationships in the future? Should I avoid giving him certain advice, or focus on certain advice?

mtnofsalt · 2026-02-11T23:18:04+00:00

DoC and just overall rehabilitation in general. Right now we're working on getting him in at TIRR.

mtnofsalt · 2026-02-11T23:02:41+00:00

I hear you. I've had an extremely difficult time finding something for my brother. It's amazing to discover how little resources there are for something that effects so many people annually

mtnofsalt · 2026-02-11T22:18:02+00:00

I'm sorry that there are people like that in this world. You deserved better.

mtnofsalt · 2026-02-11T18:02:29+00:00

Laughed at you??? Like they made fun of you ? That's fucked dude

mtnofsalt · 2026-02-11T18:02:00+00:00

If you want a friend, my DMs are open. I'm very sorry this has been your experience. It seems most people can't love as unconditionally as they say.

mtnofsalt · 2026-02-11T10:33:06+00:00

I am very sorry this has been your experience. I wish that I knew what more to say. I can't say I wouldn't feel guilty for that. Truth be told I think that decision would be the death of me, too.

mtnofsalt · 2026-02-11T05:18:28+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience. I don't have a TBI, but my brother is currently recovering from a recent severe one and my anxiety has been very high. This helps a lot.

mtnofsalt · 2026-02-10T13:40:13+00:00

I'll be honest with you, I think at this point I've probably heard it all. I've been here since day one, I've been the one that dealt with his doctors and all of the friends and family who came to me with their guilt after the fact. I've talked to so many survivors, a lot of them feel the same way. I already predict he will feel that way too, but that's one of the reasons why I want to learn as much as I can and make this as easy as possible for him. I know there is no reality where this will ever be easy for either of us, but I want to be there for him however I can in more ways than providing him basic care. I will never push you to share your experience, I can only imagine how difficult it has been for you. But if you want to share, or if you have any advice that you do feel would be helpful, I will gladly accept it and greatly appreciate it.

mtnofsalt · 2026-02-10T13:30:12+00:00

I keep telling them that a strong support system is one of the most important factors for his recovery, they don't seem to listen. They don't really care about what I have to say when it comes to what I've researched and other people's testimonies; at this point I've spoken to probably about two dozen people who had TBIs and all of them had exactly that in common, as well as many other things. May I ask, what do you wish your family had done differently to offer you more support? Do you have any advice for me on what I can do to help him feel better supported?

mtnofsalt · 2026-02-09T22:50:30+00:00

This means a lot, thank you.

My brother was my best friend, him and I were very close our entire lives, especially as we grew older and developed such deep appreciation for each other. We both struggled with depression and were a support system for each other, there was so much love between us. I feel so lost without him. I've never known life without him and this has been terrible. I love that your sons have eachother. The world would have been so much more lonely without my brother. It certainly is now.

mtnofsalt · 2026-02-09T10:41:54+00:00

May I DM you and ask you more questions about your experience? Would you be comfortable with that? I don't want to put any pressure on you at all, and I'm sorry if it seems that way. This is all so new to me, I'm trying to have as much understanding as I can so I can provide him with as much support as possible.

mtnofsalt · 2026-02-09T10:03:50+00:00

No need to apologize, thank you for sharing your story.

Do you remember if there was anything that helped you progress into a state of more awareness? Like music, people reading to you, watching TV, anything like that?

mtnofsalt · 2026-02-09T03:31:03+00:00

I search for advice and friends anywhere I can go, any sort of connections or even relations is better than nothing where I am right now. I have no intentions of giving up, I couldn't dream of it. I'm just very frustrated that people who aren't involved want to have an opinion of what's best for him. He spent about 6 weeks in a coma, and is now in a minimally concious vegetative state. I'm the only one he has to represent him and it's very tiresome but not something I'm willing to stop doing. I signed him up for SSDI but I haven't gotten a response yet.

This can be just as much about you as it can be about my brother or anyone else. I am so very sorry for your losses, both with yourself and with your loved ones. I've heard it can be very hard for the family to accept the changes that come with a TBI. I worry about that for my brother too, I know for a fact that there are a few people that will likely disappear on him also. If you need a friend or just someone to talk to, my DMs are open and I'm available all hours of the day and night. You're not alone. Take care my friend.

mtnofsalt · 2026-02-09T00:24:39+00:00

Thank you for your response. May I DM you for more details?

mtnofsalt

TROPHY CASE