What is Traumatic bRAin injury - TBI
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) have been around since the earliest days of humanity. Papyrus records from Ancient Egypt describe some of the first treatments for brain injuries and skull fractures, and the works of Hippocrates classify different types of brain traumas and their effects. In those days, military injuries accounted for as high as 93% of TBIs. In modern times, between sports injuries, car accidents, falls, and firearms, millions of people around the world suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI) every year. A forceful blow to the head, jolt to the body, or penetrating injury can damage the most important organ in your body - with long-lasting or permanent effects on your physical, emotional, and cognitive abilities.
The severity and effects of a TBI can vary, depending on the age and health of the victim and the force and location of impact. Mood disorders like depression and anxiety are common after a TBI, as are personality changes, irritability, and impulsivity. While a mild TBI, or concussion, may result in more temporary symptoms like headaches, dizziness, confusion, and memory loss, more severe TBIs can cause difficulties with speech and language, memory, motor coordination, and sensory processing. In the worst cases, a TBI can result in permanent disability or death. Thankfully, medical, rehabilitative, and psychological interventions for TBIs have come a long way since Ancient Egypt, and TBI survivors today have a far greater chance of recovery.
Every day, our personal injury lawyers work with TBI survivors, assisting clients grappling with the harrowing aftermath of a traumatic brain injury. These TBI survivors, with their undeniable resilience, never yield to adversity. Instead, they embark on a rigorous recovery journey, brimming with determination and courage. This unwavering spirit is evident in countless TBI survivors who, against all odds, have attained remarkable success. While many of our clients might not have garnered global acclaim yet, the tenacity they display is something our attorneys witness daily. On the occasion of Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Day, we salute and spotlight some of the most inspiring figures who have triumphed over their TBIs.
Here are some TBI survivors you might have heard about:
Abraham Lincoln
Given Abraham Lincoln’s almost mythical reputation, few know that he was the first TBI survivor to be elected president. When he was 10 years old, he was grinding food at the mill when his irritated horse kicked him in the head. Until he woke up the next day, his family was afraid he had died. His face was asymmetrical after the accident (a feature often mocked by his enemies), with weakness on one side. Throughout his career as a successful lawyer, inspirational wartime president, and legislative genius, Lincoln struggled with “melancholia” (clinical depression), vision problems, and headaches that historians believe resulted from his early brain trauma.
George Clooney
In 2005, while filming a scene in the action movie “Syriana” where he was tied to a chair, George Clooney hit the back of his head on the floor when the chair was knocked over. In doing so, he ripped his dura, or the membrane holding the fluid around the base of his brain. Clooney holds that the pain of this injury was excruciating, “like having a severe ice cream brain freeze that lasted 24 hours a day.” He was soon diagnosed and rushed to surgery, but continued to suffer from migraines and short-term memory loss while directing “Good Night, and Good Luck.” Clooney eventually sought out a “pain guy” who helped him reset his pain threshold. Since then, he has won an Oscar and countless Academy Awards for his work in acting and directing - and shows no signs of slowing down.
Henry VIII
Henry VIII (1491-1547) stands out from other celebrities and historical figures on this list in that he lacked any semblance of success after his TBI, despite being one of the most famous cases. During his youth, Henry was known as even-tempered, handsome, and intelligent. In his mid-30s, he suffered two separate brain injuries while jousting. In 1524, a lance broke through his visor, causing a concussion, and two years later, a horse fell on him and knocked him out for two hours. Many historians credit the decline of Henry VIII to these traumatic brain injuries, which they believe left him with the memory problems, explosive rage, poor impulse control, headaches, insomnia, and (possible) impotence that defined his reign.
In later life, Henry grew notorious for both his tyrannical style of leadership and tendency to execute his wives. He brought England into losing wars, died in debt, handed out executions like candy, and annulled his marriage to Catherine of Aragon to wed his mistress - leading to the violent English Reformation.
