Every 21 seconds, someone in the United States sustains a traumatic brain injury (TBI.)  That?s 5.3 million Americans, plus 1.5-2 million per year.  TBI rarely changes someone?s outward appearance, making it difficult for family, friends and employers to recognize the injury?s severity.  On the international TBI-Survivor email group, postings often discuss ?the invisible disability,? lack of available care and support, and great admiration for anyone who does meaningful work after TBI.  Statistics weep for something inspirational and easy to read.

According to a November 2007 report by USA Today, based on military and veterans records, "at least 20,000 U.S. Troops who were not classified as wounded during combat in Iraq and Afghanistan have been found with signs of brain injury."  Meanwhile, the mysterious ?Gulf War Syndrome? also causes loss of balance, fatigue, confusion, seizures, headaches, blurred vision and short-term memory loss?all common side effects of TBI.

Twenty million other Americans struggle with debilitating effects of TBI, brain cancer, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Lyme Disease, migraines, MS and stroke.  Though different diagnoses, each produces neurological side effects?creating a wild and painful ride that changes one?s sense of Self.

Every year, another 2.5 million survivors join their ranks.  But where do they go from there?  How do they find their way through uncertain prognoses, perceptual problems and depression?

?Follow the Yellow Brick Road??through recovery, that is! Unlike other books on healing from TBI and so-called ?Medical Mysteries,? If I Only Had a Brain Injury encourages readers to chart their own inspirational journeys.  The book?s structure follows the Wizard of Oz storyline (Dorothy?s journey begins with a concussion), and offers large print for visually impaired readers.  A collection of personal examples, alternative treatments and spiritual growth exercises, this 320-page book will appeal to anyone frustrated by the limitations of traditional medicine.  Readers will learn to tap external resources and inner strength.

If I Only Had a Brain Injury also includes interviews and essays by 13 other Caregivers, Survivors and Treatment Providers ? including:

# Sarah Kramer(CFS survivor and author of 3 best-selling cookbooks)

# Kay Strom (Inspirational speaker and author of 34 books, including A Caregiver?s Survival Guide: How To Stay Healthy When Your Loved One is Sick).

# Karen Ruppert (Nurse Manager of Trauma Rehabilitation at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington)

# William Padula (Head of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association)

# Dana Reeve (Co-founder of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation)

# Robin Cohn(TBI Survivor and Board Member of the New York State Brain Injury Association)

# And many others ?

Thank you for visiting If I Only Had a Brain Injury?s website!  My name is Laura Bruno, and on May 19, 1998, a car accident destroyed the life I knew.  In addition to double vision and a 47-point IQ reduction, migraines left me unable to read longer than five minutes per day.  After two years, doctors told me I would probably not recover.

By the time I found proper treatment, my brain had developed some rather unusual coping mechanisms.  Imagine my surprise and anger when I learned that the delay in effective treatment had caused my brain to ?heal? incorrectly! My new treatment providers told me I mig