If you missed last night’s presentation & meeting of the Maine Brain Aneurysm Support Group, you missed a good one!
At the July meeting, we watched a documentary film about a musician from New York City who, against all odds, survived a ruptured AVM and Brain Hemorrhage. Through the amazing support group around him including family and friends, he was not only able to recover, but also prove most of the doctors wrong with their devastating diagnoses. You can watch the entire video below.
Last night, we were able to meet Jason Crigler in person, hear his story first hand, and ask him questions. There truly aren’t enough descriptive adjectives to convey what one feels after hearing and seeing Jason’s story. He is a soft-spoken, warm, and funny man. If you didn’t know his story, one would never know the extent of the struggles he and his young family have had to endure.
Jason’s story was documented by a friend who video taped much of his early recovery and made it into a critically acclaimed documentary called LIFE. SUPPORT. MUSIC. It’s painful to watch, especially as a survivor of a brain injury. He could be one of us…we could be him. The uphill battles are all very similar, but Jason was very motivated to recover – with a new-born baby girl, a budding music career in New York City and a family that sacrificed their own lives and comfort to care for him on an hourly basis for years.
Jason’s positive & simple attitude about his Brain Injury and recovery is truly inspirational. Many things he spoke about touched deeply. One thing he said was that there is “strength & power in thought”. We can choose to think we’re failing OR think we’re succeeding and it can truly affect the rest of your body. He admits to bad days and depression and despair just like the rest of us, but it’s reminding yourself of the struggles you HAVE OVERCOME and how far you have come that one needs to be reminded of. We all have struggles on a day-to-day basis, but it’s how you deal with, and think about them, that can lead you to a path of strength, power and recovery.
THANK YOU Jason, for sharing your story, answering our questions, and driving to Portland to meet with us. And thank you for making people aware of the struggles people with brain injuries can endure…and more importantly, can overcome. You’re a true inspiration!
We also wish to thank our Support Group’s Facilitator – Sara Schrock (MMC Neuroscience Patient Navigator) for organizing this presentation and our Maine Brain Aneurysm Awareness Committee members Dave and Heidi McCausland, Nancy Tudor, Barbara Dalton, and Nancy Stults for hosting the meeting.
If you are recently diagnosed or have suffered a brain aneurysm or have a family member who suffered a brain aneurysm, please reach out and join our monthly support group meeting.