News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

By LeRae Haynes

Stacy Turcotte from the Cariboo Brain Injury Society is presenting an ‘Introduction to Acquired Brain Injury’ workshop in Williams Lake beginning on January 27.  This annual workshop addresses the needs and concerns of people living with a brain injury and their families, and also offers in-depth, helpful information to medical professionals, support workers and the community at large.

“You will learn about things like brain function, what happens after a brain injury and how to cope with the effects,” Stacy explained. “The 6-week workshop is so important for community awareness—brain injury is a hidden disability. It is easily misinterpreted as addiction issues when it affects speech, comprehension and walking."

“This workshop lets people hear from the parents and families what it’s really like and the reality of day-to-day life with a brain injury. It’s a way to say, ‘You are not alone and there is support for you.’ The reality is that people learn why they’re having trouble with things like memory, grief and mood changes,” she said. “When family members are there, they learn so much and it really helps foster a relationship between them.”

She also stated that support workers and professionals learn about practical ways to help, and learn to recognize things that are happening, which enhances their support and makes them more understanding. “This workshop is hands-on and real and unbelievably helpful,” she said.   

Debbie Irvine, local resident living with an acquired brain injury, agrees. After a horse riding accident in 2008 she and her husband, Bill Herdy took the workshop one year ago, and both said that it was extremely helpful and informative.  

Bill said that the workshop gives insight as to adjusting your expectations and on accommodating change, and that it helps you learn to moderate your expectations. “It helps with acceptance, gives understanding that one’s partner is no longer (either temporarily or permanently) able to perform at their same level, helps you gain knowledge as to the potential effects of a brain injury including effects on a person’s capability, personality and emotions and potential effects of a brain injury including effects on a person’s capability, personality and emotions,” he said. “It emphasizes the give and take in a relationship----the key word is ACCEPTANCE.”

Debbie added that accepting something does not mean you have to like it. “This goes, too, for the person with the brain injury: just because you have one and are coping well, does not mean you like having it,” she said.

She said that the brain injury workshop is a thorough course that covers a wide range of issues and topics. “Not everyone will relate to everything---this is a reflection of the differences in brain injuries, such as the difference in the area(s) of the brain affected, and also within a particular area, the magnitude of the damage,” she explained.

“I was only into a few months of recovery when I took the course. Recovery is a slow process---there are no short cuts. But there are strategies to help the recovery along. One thing I learned in the course that was most reassuring, was that fatigue was inevitable and that rest and sleep were of paramount importance,” she continued.

“I learned that when the brain ‘hits a wall’ there is no pushing through: you will eventually pay the price. Knowing this was extremely helpful. It took away any guilt about naps and extra sleeping. It’s been over two years now since the accident and while extra sleep is not as critical now as back then, I still pay attention to signals from my brain that it has ‘had enough’.

The Brain Injury workshop will take place at the Women’s Contact society boardroom above Cariboo Ski on Thursday evenings beginning January 27 through March 3. For more information about this limited-seat workshop phone Stacy at 250-392-772 or email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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