Hello everyone. My name is Kim Smith and my son is BJ. In 2005 it was supposed to be a fun afternoon with family. BJ was 15 and decided to go for a spin on his uncle's new all-terrain vehicle. Even though the boys had been told not to go near the 386-pound machine unsupervised, B.J., a handsome kid with a football player's build, wanted to see what the 350cc ATV could do. With nothing but open road in front of him, B.J., who had been riding motorcycles since he was 5, reached nearly 60mph. Then a dog ran out unexpectedly and clipped the front wheel. B.J.'s life was forever altered! He lost control of the ATV, and basically he flew 25 feet and hit the street with his head! Blood poured from his eyes, ears, nose and mouth. Doctors said B.J. had only a 10 percent chance of survival.
With summer on its way, ATV enthusiasts are gearing up for a chance to get muddy. But ERs across the country are bracing for an influx of young patients like B. J. Smith. The number of ATV-related emergency-room visits in the United States has more than doubled in recent years, from 52,200 in 1995 to 136,700 in just 2005. Sadly, children younger than 16 account for roughly one third of all ATV-related deaths and injuries. "It's a national epidemic," says Dr. Gary Smith, director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Columbus Children's Hospital and chair of an American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) committee on injury prevention. It's also costly: a recent study concluded that Ohio has in excess of 10,000 ER visits each year for ATV-related injuries, which translates into $30 million in annual hospital charges
Fast forward to life after brain injury: Hard to believe it's been over 15 years years since our lives were changed so dramatically! Over the years there have been many struggles and tears. In spite of being told that BJ had a 10% chance of survival and would be in a vegetative state if he came out of the coma, he has proven all the doctors wrong!
I am BJ's full time caregiver and today we do Public Speaking on Brain Injury Awareness.and also advance Art as Medicine for Healing Trauma. Every year we lecture at University of Louisiana's School of Nursing and LSU School of Occupational Therapy in New Orleans. We also speak to high schools and civic organizations. I want the world to know that the Power of Art can never be overstated. Art has had an enormous impact on my son's Restoration. He is happier, more confident, and recognized and well loved in our community.
He occasionally teaches Art at the St. Pierre Center for the Arts that offers classes for people with disabilities.
A few years ago he was one of 10 Artists chosen for our town's tri-centennial celebration. It's called the Boxed Art Initiative where ugly metal traffic boxes are wrapped with the Artist's Art. It serves to beautify public spaces and introduce emerging Artists to the community.
TBI One Love, we are so grateful for the work that's being done to raise awareness of TBI and give hope to survivors that there is Life after Brain Injury!
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