Woman's story one of determination, hard work
Laura Hanson wanted to be a teacher more than anything. A car crash changed all that. Now she isn't in front of a classroom teaching, but instead teaches lessons of strength, hope, faith and determination to all who hear her story
The 1997 Kettle Moraine High School graduate was a resident assistant at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, returning to school from a hayride that she organized at Kettle Moraine Ranch on Oct. 23, 1998, when her car hit a patch of gravel and crashed into a tree. She was flown by Flight for Life to Froedtert Hospital, where traumatic brain injury (TBI) left her in a coma for weeks.
As she slowly came out of the coma and began her recovery, doctors discovered she was deaf. She had numerous eye injuries and was paralyzed on both sides.
Her parents, Mary and Jerry Hanson of Dousman, were told that most people with injuries like Laura's do not survive. Doctors told them she had a 5 percent chance to live. They told hershe would never walk again.
But she did live. And she is walking again.
Ataxia, a neurological symptom consisting of gross lack of coordination of muscle movements, renders her right hand useless, causing her hand to shake so badly she can't drink water. It also makes walking difficult. Spasticity on the left side has been eased with the use of Botox every three months.
Laura was determined. In a wheelchair for several years, she worked hard to walk again. Her family, with one person on each side and one in the front, helped her. Swimming pool workouts helped her to walk with assistance, using a walker. "When you look at how far she's come, it's an incredible story," said Mary. "It's uplifting."
While physical fitness training helps her deal with balance issues and with the physical disabilities, the social isolation and isolation from hearing are hard to deal with, said her dad. "To be someone who is so vocal and outgoing, she draws her strength from people," said Jerry. "She can't have music."
Her music now involves music therapy at Hartland Music - blowing into a flute, working on intonation and breathing. She plays the drums to work on hand coordination.
At first, Laura's family used dry-erase boards to communicate with her. Although she can read lips now, her younger brother Justin, 25, is learning sign language to help Laura. She lives a semi-independent life in Pewaukee with help from an attendant.
Doctors told her family that most people with brain injury reach a healing plateau after three years, but they aren't buying that. "She is sharper now than five years ago, more aware of things than five years ago," said Jerry.
What is TBI?
TBI is defined as a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the function of the brain, according to the Brain Injury Association of Wisconsin (BIAW). Not all blows or jolts of the head result in a TBI. The severity of such an injury may range from "mild" (a brief change in mental status or consciousness) to "severe" (an extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia after the injury). A TBI can result in short- or long-term problems with thinking, learning, language, behavior, emotions or physical function.
According to BIAW, about one in every 10 people is touched by brain injury. Transportation-related injuries are the leading cause of TBI among people ages 15 to 64, while falls are leading cause for people ages 65 and older.
No two brains are alike, and no two brain injuries are alike. Deafness made Laura's injury even more difficult. The Hansons learned that most hospitals are good at diagnosing TBI, but long-term care and treatment options are poor. Laura's young age at the time of the injury made it challenging to find long-term care. Assisted living facilities and group homes are available for older adults, but there are few facilities for young women.
Mary realized the importance of being aggressive in medical treatment and therapy for Laura. Monitor everything, she recommends. Be involved in the person's therapy if possible. "Follow your instincts, follow your love for the person," Mary suggested. "Do what you think is right."
The family went through a long period of grief, according to Jerry. "When dealing with brain injury, people can either let it eat away and destroy their lives or use it in some positive way to help themselves or the person," Mary said.
Mary started a journal to help her deal with Laura's injury. "I didn't want my grandchildren growing up not knowing the story," said Mary. For nine years her journal sat on a shelf until her parish nurse read it and urged Mary to publish it as a book, "A Moment in Time," which is available at any bookstore on request.
Now they have learned to let go of the dreams they had for Laura and love the new person she has become, while keeping the memory of the old person. Recovery is a long, slow road they are still traveling; however, they continue to persevere. "If you persevere, people will do far more than they medical community expects or predicts," Mary said. "We just didn't give up and because of it Laura is doing things people didn't think were possible."
Traumatic brain injury facts
How many people have TBI?
Of the 1.4 million who sustain a TBI each year in the United States:
• 50,000 die
• 235,000 are hospitalized
• 1.1 million are treated and released from an emergency department.
Leading causes of TBI?
• Falls (28 percent)
• Motor vehicle-traffic crashes (20 percent)
• Struck by/against (19 percent)
• Assaults (11 percent)
Who is at highest risk for TBI?
• Males are about 1.5 times as likely as females to sustain a TBI.
• The two age groups at highest risk for TBI are 0 to 4 year olds and 15 to 19 year olds.
• Certain military duties (e.g., paratrooper) increase the risk of sustaining a TBI.
• African-Americans have the highest death rate from TBI.
Provided by the Brain Injury Association of America Provided by the Brain Injury Association of America
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