Going the Distance: Journeys of Recovery

Four individuals who have suffered traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) share their stories in David L. Brown’s enlightening documentary. Jay Waller, a Yale graduate who planned to become a doctor, was injured in a road rage incident. Doctors cautioned his mother and sister that he might not recover, but over time he learned to walk and talk again, although problems with concentration brought his pre-med career to an end. Waller’s cognitive therapist notes that TBI patients often cannot expect to be the same person following an injury, but Waller did find his way back to the medical field through work as a paramedic and as a physical therapy student. Jason Poole of the U.S. Marine Corps was injured during his third tour of duty in Iraq. In addition to his TBI, he lost an eye and his fiancée--which only added to his difficult recovery, although he did find love again. Kristen Collins was hit by a truck driver while riding on a friend’s motorcycle. Doctors informed her parents that she might not emerge from her coma, but she beat the odds, although her mother notes personality changes. She credits equine therapy for helping her daughter regain physical and mental strength. Collins even went on to get a nursing degree. Ian McFarland, the youngest subject, was in a car accident that claimed the lives of his parents. Afterward, he suffered from seizures and temporary paralysis, and has since been learning how to do everything all over again. Since insurance rarely covers cognitive therapy, his friends and family have helped to raise the funds he needs for treatment. Overall, these stories offer much hope and encouragement for those who suffer TBIs. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)