Nearly 15 years after a near-fatal accident, Robert Wein nonetheless desires to assist the general public perceive ‘invisible’ mind accidents.
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Nearly 15 years after he suffered a near-fatal mind harm in a terrifying bicycle accident, Ottawa’s Robert Wein has launched a not-for-profit group aimed toward serving to the general public perceive “invisible” mind accidents.
Wein was a federal authorities procurement specialist, triathlete and scuba diver when a 45-year-old driver plowed into him and 4 different cyclists on March Highway early on the morning of July 19, 2009.
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The cyclists — they got here to be often known as the Kanata 5 — have been in a marked bike lane. The driver, Sommit Luangpakham, would inform an Ottawa courtroom he fell asleep on the wheel.
Essentially the most significantly injured of the group, Wein had a collapsed lung, damaged ribs and a extreme mind harm.
He was saved in a medically induced coma for 3 weeks to handle the swelling in his mind; docs have been uncertain whether or not he would ever regain consciousness.
Wein survived and spent more than six months in rehab, studying the way to sit, steadiness and stroll utilizing newly cast mind networks. However he has been unable to return to work — Wein is medically retired — or have interaction in his former athletic pursuits.
He makes use of a incapacity scooter and walker to navigate the world.
Wein used to pour his power into elevating cash for brain-injury associated causes by way of an annual fundraising stroll. However the COVID-19 pandemic ended that initiative and he has solid about ever since for a brand new strategy to give his life function.
It’s, he says, the central problem of residing along with his mind harm.
“For me, the problem is reasonably easy — to do one thing that issues,” he says in an electronic mail interview, his most well-liked technique of communication.
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“I might go on, however that about sums it up, as a result of I awoke one morning some time in the past and determined to try this: one thing that issues.”
Wein, 53, this yr launched a not-for-profit group, the BrainStrong Network, that seeks to boost consciousness in regards to the nature of acquired mind accidents and the challenges concerned in residing with them.
On the BrainStrong web site, Wein blogs about his personal experiences and invitations readers to ask him questions.
“In the end,” he writes, “my objective in opening up about my mind harm is to foster understanding and empathy. By sharing my experiences and answering your questions, I hope to interrupt down the obstacles that always encompass invisible disabilities.”
In contrast to strokes, which observe a standard sample — a proper center cerebral artery (MCA) stroke sometimes will end in issues on the left aspect of the physique — a extreme mind harm is unpredictable.
Wein’s diffuse harm produced a weakened proper leg and left arm, double imaginative and prescient and a speech obstacle. His short-term reminiscence has additionally been broken.
He makes use of all kinds of methods — to-do lists, know-how and reminiscence workout routines — to beat his shortcomings.
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Wein says it’s straightforward to get down on himself and to focus on the issues he’s unable to do because the crash.
However, after a dialogue with Kerry Goulet, a former skilled hockey participant and the founding father of the non-profit group StopConcussions, he resolved to vary his perspective and concentrate on the constructive.
“I made a decision to not be self-negative about what I didn’t do, however to do one thing,” Wein stated.
Goulet’s group, StopConcussions, is allied with a number of former NHL gamers, together with former Ottawa Senators and Ottawa 67’s ahead Zenon Konopka, and has agreed to work with Wein to develop the BrainStrong Community.
Wein is internet hosting a trivia night time on Friday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. at Danby’s Roadhouse in Richmond to boost funds for BrainStrong.
Andrew Duffy is a Nationwide Newspaper Award-winning reporter and long-form characteristic author primarily based in Ottawa. To help his work, together with unique content material for subscribers solely, join right here: ottawacitizen.com/subscribe
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