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Greg
B., had a successful life until an accident nearly killed
him. He had a lot to overcome afterwards. Here
is his story in his own words:
I’m
from the Buffalo, NY area.
I was born in Boston Massachusetts, but I was raised
in Buffalo. Prior
to my accident I was involved in sales.
I was the sales manager for a company and I sold
products related to agriculture and dairy.
I worked in that field over sixteen years.
I was very successful.
I always won awards for being top salesman.
Before my brain injury I lived with my family.
My former spouse and three children two girls
(thirteen and fourteen) and a boy (nine).
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"I
came here to try to get back the skills I lost." - Greg
B.
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One
of my hobbies back them was motocross.
I raced dirt bikes with 30.7-inch wide wheels.
One day I was jumping an incline and something
happened.
The jump went wrong and the bike came down on me.
They told me afterwards that my safety helmet was
smashed from the force of the bike hitting down.
I died three times in the helicopter on the way to the
hospital and had to be revived.
I was in a coma for a month.
When I awoke from that I got rehabilitation in the
hospital and I was there for a few months.
They told me at the hospital that I would never walk
again but I proved them wrong.
The hospital discharged me and I went to live with my mother
and sister.
It was clear that I needed more help because my mother
and sister who were caring for me couldn’t handle me
anymore.
That’s when they found out about Northeast Center
for Special Care and I came here to try to get back the
skills I lost.
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Greg
B., with Northeast Center Special Educator Lisa Grappuso. |
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What
helped me the most here was having people to go to when I
needed to or if I was having problems.
Living with my mother after the accident we were very
isolated, the house was seven miles from the nearest town in
a rural area. What
I like about Northeast Center was always having supports.
The other thing that helped was learning organizational
skills. I am
much better at it that I was.
I carry a notebook that’s my planner.
I learned that motivation is important to me in
staying organized. If
I forget to be someplace or I’m late I don’t let it get
the best of me I go back and keep trying.
I went to a lot of groups here. One
of the important things was learning about my injury and
being able to accept it.
I am very excited now.
The TBI Waiver accepted me and I am being discharged
from Northeast Center.
I am going to live in an apartment that’s close to
my children. It’s
a little scary but I’m getting help and supports people on
the Waiver.
The first thing I am going to do is reconnect with some of
my friends that I’ve lost touch with.
There have been a lot of people who have helped me at
Northeast Center. Michelle,
my occupational therapist helped me a lot.
She helped me to feel important.
Since the accident I’ve had a problem with
self-esteem. And
she helped me with organizational skills. Lisa, one of
my nurses was also a great help encouraging me.
My mother and sister had always heard that Northeast Center
had a pretty high record of achievement.
Now that I have experienced what they do here I think
they have done an excellent job.
I couldn’t imagine doing what the people who work
here do for a living – it takes some special people.
Lisa Morse-Pratt noted:
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Greg’s
come a long way.
He leaves being able to do a lot for himself
that he wasn’t when he first came here.
When he first came he tended to want to be in
bed all the time.
He had little enthusiasm or motivation like a
lot of brain injury survivors.
Now with a minimum of prompting he attends all
his programming, he brings his planner and everything
that he needs – what a difference.
I think he is going to do just fine.
He’ll have supports in the community.
It’s been a tough road for Greg but he made
it.
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Greg
has returned to the community and is living
successfully. Our talented staff and unique mission
keep us focused on assisting our Resident-Neighbors to hone
the skills they need to live at the most integrated level.
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Greg
B., with Lisa Morse-Pratt, LPN, Nurse Manager. |
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Northeast
Center for Special Care
QUICK FACTS:
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- OT:
Occupational Therapy or Therapist
- TBI
Waiver Program: New York State Department of
Health Home and Community Based Medicaid Waiver for
Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury
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