Donna’s life over the past 13 years has been one giant lesson in bureaucracy and the struggles of life and competence over governmental and medical incompetence. Here she was able to discuss those travails during a radio interview on brain injuries and human recovery conducted at CJSR in Edmonton.
Donna had her major aneurysm that changed her life in October, 2005. I returned home immediately, leaving Montréal’s Concordia University mid-semester to flee to Kelowna (the closest large hospital that could meet her needs when she had her bleed), BC.
Mom was written off by doctors, lawyers and the government of BC. We had to fight to get control of her finances, her life, and her care. After over a year of care that was never (by decision) to include attempts to rehabilitate and move her back to independence, I took a gamble and brought her back to her apartment for 8 straight days including the Christmas Holidays.
During this time, mom made it demonstrably clear that she had no intentions whatsoever in giving up her own direction. She managed to make a near-full Christmas meal (her big day to do just this) spread from memory, she was back into being the controlling matriarch of a family that included herself, me, her brother, her nephew and others who had been among her friends for many years.
By January 12, 2007 she was home almost for good; Her dealings with me, doctors, lawyers, government officials and various do-gooders had been painful and given her insight as to how society fails those who are attempting to recover from cognitive-denying injuries and/or conditions. She was asked about 2 years later to interview with CJSR in Edmonton, where I was able to beam with sheer pride at the defiant words and triumphs of the strongest person I have ever known.
The show is about brain injury and recovery from many angles and different ages of people as well– if you specifically wish to hear Donna’s story and contribution to the discussion, the link at the top is Donna’s contribution to the larger show on brain injury. The entire show broadcast the same day (including Donna’s interview) is on the link at the end of this paragraph.