On May 18th, 2020, I heard the earth shattering, unexpected words, "your husband has a traumatic brain injury."

As a special education teacher, breaking down complex topics into simpler words is part of my expertise, but when explaining to my two young kids what was going on with their dad, I was desperately looking for something to help guide my conversation.  I went to what I knew best in difficult conversations like this, children's books… but I quickly learned though, that traumatic brain injuries are currently not represented in children's literature. I knew I had to change that.

And that's how the idea of The Resilient Brain started. As we embarked on the rehabilitation road, resilience was a common theme not only in our journey but one we quickly  saw throughout others navigating a TBI.  But, our family's journey is only one story.

There are an estimated 2.8 million traumatic brain injuries in the United States every year. That is at least 2.8 million stories a year on how a brain injury impacts one’s everyday life. We are so grateful to have been connected with incredible TBI warriors and their loved ones in our journey, and in turn have been able to be a part of The Resilient Brain in many different ways, all by one thing in common, a brain injury!

My deepest desire is The Resilient Brain can give someone the words they need when they feel speechless, encouragement to readers and their families to persevere through hardships, and most importantly, hope.