As 2021 begin, I’m hearing from people worn out by the uncertainty of 2020. In this early days of this new year, we have vaccines being given, a new administration in Washington, and outreach beginning for virtual conferences and meetings.

I look back at my own year more in emails than actual conversations to see the things I worked on. Part of that is organizing my brain trauma work by not just notes and efforts, but by the actual things in place.

On March 16. I’ll be speaking at Amy Zellmer’s virtual conference:

I’m looking forward to that. When I first started speaking, before the 2012 PTSD event, I talked about isolation being hard for any kind of disability. And the Covid distancing and lockdowns have brought that for many survivors, family members and caregivers. When I do my daily walk, I pass a neighbor’s house. And every day a caregiver steps outside to wave at me. We don’t know each other, my the situation in that house, nor her my history, but we are both people, contact, life.

I also continue my work with NASHIA, this next year I’m working on public policy and the State of the State conference planning.

There is hope in these days, until next time…

Good morning, it is an October Monday, I have coffee and hear the streets getting busy. October is the month my acquired brain injury occurred and changed my life, and those of people around me, forever. The darker, quiet mornings bring recall, sometimes wanted, sometimes not.

We just began a new federal fiscal year, and I’ve had many conversations about the future of pre-existing conditions in health care insurance. With the elections looming, it is a concern for many. The remembering my own event, as usual, ends up with me making a list of things to do, which is my way of dealing with what I can’t change.

I’ll continue my legislative work at the street level, working on the law and bill I’ve contributed to, as well looking at new efforts that need support. A goal of mine will be learning about Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s work on laws that protect and ensure resources for individuals. Being prepared helps me meet change the best I can.

The best you can is a great marker, because many survivors of brain injury and PTSD have a longer effort to accomplish things. Be okay with that. Other people can’t see your journey. Maybe more clearly said, trying is as important as accomplishing. Give yourself credit for that, and then keep building on that. As I will.

Yesterday, May 1, was my first day without having to be at home, my quarantine began March 7. I stayed home, the limited movement allowed I have replaced with the new order and wait for delivery, life at a distance.

I had already found a way to resume my brain injury work, I joined NASHIA, the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators so I would have a connection to all the states and people who serve in this arena and are survivors of brain trauma, or PTSD. The law I took to Washington, is now introduced on the national level, my words are now for all the country, all the survivors.

I said yes to being on a new board, pleased to continue working on state and federal brain trauma relationships, especially, because that’s how I got this law to Washington, by reading and speaking as my path unwound, one step at a time.

I have a plastic bag of business cards to respond to, people who heard me speak and introduced themselves on March 4. There is still work to do, still brain trauma to learn about and people to reach out to. Despite Covid-19, life is still happening, and even though I’m doing it from home, I need to keep this work going. I will say I have lots to learn about Zoom. But we’re here, and I’m increasing my work again, from a distance of safety and wellness, but putting it out there again.

Yesterday, May 1, I was on a business call to Wales and found out that my colleague’s son is a brain trauma survivor whose vision has been compromised by that. I know two people well who had similar symptom from their own experience. All three brain injuries came from concussion. I’ll now be looking to them to see what they can tell me about their own recoveries, and then see if we can find a resource for him to use in the UK.

Then I explained brain trauma funding in Texas.

There is always more to do, not stopping is the answer. To more than one thing.

Stay well, comment here, or email me at [email protected]. We’re continuing on.

March 7, Home

I flew home on March 5, my part of the Congressional Briefing complete, my purse full of cards from attendees at the reception that completed the Brain Injury Day on the Hill. I landed at 10:30 and went home, ready for spring and many things I had waiting for the return from this trip, the completion of this effort.

On March 7, 36 hours at home, I rose, made coffee and turned on the morning news. The topic was that there were identified cases of Covid-19 in Washington, DC. Where I had been with many people. I listened to the rules, immediately self-quarantined, and settled in, confused, unprepared, listening to the briefings which were of concern but not at a major level.

My self-quarantine ended two weeks later. I had a few days of errands and catching up, then our shelter in place order was put into place. And I was at home again. I began figuring out the isolation, ordering items no one had, masks, food, toilet paper. Because I’m a brain trauma survivor I’m in the higher risk category. My connection to the world became news briefings and looking out my windows. It was surreal, it is spring, beautiful, sunny and cool. And I stayed inside.

And so I stayed until our shelter in place ran out on April 30. Today is May 1, the next phase is beginning. It is still spring, but the early burst of bluebonnets is gone, and I’m still inside. I do have masks now and will begin a limited life, like everyone else, figuring it out as I go along.

The Congressional Briefing was so full we had standing room only. Representative Pascrell and Bacon both speaking to the widespread need for brain injury and trauma research and progress.

Representative Pascrell opened the briefing stating there was an ongoing need for research in brain injury treatment and knowledge. He led that into my background of being misidentified by law enforcement in 2012 that had led to Texas HB law 1338 in 2015. And now was the HR 6008 that was filed on February 27, 2020 to make this law federal:

I followed that up speaking about shepherding the misidentification of my brain injury into the Texas law passed in 2015. That effort led to my speaking on this topic in an ever growing circle in several state and national conferences. That became my work on Capitol Hill every year, and resulting in HR 6008, sponsored by Representatives Pascrell and Bacon and filed on February 27, 2020.

The response was very positive, the overflow crowd very enthusiastic, with a partial standing ovation and many questions.

The evening reception was well attended, and Representative Pascrell recognized me in a callout moment or the tenacity of my work and being the catalyst for laws on both state and federal levels. We now have legislation existing or proposed to protect brain injury and PTSD survivors in every state.

I am the anyone and everyone that this could, and has, happened to. What we wish is for my bad night and many steps as the catalyst for these laws to help others.

It has been lonely at times on this journey, but I have not been alone. I do know the sense of isolation is daunting. Don’t give up! Please join us keep this education and advocacy moving forward. Thank you!

Thank you.

I’ll give my Congressional Briefing today from 2:30 – 4:00 in the Gold Room of the Rayburn Building. I’m speaking about HR 6008, introduced on February 27, and Texas HB 1338, requiring training in brain injury and PTSD recognition and constructive response for law enforcement, first responders and others.

Here is my contact information, all in one place.

Cheryl Kempf, Brain Injury and PTSD Survivor, CherylsWords.com, 512-585-4559, [email protected].

Thank you to everyone I spoke with yesterday and on this journey so far. Please get in touch if we can help. Thank you.

March 4, Congressional Briefing panelist at Brain Injury Awareness Day on the Hill

To be scheduled, an interview with the Bison Foundation’s Brian Hanson, on brain injury, PTSD and my journey with this legislation.

Today I received my official invitation from Representatives Bill Pascrell and Don Bacon to be a panelist at the Congressional Briefing on March 4, Brain Injury Awareness Day on the Hill.

I accepted and am honored that my perspective and experience, both in surviving and working to speak about the need to educate on how to recognize brain injury and PTSD. Each individual and survival are unique.

The common theme of these experiences is to know what they are so that each can be responded to constructively; each person helped because responders have been taught how.

Today, as fall comes, I got the good news from Representative Pascrell’s office that the bill has language being drafted! I go for a walk in our bit of Texas fall and listen to the leaves skitter along the street. I’m thinking of the next level being reached and realized, how as this bill moves forward how many people will be protected with its passage, everywhere, the same places brain injury and PTSD can be found, everywhere. How useful and preventive that this can be in the recognition and response to these situations. Just like you can’t see brain trauma or PTSD, no one I say hi to today, knows from seeing me what today’s email means. What matters is that a difference is being made, for what we are, not how we look. Or maybe that’s just my thinking, it seems very related. I crunch a few leaves as I step, glad for progress made.

Today I spoke at the Brain Injury Association of Virginia’s annual conference. My session was a late one so I spend the day meeting speakers, vendors, and most importantly, the attendees. I ate with survivors and their family members. The real side of my work is talking about this law from the point of what I experienced and how I am trying to bridge the gap between laws and lives, so that that legislation provides real help for brain injury and PTSD survivors. My words come from an experience they can identify with, or may know someone who has also had misunderstanding and misidentification come from not knowing how these conditions may present and what to do about them.

The attendance was good and the reviews highly positive. I flew home feeling I had listened and spoken to individuals on all levels, individuals to lawmakers, on this topic. There is work still to do, advocating, talking and staying in touch as we move this legislative possibility closer to a federal level.

In June 2017 I went to Washington, to meet with Congressman Will Hurd’s office about HB 1338 and its potential as a national law. I also meet with Congressman Bill Pascrell’s staff, important because of their work with the committee on brain trauma for Congress. Both offices were supportive and I left these meetings with a list of details to provide to help with these efforts. I also attended the Brain Injury Association of America’s Brain Injury Awareness Day and visited the Texas Senators to leave a one-page handout and a comment on this proposed bill with their staff.

In late July, Congressman Hurd’s office contacted me to say the bill was being drafted and the potential looked good.

I attended his DC to DQ tour through District 23 in the fall, choosing to attend his stop in Castroville, where family lives, too.

The bill is now in the hands of the House Judiciary Committee where the language is being reviewed. We are hoping for it to become a national law in these next months of 2018 and will be back in Washington this March to work again with these offices and attend another Brain Injury Day on the Hill.

And to see the cherry blossoms!

March 2017, Tennessee was great. I spoke for one and a half hours and then mingled with the attendees for the rest of the day. My talk was followed by a Nashville police officer who upheld that good law enforcement finds value in such training.

We held the event in the meeting room of a local police station, free for use in Nashville to nonprofits. The event is a day with lunch so that attendees have an accessible and effective day. It was a moving event to connect with so many people who are interested in the experience my brain trauma has given me.

My own family has ties to the Nashville area and I enjoyed the city, seeing it through stories I have heard.

On Friday, March 10, I will be the keynote speaker for the 28th Annual Brain Trauma Conference in Nashville, building on the speaking I did last September for NASHIA. I will talk about HB 1338 and my journey is educating about that Texas law and the need for it. I also will speak about living with brain trauma and how my life changed because of it and since my initial event. I am looking forward to the opportunity to share with individuals who work and use these resources. Nashville sounds wonderful!