Hello! My name is Jasmine Herrera-Martinez, and I am an 8 years post Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). I sustained my brain injury on May 17th, 2014, in a Motor Vehicular accident (MVA). Before my brain injury, I was a full-time student in college, a full-time worker at Target, and was active in my 5 godchildren and my younger sisters’ daily lives. On the day of my accident, I returned home from attending a water festival with my family to get ready for an extra shift I picked up at work. I was three blocks away from home when a speedy pick-up truck sped around three other cars and T-boned my car ..read more

Before we began our TBI journey with our daughter, Lucy, she was a sweet and sassy 7-year-old little girl with a smile that brightened the room. In one moment, all of that was taken away and our whole world was turned upside down. She could’ve died that day. Lucy fell 6ft 6in off a water slide while swimming at a friend’s pool. As she fell, she reached out to grab the rail, causing her body to turn and her head to hit the stairs before she slammed into the concrete. Thank God she did! We spent 6 days in children’s hospital with very little answers as to what our future would look like. The day ..read more

We have all heard the phrase that miracles happen every day.  We often read stories of incredible triumph through various hardships such as job loss, financial devastation, loss of loved ones, and injuries beyond comprehension.  During such problems, troubles can mount to extremes and one may find their very soul tested to the point of falling to their knees in a desperate cry for the release of pain, suffering, and of the control of our lives we thought we had. Yet, through tragic experiences, countless testimonies reveal the healing and the hearts of those who have found their way ..read more

Studies continue to link traumatic brain injury and the possibility of autoimmune disease. Yet, even with extraordinary medical advancements in our society, conversations between patients and many health professionals are still elusive on brain injury health outcomes.  Slow medical research and a lack of knowledge, training, and awareness for traumatic brain injuries among many healthcare academic programs still plague our global health system each day.  In recent years progress shows a better understanding of brain injury health conditions is gradually coming to light. Autoimmune d ..read more

Hello Everyone! It is time to mark your calendar and get ready to walk, roll and stride at the Striding with Hope After Brain Injury Walk on Sunday, June 6, 2021, at 9:00 am! We are a faith-based non-profit located in Arlington, Texas, dedicated to improving recovery outcomes for all brain injury survivors throughout local communities, statewide, and globally.  Our goal is to help raise awareness and support for our programs designed to educate, equip, and encourage all those who suffer from any form of traumatic brain injury. It can happen in the blink of an eye, a car wreck, a fall, or ..read more

As he stood tall behind the glass partition, he quickly glanced at her health chart; a sudden huff of frustration and a winced expression appeared across his face.  She was halfway through a tilt table test for syncope symptoms when her doctor said, “I see you’ve been diagnosed with PTSD‘, he scoffed.  He forcefully closed her chart, tossing it aside as if to send a clear message of dismissal.  She could sense that her appointment for the tilt table test now had no value or contribution towards ailments associated with her undiagnosed traumatic brain injury.  In advocacy f ..read more

Currently, under thorough study is how traumatic brain injury can influence genetic activation. For survivors of mild to moderate traumatic brain injuries, the recovery process can look vastly different for each patient. Just as no two fingerprints are alike, neither are injuries to the brain. Why do some patients breeze through treatments, rehabilitation therapy, and recovery faster while others struggle? A variety of answers surrounding the impact of traumatic brain injuries continue to evolve. From a scientific health viewpoint, one key factor is how our genomic print, otherwise known as ou ..read more

Every year March is dedicated to advocacy towards the significant need for brain injury awareness throughout the world. Non-profits, medical associations, specialized TBI facilities, caregivers, survivor advocates, volunteers, and more gather together to raise awareness. Through the grassroots efforts of community campaigns, educational outreach, online podcasts, local and social media, anyone can help by taking part in inspiring, collaborative opportunities throughout their community.  Participation in creative fundraising strategies, distributing information, or simply helping someone w ..read more

What we now understand about traumatic brain injury, trauma, and overall brain health is remarkable. However, in countless cases, patients in the various stages of declining health from a traumatic brain injury go unrecognized throughout many areas of our conventional medical system.  There are significant gaps in brain injury care, from a lack of consistent TBI health protocols, referrals to specialists, delays in diagnosis, patient understanding, patient education, and access to advanced medical professionals at the forefront of innovative diagnostics, effective treatment plans, and m ..read more

It is Christmas, and I will acknowledge the elephant in the room by saying we all know it has not been an easy year. Everywhere we look, something can overwhelm our senses, turning our focus inward, and unfortunately, away from all that matters most. As the year-end closes, I watch it fade in the distance, wishing it well as I remind myself of what has truly brought me healing and joy—the Word of God and my faith in Jesus Christ. The other night, I was flipping through the television guide when I came across a faith-based channel. A reporter was conducting live street interviews engaging passe ..read more