If you are living in quiet desperation seeking to protect your marriage... be sure to listen in. Few individuals are equipped with the skills needed to understand the stranger beside us. Lori Runzer, a respected therapist, knows first hand what goes on behind closed doors. Hi, we are Dean & Lori. Dean suffered a traumatic brain injury 26 months ago and we were surprised to see how much of a toll it had on our marriage. This is our introductory episode giving you a bit of background on the injury and the journey to love, again. We first speak of the actual incident, resulting injury and ..read more

Head injuries’ far-reaching effects are the lack of awareness and information available to those dealing with a concussion and those caring for them. It is surprising how many people have had a concussion, dealing with their head injury in silence. This is not just about the men in our lives! Today, Lori talks to an amazing woman - Gena Meyer - and learns of her trauma and the far-reaching effects on her children. The number of families dealing with the impacts of a concussion is overwhelming. 3:30 - The emotional response Gena experienced when she heard of The Concussion Code movement and wha ..read more

Things are so much different now than they were in the beginning. Today, we talk about what it was like dealing with all sides of a traumatic brain injury. Our lives, your lives must continue. You have the physical and financial responsibilities that present themselves when one is injured and unable to continue working. It took 5 months until Dean could finally return to Firesong. We discuss what it was like for us to step back into our full lives. What it looked like for us to survive physically and financially. What we had to do to be sure we didn’t lose everything. We were right in the midd ..read more

Why the relationship is not the first priority and what you can do in the meantime. In this episode, we wanted to get started with some real management strategies when dealing with a brain injury. It’s a reminder about hope, stopping to smell the flowers and Dean’s story about watering them after his concussion We talk about the invisible injury and the day-to-day. We expand on the different personalities associated with Post-Concussion Syndrome. You can download the Post-Concussion Assessment here: https://www.theconcussioncode.com/ 2:15 - We talk about survival mode and what it was like for ..read more

It was hard, but it was worth it. Today, this is the message Lori wants to get across.  Through tears, she explains what it is she wants to convey to you. She shares her heartache so you can hear the important message she and Dean are sharing. 2:00 - What the first few days were like after the accident. Thinking back to the early days, Lori and Dean recall the pressures they went through. 3:30 - Dean speaks about his experience of what it was like not being able to do anything other than just the physical. 5:00 - What hats Dean could wear and which ones he could not. 7:00 - The needed re ..read more

Before we begin, we are grateful for your attention and that you listen to this podcast. We can not answer all the questions we have regarding the accident and life in general, but Lori and Dean can talk about faith and how they see life. 3:00 - Dean speaks about his routine while staying steady in his recovery and life. 4:00 - Lori speaks about her fear around the unknown that came with the concussion. Everything had changed, and they needed to make so many decisions fast. 5:10 - Lori speaks of Dean’s anger and the unique view she now has. They both want you to see as well. 5:30 - What Lori l ..read more

Lori and Dean continue the conversation about the way the different personalities react to a traumatic brain injury. Last week they spoke about the D - Driven and the S - Steady. 2:00 - Lori continues by describing the I - Inspired and the C -Competent, expanding on these 2 temperaments.  4:00 - The caution around these 2 temperaments both alone and together. 7:00 - Lori stresses the importance of understanding the temperaments to get results in your relationship and aid in your spouse's physical healing. 8:00 - Dean speaks about his temperament and how he managed his recovery as a D with ..read more

We get right into it today! We are furthering the conversation around the different temperaments and the implications for them when dealing with concussions. Not only are you dealing with the temperament of the injured - the one with the brain injury - but as caregivers, we also have our temperaments. Learning how to work together in a time such as this is key, but you first need to understand how important it is to know yourself and your spouse. 2:30 - What happens to the filters of the different temperaments after a concussion. 3:30 - The “S” Steady/Sensitive temperament, what they need, and ..read more

Today, we talk with renowned grief expert Lynda Cheldelin Fell.  Today is all about Grief.  Even though I did not lose my husband, I experienced loss when Dean had his accident and concussion.  So many women have experienced a loss that is not seen nor socially acceptable in life.  We ARE grieving when a spouse has had a brain injury.  In the simplest terms - the person they were or the life and marriage you once had is different. Mine certainly was.  When life is suddenly different, we experience a type of grief called disenfranchised grief.  Today we s ..read more

Before we begin, we are grateful for your attention and that you listen to this podcast. We can not answer all the questions we have regarding the accident and life in general, but Lori and Dean can talk about faith and how they see life. 3:00 - Dean speaks about his routine while staying steady in his recovery and life. 4:00 - Lori speaks about her fear around the unknown that came with the concussion. Everything had changed, and they needed to make so many decisions fast. 5:10 - Lori speaks of Dean’s anger and the unique view she now has. They both want you to see as well. 5:30 - What Lori l ..read more