MY TBI JOURNEY
By, Tawnya Padilla
Fifth Annual Washington State TBI Conference
May 23 and 24, 2013
T Town Body Treatments- 2013
OWNING MY BUSINESS
Emergent Distributing 2012
T TOWN BODY TREATMENTS
T H E E M E R G E N C E O F S O M E T H I N G B E A U T I F U L
I want to share that I am thankful. This attitude is what got me through this painful experience. Before any therapies I received, I kept being thankful for being alive. I kept giving blessings up. I kept being thankful for the breath of life.
Today, I know that without these events and special people in my life, I wouldn’t be healed. I give thanks to my Husband, Sister, Mom, and children. They are my caregivers. They love me for who I am today. Most importantly, I love myself.
Today, I am thankful for my new business. I am excited to sell natural and Organic wellness products. If this accident never happened, I would have missed out on all of these life changing events.
Written by Tawny Padilla
March 22, 2012
LOOKING BACK
August 26, 2008- Accident
February 6, 2009- Retired from my job
March 23, 2009- Acquired Tourette Syndrome and retained a lawyer
April 2009-Advocated for myself and went to a Neurologist that my own insurance covered
May 2009- First Annual TBI Conference
EMAIL TO:WANDA BUCKNER- REIKI MASTERDATE: 5/12/09
• I can filter out noises in a crowded area now
• I can remember daily what I am supposed to do
• I can write, type, and use full interesting sentences like my old self
• I am much happier and at peace with my new self
• I have no headache
• I am not overwhelmed, I have my intimacy with my husband, and I feel like my old personality is coming back!
MY PROFESSIONALTEAM
Myself- patient
Medical Doctor
Lawyer
Neurologist
Speech therapist
Support groups
Vision therapist
Neuropsychologist
Vocational Rehabilitation
MY CARE
According to the TBI toolkit produced by the Washington State Dept. of Social and Health Services, http://www.aasa.dshs.wa.gov/library/tbitoolkitpro.pdf
I am entitled to frequent assessments and diagnostic tests. These may include:
Neurological exams
X-ray
Ct scan
MRI scan, Angiogram
ICP monitor
EEG
Neuropsychological battery
M Y R E H A B A N D W H A T I T O L D M Y N E U R O L O G I S T
Rehabilitation programs should be individualized. Rehabilitation channels the body’s natural healing
abilities and the brain’s relearning process so that an individual recovers quickly and efficiently as possible.
Rehabilitation also involves learning new ways to compensate for abilities that have permanently changed
due to the brain injury.
Department of Vocational RehabilitationThe DVR Mission:
To empower individuals with disabilities to achieve a greater quality of life by obtaining and maintaining employment.
S O C I A L S E C U R I T Y- T I C K E T B A C K T O W O R K
Tawnya Padilla- Client
Matt Newton- DSHS/DVR
Brian Jaeger– Inside Works
CASEWORKER + JOB COACH= TEAMWORK= SUCCESS!
FIRST ANN UAL BI GL O BAL P ICN IC JUNE 16 , 2012
J U LY 2 0 1 2 , S E C O N D A N N UA L T B I WA L K , R U N, A N D R O L L F O R T H O U G H T ( B I AWA )
EMERGENT DISTRIBUTING AT AUTISM DAY AT JUBILEE FARM
AUGUST 2012
INDEPENDENT LIVING RALLY, 3/6/13
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERSBoard President of BEST,
Board President of BIAWA, Past Board President of BIAWA, at the BIAWA
Pyramid ale house fundraiser, 3/14/13
Independent living rally,
Olympia, WA. On 3/6/13
ALL BECAUSE OF VOCATIONAL REHAB
I started Labor and Industries, Vocational Rehab with service provider, Vadis, in November 2010.
I was employed in 2011.
I started my own business in 2012 and then another with the support of the Department of vocational rehab this year (2013).
Without the support of my TEAM and my perseverance, I would not have had such a productive year in 2012 and now 2013. I want to say “Thank you”, to everyone on my TEAM!