My Journey with ABI

My name is Judy Johnston and my ABI story begins seven years ago. When it happened I had spent most of my adult life as Judith A. Johnston, a professional, a Licensed Employee Benefits Consultant and Vice President of a Life Insurance Brokerage. It took many weeks of being in hospital before I came to understand that I had been a victim of a car crash. The injuries I sustained have left me with Acquired Brain Injury, impaired vision, recurring back and neck issues, loss of hearing, the loss of my sense of smell and balance issues. 

It has been, and continues to be, a long journey to recovery, but I now call myself a survivor of a life altering event. Inside I am still that Judith Ann Johnston I was before the accident, and I am grateful for her qualities and strengths that have come through as I slowly make my way down this road I call my “New Normal”.  

Judy's Blog 

March of Dimes ABI Conference

It was with anticipation that I looked forward to my final presentation of the Spring Season before taking a summer break. The March of Dimes, in Barrie, Ontario, had asked me to speak about “That Omnipotent Beast… FATIGUE” at their conference for ABI Survivors. Fatigue is something that I know we all face in our daily challenges with ABI and I welcomed the opportunity to explore how my peers dealt with this beast. 

An invitation was also extended to my Occupational Therapist and Speech Language Pathologist to speak at the conference. From a clinician’s perspective they offered various strategies and ABI Resources available to anyone struggling with ABI challenges.  We are working on including those resources on my website, so please keep checking in.           

Of even greater value, to me, was the opportunity to hear others with ABI talk about their experiences, their challenges, their accomplishments… much of what they spoke about was laid out before us with a sense of humour and heart felt emotion. Thank you for letting me be a part of this worthwhile event. It was a good day for us all.

Posted 271 weeks ago

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