03/14/2026
Brain Injury Awareness Month 💚
Brain injuries change lives in ways most people can’t see.
Several years ago, our son Paine suffered a traumatic brain injury that left him blind. Since that day, life has looked very different for him and for our family. But what hasn’t changed is the man he is at his core — a father who loves his son deeply and continues to show up for him every single day.
This week Paine had his son Paden with him. Watching them together reminds me that strength doesn’t always look the way people expect it to.
Paine helped make sure Paden went to the potty, helped with bath time, and helped prepare food for him. Many people might say, “Well… that’s just being a parent.” And they’re right.
But living with a traumatic brain injury means his brain has to work much harder for things that used to be simple. Something as ordinary as thinking through a task or reacting quickly takes far more energy than it once did.
I want to share a little of what that feels like from Paine’s point of view:
“People see me helping my son and might think, ‘That’s just what parents do.’
But what many people don’t see is what it takes for my brain to do even the simple things now.
After my brain injury, my brain has to work harder for everything. Things that used to be automatic now take more energy, more focus, and more time.
This week I made sure my son went potty, helped with his bath, and helped prepare food for him. Those may seem like small things to others… but to me, they are victories.
Because I’m doing them as a blind father living with the effects of a traumatic brain injury.
Some days my brain feels like it has run a marathon just from thinking… but being Paden’s dad is worth every ounce of energy I have.”
As his mom and Paden’s Mimi, my heart could not be more proud of both of them.
Our family is still learning and adapting to this new way of life, but one thing is certain — love, patience, and resilience are stronger than any obstacle.
During Brain Injury Awareness Month, I hope Paine’s story helps people better understand what individuals and families living with brain injury walk through every day.
Sometimes the biggest victories are the ones the world never sees.
💚
