Coma. Recovery. Philosophy.

Meet James Brown. In his first year of law school he began experiencing noticeable neurological symptoms. An MRI scan revealed a massive brain tumor. Though doctors anticipated a smooth recovery after surgery, James faced serious complications that left him in a coma for two months and dealing with lasting disabilities. But instead of giving up, he chose to fight back. He returned to Colorado, became a father, and boldly started a new career in web programming. Along the way he earned a master’s degree in philosophy from the University of Illinois.
Now living in Texas, James dedicates his time to leading multiple support groups, helping others navigate life after brain injury.  He shares practical tips for managing day-to-day life, the value of having a structured routine, and the vital role support groups play in recovery. He also reflects on the emotional and philosophical aspects of living with a brain injury, offering wisdom, hope, and encouragement to anyone facing their own "new normal."

Transcript

Bernard: 0:11

Opinions shared by the guests of the show are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of the hosts buying waves or the Brain injury network. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and it's not a substitute for professional medical advice, the diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of a healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Thank you.

Brittany: 0:38

Hi, I'm Brittany and I'm brain injury survivor and member of BIND.

Carrie: 0:42

And hi, I'm Carrie, a stroke survivor, and a member of BIND as well. And today we welcome James Brown. Um, I know we've met James. I know we've met several times, but I'm pretty excited to get to know more about you and for our listeners to meet. James is a traumatic brain injury survivor. He has an MA philosophy from the University of Illinois and has also published several papers on TBIs. So. Welcome.

Brian: 1:07

Welcome to BIND Waves, the official podcast of the Brain Injury Network of Dallas. I'm Brian White, BINDs executive director. On each episode, we'll be providing insight into the brain injury community. We'll be talking to members and professionals regarding their stories and the important role of Binds Clubhouse. We work as a team to inspire hope community and a sense of purpose to survivors, caregivers, and the public. Thank you for tuning into bindwaves. Let's get on with the show.

James: 1:38

Thank you very much. It's good to be here.

Carrie: 1:41

We're excited. So to get started as James, just tell us a little bit about you and then how you got your injury, how you sustained your injury.

James: 1:49

Well, um, let's see. I had a really normal childhood in Colorado that's where I'm from, I grew up being very active, and doing a lot of how outdoor stuff. Um. See, I, I used to being very active. I got a, I went through school. I got a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and then I got married and we subsequently moved to St. Southern California, Los Angeles, and. I began law school out there and going to Pepperdine University. I was in my first year of law school, started having these strange neurological things happen to me. I. I could hear blood flowing in a vest hall, which is kind of weird. Then I started getting these really intense headaches from doing simple things like walking upstairs. Then it got really weird. I went on a skiing trip for I remember with my friends in law school, and I was ordinarily a really good skier, but this time I lost my balance a lot and I was getting sick and. And then the final weird thing is I was later playing tennis just for fun with that friend of mine and I was trying, I was trying to hit the ball, you know, like you do. And I couldn't make the ball hit the racket that I was holding, and I'm not a great tennis player, but I'm also coordinated. And so anyway, I was like, all right, something's wrong. So anyway, after much in negotiation with the insurance companies and back and forth, um, they decided that I need to go in and get a CT scan or a CAT scan, and they found a large golfball size mass in the middle of my brain. And he said, you need to emergency go over to this hospital. I get this new cutting edge technology thing called the MRI and uh, so I did. And um, they said, turn up, you gotta golf ball size his brain tumor and. They didn't know what type it was or anything, and I was kind of shortsighted. I was like, oh, good. I don't need to finish my hardcore project in law school, have a few dates off. I can only watch the Olympics on tv. And that was going on at that point. And, um, then I, uh, laid in bed, watched the Olympics for a few days, and they had me on medication to make you feel better and all of that. And then they did the surgery on me, and the surgeon told me that you'll be, it's like plucking a pickle outta a jar and the tumor. Mm-hmm. You'll be back to law school in we, or in a month. I'm sorry. So that's kind of my, the way I looked at it. Well, uh, there were, it was not, like plucking a pickle a out of jar, several hours of surgery, and I. There were complications and it, uh, made, made a lot of bleeding happen. And, and basically it, I ended up in a coma for two months and my hospital stay was four months. I ended up with a pretty significant disability. It's, uh, um, the way my brain controls my body is, is not right and, uh. But you know, this is really key. Uh, when I kind of came to for my coma, I'm like, no, I'm not gonna accept this thing. I'm 24 years old. I've got life ahead of me. And I didn't know what it was gonna look like, but I'm like, no. And that's been my attitude for 33 years since. And. Uh, we moved from Southern California back to Colorado, and I mean, and like two weeks later, my wife was pregnant with our child and I didn't quite know how I was gonna work in disabled body and, uh, so away way. I'm glad, uh, to announce that So my daughter's great. She's a physician assistant in North Carolina doing really well. Um. She's done really, really nicely. I, in, well, I worked as a, a, um, web programmer mm-hmm. For a while. I've learned how an internet program and do some stuff like that. And I did that for a number of years and kind of, kind of, you know, I did that and I got fairly decent at it, but I was kind of, I didn't like it that much. And I kind of decided I wanted to go back to something I was interested and that was philosophy. And so I found this brand new program online from the University of Illinois to get a master's degree in philosophy. So to see if I could hack academic work, I. Uh, I took some community colleges courses locally at the community college and I already had a four year degree, so I mean, it was pretty low stakes and I, I, um, took those courses, did really well with them. I ended up also taking some computer network certification course and then got certified in some of that stuff. But I always kind of kept like the main part of it was, um, philosophy. Mm-hmm. Some history and things like traditional academic stuff. And I did really well in that and I said, okay, I think we're gonna go to master's degree.'cause I wanted to teach philosophy.

Brittany: 8:30

Hmm.

James: 8:30

And so I did, and I, it took me three years to get a two year degree in philosophy, but I was fine. Got done in 2010 and subsequently got a job teaching, uh, one class online and one class in a classroom. And, uh. I went ahead and taught for 11 years. Oh wow. And um, then because of family things I needed to, to move and kind of consolidate my family, so that led me. To Texas and uh, so here I live in Frisco, Texas. Oh, we're

Carrie: 9:19

glad you're here in Texas. Yeah. I have a real quick question, Brittany. Sure. Yeah. Did you ever find out what kind of tumor you had?

James: 9:26

Yes, it was an astrocytoma grade two.

Carrie: 9:29

Okay. Wow.

James: 9:31

And they told me at the time that it did not respond to chemo and radiation, so I did not have that. Okay. So, and I go back for an MRI every year. Yeah. To make sure it hasn't gotten back and there's hasn't been the whole time. So That's great. That's wonderful. That's good. Yeah.

Brittany: 9:49

Yeah. Um, so throughout your brain injury, so did you have a supportive foundation during the beginning of your brain injury?

James: 9:56

Very, I was married. At the time, and my wife, Pam, was really instrumental. I mean, I was released from the hospital in a wheelchair, couldn't walk. My balance was messed up, and Pam would take me to the park where there's grass and I would sit there and walk and we had, and she, I still to this day on my office, well, mm-hmm. I have this medal that she got me and it says, you know, 784 steps, congratulations. Oh, that's cool. So anyway, Pam was just instrumental in, in helping me, not only with that, but also with, uh, just day to day life things. And, um, of course the mother of our daughter and Right. We were married until, well, for 22 years. And, uh, then we, we parted ways and, um, and she lives out in Las Vegas. Oh, fun for her.

Carrie: 11:10

Yeah. So with, I mean, that's great that you had a wonderful, supportive background. Not, I know not everybody has, has that, um. And I know one of the reasons that we brought you here today is'cause you're very instrumental with support groups. So did you have, were you able to find support groups when you had your injury? I, is that what led you into want to leading support groups or getting into it?

James: 11:30

I, I, you know, honestly what led me into leading support groups is my study in philosophy and how that kind of connects to psychology. And human experience. And actually one of the papers, well, two of the papers that I put together and one I published was regarding traumatic brain injury and philosophy and extent, a strange corona nerve philosophy and mm-hmm have traumatic brain injury intersects with that.

Carrie: 12:03

Okay. So that's what got you started. So yeah.

James: 12:06

The little, I mean, you know, this is 33 years ago, so the support group environment was non-existent. I mean, you know, it's kind of funny because I talk about MRI being this cutting edge weird thing, you know, and it was like on the trailer in the back of a hospital, you know, just, it was just kind of a, kind of a silly thing. But yeah, I did do some smart groups, but most of my recovery was just. My, my, oh no, I'm not gonna live this way. I've got a life to live. And I still approach things like that and sometimes to my detriment, but

Brittany: 12:52

So with the support groups that you lead, how many do you actually lead?

James: 12:57

I lead one in New Mexico. Mm-hmm. Online of course. And then one in Fort Worth. Yeah. And then here. Okay. In Plano. So three right now's.

Carrie: 13:12

Have you done, did you, have you done others elsewhere as well, or?

James: 13:15

No, that's the only, I've only done these three, actually. I hooked up with the Albuquerque group. Mm-hmm. I was in Albuquerque doing some further studying in philosophy. Mm-hmm. And I connected with the Brain Injury group and until I work with them Nice. And then Covid put everything online. Right. So I jumped right in after I moved and, and, uh, yeah.

Carrie: 13:41

So, well, how did you hear about Brain Injury Network?

James: 13:45

Um, I'm trying to think. When I was in Albuquerque, I knew I was moving out here. I started looking and I found. BIND. Mm-hmm. And I also found the Grey Matters. Okay. Tumor support group. And so I reached out to each one and I came here to visit. And, um, so I just, I knew it existed and I thought, okay, I need to get my feet on the ground and then reach out. And the Plano or the, uh, Grey Matters group has been great. Mm-hmm. And, um, of course the Brain Injury Network has been wonderful as well. And I look forward to coming here each week and every other week with, uh, Fort Worth. Yeah. Yeah.

Brittany: 14:40

On Zoom. Yeah, I know. Yeah. So, um, so I know in Fort Worth one our support group, but you know, we talk about wellbeing. But that's all I can say. cause, you know, confidential. But what do you do for your wellbeing?

James: 14:57

Well, I mean, one, the one huge thing I've done throughout my life is, uh, I, I have a three three wheel recumbient trike, I guess. Mm-hmm. And, uh, I had, I had that in probably 2005 or something until just here recently. And I have another one, but, um, I done a lot of bike riding and I mean, I would just keep myself in in shape. I, of course had a body that didn't respond to the brain signals very well at all, and um, but I would get outside and ride and it was much easier when I was in Colorado because just the nature of where I lived, I could get out where there was not many cars and things. And so I, you know, that culminated with a 75 mile ride

Carrie: 15:56

Oh wow. Race thing

James: 15:57

in the mountains of Colorado. And, uh, I did that twice and, and, uh, it, it kept me in good shape and it's just kept me mentally, I don't know. I, you know, one thing from having a child is that there is. Always a whole lot of stuff going on. Mm-hmm. It's always just busy sensory overload kind of things. And, uh, that, that gave me peace. It was just me and the bike out and the ducks or the cows or whatever, you know.

Brittany: 16:31

So you said sensory overload, which I know I get a lot of sensory overload. So what do you do, like, more specific for when you have like sensory overload, like when you can't go biking or something? Like what do you do like.

James: 16:44

Honestly, like I live by myself, which is good. I kind of choose how much I, I, I get. Um. But you know, one simple thing I did when my daughter was playing soccer and you know, stuff like that is I just wore a baseball hat and that kept the lights from shining down on me as much. And I found that to be, I still do that to this day when I am out anywhere I wear a baseball hat. And, uh,

Brittany: 17:20

I know, and then

James: 17:20

also I, throughout my whole. Life have maintained my own office where I work and do this, that and the other. And it's kind of my little sanctuary and my little escape. And I mean, now living on my own, I don't need to worry about that as much'cause the, but I still do have my office where I do things.

Carrie: 17:46

Sure. Do you, now I'm curious, I'm gonna kind of go off script. Um. Like, we haven't really have a script. I'm just kidding. But um, so do you still dabble in philosophy and teach classes? I

James: 17:57

do. I don't teach right now. I've found that taking care of my mother and I also do some stock trading and some things and some web stuff, and that kind of takes all my time and so not as much. And, um. But I still do read philosophy and you know, I understand certain things. I enjoy that.

Carrie: 18:23

Okay.

James: 18:24

And, uh,

Carrie: 18:25

do you, do you think having that background of philosophy helps you in the support group especially Yes. With brain injured survivors? Yes, very much. Because it's a very unique group

James: 18:36

because what certain aspects of philosophy teach you is the, they kind of mess with the nedro reality. Like what and I, what reality is, and that may be pretty similar for most people, but when you throw a brain injury and do that, in reality, comes tweak a little bit

Brittany: 18:59

and it

James: 18:59

affects how we

Carrie: 19:02

Right. Deal

James: 19:03

with life. I guess

Carrie: 19:04

our reality a little different than everyone else's reality. Definitely. And

James: 19:08

so when I talk to folks and you know, and support groups, I just. Have them talk about how things seem and this and that and the other, and what's going on. And, you know, tactics that I've used, I try and teach. I mean my, the support group here is entitled Problem Solver Support Group. Mm-hmm. And like so much of the way I've addressed things has to do with. Managing my time. I mean, it makes life kind of predictable and boring in a lot of ways. But it, you know, I found that just get up in the morning. I know right. What I'm doing, I just, and it's kind of silly. My dog knows what, what, what I'm doing. So it's kind, it's kind of funny, but I use a calendar on my computer. Mm-hmm. And it, it is through iCloud. Hmm. It sends that to my phone so I can pull up my calendar when I'm here, when I'm there, when I'm home, wherever. And I've just gotten in the habit of whenever I think of something I'll, I know I'll forget. So I just like fact, I buy coffee beans, so I go put that on my list right away and I have my life set up like that. And then also one thing I do is about two o'clock, maybe three o'clock in the afternoon, I just shut down. And I'm like, all right, time for me to go take a shower and take a nap and just do low stake stuff and watch tv. And you know, it culminates with me watching some pretty junky tv. Yeah. That last hour was like, oh my goodness, I can't believe I watched that.

Brittany: 21:00

Yeah. So, um, the support group here you said, talking about problem solving. So in the support group, what's the most common issues that you see with brain injury Survivors?

James: 21:11

People like get tired. Mm-hmm. Or have trouble managing time. Mm-hmm. I mean, it goes back to, you know, the calendar and people, maybe they'll write down things on sticky notes and you have a wall of sticky notes and it is a mess, you know? And so one I'm trying to teach is like con consolidate it into one calendar and that's like your go-to thing.

Brittany: 21:36

Mm-hmm. Which I think on one of our, um. Support groups that we had in Fort Worth. You're talking about time management and then I keep forgetting to take the picture of it, but I told you that I put a dry erase board calendar on my garage door, the door that like I exit out of. And so I just changed the calendar each month and I put little magnets on there, like what times I have to do what BIND cluhouse stuff use since I go to Fort Worth and Plano, so Perfect.

James: 22:03

Yeah. And it's really, yeah. That's when Another, another thing is, like I was saying, I just have organized my life to where I live, kind of a quote unquote, part-time lifestyle, and I just have to accept that. And I know that society is not big on that kind of thing, but you know, I mean, hey.

Carrie: 22:27

No, I mean, but I get it. I mean, we do, you know. Mm-hmm. Brain injured survivors have to have a little bit more routine and structure program into their life. But so what do you feel is, um, some of the benefits of support group for new survivors? For those that maybe are trying to consider considering a support group for me or not?

James: 22:47

Just to, to listen to them, to understand, to listen to what they're going through and provide some gentle. Encouragement as to how they might deal with this, and I understand what you're going through, kind of thing. And I, you know, and I can say, you know, I was brain injured 33 years ago and here's how I dealt with A, B, or C, you know, and, uh, just little stuff.

Carrie: 23:22

Yeah, throughout mean that's good because we all kind of need that little reminder that mm-hmm.

James: 23:27

But, and then to, you know, convey to them, hey, reality is you know, without sending to space age or religious or any kind of thing saying, Hey, reality is kind of a little bit skewed, you know, and so, and yeah, you're probably going to get tired, you know, in the afternoon. Taking a nap is absolutely fine, you know? Sure.

Carrie: 23:48

Absolutely. Um, well. I know that that's good. I mean, we say that all the time, you know, no one gets a brain injured, like a brain injured. So I think support groups, I mean, like when I, I mean my stroke was 15 years ago and there was no, there was no BIND, there were no stroke. The only stroke support group or brain injury support group was through the day neuro program that I was a part of. And I don't even think that I went to that because it was just, I was like, eh, I don't need that.

James: 24:18

Well, I mean, we're all passed. The medical intervention stuff. Right. And you know, I work for long haul, having to go through living with this thing that doesn't go away. And it's like, you know, so I think BIND is really important and organizations such as that to help each person live their life, you know? For instance, falling. Like that's something that's easy for me to do and like I've had to kind of organize where I live and you know, things like that with those things in mind.

Brittany: 24:58

Mm-hmm. Yeah,

Carrie: 25:00

totally.

Brittany: 25:01

Yeah. So, um, what words of wisdom would you give new survivors?

James: 25:09

I would just, uh, tell them to, hey. Understand that this is something that happens to many, many people. And um, it's not that strange that there are places like Brain Injury Network that Where people are, are that are dealing with brain injury. And there, there are resources out there and I wanna encourage them to connect with other people because I, I feel I. So good when I interact with you guys because like you guys get it, even though I don't know you deeply. I mean, you guys get me on a level that no one else does and like I get you the same way.

Carrie: 26:08

Right, exactly. Well, James, we thank you so much for joining us today and I'm glad that I got to learn a little bit more about your background. Like I said, I, I see you here and there and your support group here and there. Didn't really know what brought you to us, so thank you so much for joining us.

James: 26:24

Thank you very much.

Carrie: 26:25

And listers, we thank you for joining us too, and I hope you learned something new as well. Yeah.

Brittany: 26:29

And then if you would like to contact us, you can email us at bindwaves@thebind.org or follow us on Instagram at bindwaves, or visit our website, thebind.org/bindwaves

Carrie: 26:45

And again, don't forget to like, share, click the like button, the share button and the subscribe button, and I think it's notify on YouTube so that you can get updated when we have a new episode. And continue listening wherever you'd like. And again, you can watch us on YouTube

Brittany: 27:01

and remember, you can find our new episodes on all your favorite platforms. Until next time.

Carrie: 27:07

Until next time. We hope you've enjoyed listening to bindwaves and continue to support BIND in our nonprofit mission. We support brain injury survivors as they reconnect into the life, the community, and their workplace, and we couldn't do that without great listeners like you. We appreciate each and every one of you. Continue watching. Until next time. Until next time.