Cody Darling only discovered the Brain Injury Association of Arizona a few months ago, but that hasn’t stopped him from wanting him to jump right in to supporting its work. A financial planner who helps small business owners transition into retirement, he first discovered BIAAZ through its LinkedIn page.
“I wanted to get involved because I actually am a brain injury survivor, and the mission resonated with me.” Cody said.
Now, he’s the newest member of BIAAZ’s Brain Injury Advisory Council. The council comprises Arizona business and medical professionals who care about making a difference and enjoy collaborating with other thoughtful leaders.
Council members are invited to leverage their business and medical experiences in ways that benefit the entire brain injury community.
“Just being able to be more one-on-one with individuals and make that be more for impact is something that really caught my eye,” Cody said. “I want to interact with individuals who went through something similar to what I went through and make a difference that way.”
Cody Darling only discovered the Brain Injury Association of Arizona a few months ago, but that hasn’t stopped him from wanting him to jump right in to supporting its work. A financial planner who helps small business owners transition into retirement, he first discovered BIAAZ through its LinkedIn page.
“I wanted to get involved because I actually am a brain injury survivor, and the mission resonated with me.” Cody said.
Now, he’s the newest member of BIAAZ’s Brain Injury Advisory Council. The council comprises Arizona business and medical professionals who care about making a difference and enjoy collaborating with other thoughtful leaders.
Council members are invited to leverage their business and medical experiences in ways that benefit the entire brain injury community.
“Just being able to be more one-on-one with individuals and make that be more for impact is something that really caught my eye,” Cody said. “I want to interact with individuals who went through something similar to what I went through and make a difference that way.”
Cody brings both business experience and personal knowledge of being a brain injury survivor to the board. He sustained a traumatic brain injury, or TBI, when he was 13-years-old after a bicycle accident. Cody doesn’t remember much about the accident, only that he fell off and wasn’t wearing a helmet at the time which he admits was a “huge mistake on my part.”
“I don’t even remember the entire day,” Cody said.
Cody’s dad found him unconscious on the ground and called paramedics. Although the paramedics released him, once home Cody began to perseverate on the same questions, asking them over and over again. His mom, concerned, looked up head injury on the internet and learned that a red skull could indicate internal brain bleeding. A few hospital scans later, Cody found himself at Phoenix Children’s Hospital for emergency brain surgery to treat a subdural hematoma.
“They genuinely saved my life,” Cody said.
Cody was dismissed after doing what he called “the most excruciating lap” around the hospital.
After a few weeks of bedridden recovery Cody eventually returned to school. Though he didn’t have to undergo any speech therapy or any other intensive rehabilitation, the impacts of the brain injury lingered.
“Within two to three weeks of being home I was able to get reacclimated to going back to school,” Cody said. “But it was a long process of getting my bearings.”
Ultimately, Cody said it was several months before he truly felt completely normal again.
Fast forward several decades and Cody came across BIAAZ on Linkedin and called to learn more about the organization. It was not long before he was sold on being an active part of the organization’s work.
“I didn’t know an organization like this existed,” Cody said. “Just being able to be more one-on-one with individuals and make that be more for impact is something that really caught my eye,” Cody said. “I want to interact with individuals who went through something similar to what I went through and make a difference that way.”
Armed with personal empathy and sincere enthusiasm for BIAAZ’s mission, there’s no doubt he’ll be a valuable part of the Brain Injury Association of Arizona Advisory Board.
ABOUT BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION OF ARIZONA
The Brain Injury Association of Arizona (BIAAZ) is the only statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of adults and children with all types of brain injuries through prevention, advocacy, awareness and education. BIAAZ also houses the Arizona Brain Health Resource Center, a collection of educational information and neuro-specific resources for brain injury survivors, caregivers, family members and professionals.
What began in 1983 as a grassroots effort has grown into a strong statewide presence, providing valuable life-long resources and community support for individuals with all types of brain trauma at no charge.