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Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona Blog

Fighting the Good Fight to Recover from Brain Injury

Christina Tzavellas is a fighter.

For years, she was a top-selling driver of new business for an international meetings organization. One of her biggest accomplishments was putting together the launch for Celine Dion’s It’s a New Day show at Caesar’s Palace.

“It is in the courageous sharing of those stories that people are able to come together and realize, ‘I’m not the only one going through this, and I don’t have to fight this fight alone.’”

Fighting the Good Fight to Recover from Brain Injury

Christina Tzavellas is a fighter.

For years, she was a top-selling driver of new business for an international meetings organization. One of her biggest accomplishments was putting together the launch for Celine Dion’s It’s a New Day show at Caesar’s Palace.

“It is in the courageous sharing of those stories that people are able to come together and realize, ‘I’m not the only one going through this, and I don’t have to fight this fight alone.’”

By 2003, her career in the events industry had taken off like a rocket and she loved every minute of the ride. She was especially excited to host a golf tournament at Wild Horse Pass & Casino in Chandler, AZ. What she didn’t anticipate during the day’s events was a brain injury.

Christina was at the 16th hole when a sudden monsoon-fueled gust of wind knocked over some tables. The wind also lifted an oversized umbrella that accelerated and smacked her in her forehead, almost killing her. Perhaps the only thing that saved her was the fact that the umbrella’s pointed peak had been sawed off to form a flat peak.

The subsequent traumatic brain injury (TBI) she sustained forced her to the sidelines while she searched for a neurologist. After an exhaustive hunt with a great deal of trial and error, she finally found two who understood her unique condition. “They balanced well,” she recalls. “I felt as though I was really making progress.”

By 2005, her brain injury had worsened to the point where she had to stop working. What’s more, one of her specialists was moving to Colorado. So Christina took her recovery into her own hands and arranged to fly to Colorado every week for full-day sessions. “I had been in a holocaust with my brain injury, and I needed to do whatever it took,” she explains. “Fortunately, this worked for me and my doctor. In fact, he said our hard work made him a better doctor. He was right.”

Her fight to make the most of her change in circumstances continues. For the past 17 years, she has helped her career friends with their projects when extra hands were needed. She also believes her story can inspire others, which is one reason she attended one of the Brain Injury Alliance’s Unmasking Brain Injury sessions this past July. During the event, survivors of brain injury and family caregivers are able to decorate masks to capture the essence of their unique stories of injury and recovery.

“People from all backgrounds get brain injuries, but they all are looking for answers and connections,” says Survivor Engagement Coordinator Laura Johnson. “I’m so blown away by those who come here and want to help others. It really touches me.”

As a professional meeting planner, Christina believes that this Unmasking class was a great way to get introduced to the Brain Injury Alliance. As a first-time participant at one of the Alliance’s events, she came away feeling impressed with the organization. “It felt extremely comfortable and very casual. Laura did a great job!” Christina enthuses.

Now she wants to do more. “I really want to share my experience with others. My main message is that you should get the treatment you deserve, if at all possible. Don’t settle for professionals who aren’t helping you; walk away and find another. It’s your life.”

While she stresses the importance of advocacy, she understands the importance of having family or other caregivers to be committed to your recovery as well. “Not everyone is as fortunate as I was,” she readily admits.

Brittany Sweeney-Lawson, Director of Care Coordination for the Brain Injury Alliance, believes Christina is well on her way to achieving her goal of giving hope to others and inspiring them by sharing her struggles, triumphs, and everything in between. “While everyone’s brain injuries are as unique as the people who have them, there are common threads found throughout many survivor’s stories,” she says.

“It is in the courageous sharing of those stories that people are able to come together and realize, ‘I’m not the only one going through this, and I don’t have to fight this fight alone.’”

Even if fighting is in your blood.

ABOUT BRAIN INJURY ALLIANCE OF ARIZONA

The Brain Injury Alliance 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.

The Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona:

  • Works with Congressional Brain Injury Task Force
  • Houses Arizona Brain Health Resource Center
  • Hosts Statewide Opioid Use Disorder & Cognitive Impairment Workgroup
  • Has Statewide Opioid Use Disorder & Cognitive Impairment Response team with peer support, training, and family wraparound services
  • Facilitates Brain Health Advisory Council
  • Manages statewide Neuro Info-Line: 888-500-9165

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