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Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona Blog

His Finish Line is Just the Beginning

With the help of his girlfriend and caregiver, Cole, Jason Bedford walked across the finish line at the 2023 Run, Walk & Roll. They both celebrated as he proudly showed off his medal. Although it was quite a feat for this brain injury survivor to power through the 1-mile course, the real story is how he got to this point.

“It’s always important to have hope and I don’t listen to those who try to shoot down hope.”

His Finish Line is Just the Beginning

With the help of his girlfriend and caregiver, Cole, Jason Bedford walked across the finish line at the 2023 Run, Walk & Roll. They both celebrated as he proudly showed off his medal. Although it was quite a feat for this brain injury survivor to power through the 1-mile course, the real story is how he got to this point.

“It’s always important to have hope and I don’t listen to those who try to shoot down hope.”

It starts in 2010 when he had a gran mal seizure. That’s when they discovered a tumor in his brain and began to monitor it on a regular basis.

In 2014, Jason began as a cook at Yellowstone National Park. By time he left in 2021, he had risen to Assistant Resource Manager in Human Resources, responsible for those who worked on-site in lodging and at the restaurants. “They all lived in dorms,” he explains, “and I looked out for their safety. It was hard work, but by far the best job I ever had!” This included previous stints as an ironworker, in kitchens, on a road crew, and at a sewage plant.

Since then, he had regular MRIs to ensure no relapses would sneak up on him. However, in March 2022, doctors found a growth in his brain. “I thought it might be a tumor, since it felt like I was having seizure.”

He was right. After surgery, they told Cole that the tumor they removed was “really big.” “Even though the doctor said it was just a little stroke and that I would be okay, Cole said there’s no such thing as a little stroke. I was determined to make any amount of progress. I couldn’t move or feel anything on my left side, so my goal was to go from max assist to mod assist.”

Over the next several months, he continued to make small steps, thanks to the help of his physical therapist. “I viewed every small advance as a big victory. Even if I could move my foot just a little, it was very uplifting.”

However, he had one overwhelming desire – to go home, sleep in his own bed, and eat his own food. “At the hospital, they wake you at all hours of the night. It’s enough to drive somebody crazy. At the same time, I wasn’t sure I would have the same kind of support at home.”

His return required a great deal of challenges, including transitioning from being in a wheelchair to using a claw cane. Cole also encouraged him to push himself, including becoming involved with activities through the Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona.

Jason started with the acrylic pour paint class, where he was able to express his feelings through art.  “It was here I began to realize that my recovery is my own. It’s a beautiful thing, like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon.”

He then challenged himself even more and signed up for the Run, Walk & Roll 1-mile event. Although he wasn’t sure he could do it, Cole told him he was and that it meant a lot to her. “It’s always important to have hope and I don’t listen to those who try to shoot down hope.”

Alternating between his wheelchair and cane, he persevered and made it to the finish line. “It felt so good, like an intangible juice was racing through me. I was getting it from all the other runners around me,” he recalls. “That was a great day!”

Program Operations Director Shawna Fellenz, who was experiencing her first Run, Walk, & Roll, witnessed Jason ending the race. “Seeing Jason cross the finish line on his own terms at one of our signature events, that is what it is all about,” Shawna said. “The walk raises money for community-based socialization programs. It’s also a huge outlet for families to not only have a day of fun, but celebrate their hard work and progress, because recovery truly is a marathon.”

Jason believes that surrounding yourself with positivity is crucial when choosing his medical team. “Make sure you have professionals who want to win. I want people who want to go for the ring.”

His enthusiasm was on display at the race’s end…and beyond. “Celebrate everything! It becomes a gift after you realize you can do it. So, let’s do it!

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 virtual and in-person support groups for survivors and families
  • Has Statewide Opioid Use Disorder & Cognitive Impairment Response team with peer support, training, and family wraparound services
  • Facilitates Brain Health Advisory Council
  • Manages statewide Help Line: 888-500-9165

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