“I’ve learned to include others in my recovery and be upfront about my pain, as well as make sacrifices to enjoy life. Nothing about this is easy, which makes all supports even more crucial.”

One Kick Changed Her Life

Tawnya Padilla’s story wasn’t supposed to be like this.

She grew up just outside Seattle, in Auburn, Washington, with two brothers and a sister. Her mom was a hairdresser, her dad a plumber. On the weekends, they would take out the sailboat and go fishing.

After graduating Auburn High, she worked as a cosmetologist where she enjoyed helping people look and feel like the best version of themselves. Meanwhile, as a stepmom, Tawnya had gained keen insight into advocating on behalf of and connecting those with autism to services.

It wasn’t long before she earned her counselor registration and worked with children who were engaged in the foster care system, some of whom had difficulty controlling their behaviors and had experienced trauma. She was laser-focused on her agency’s mission of strengthening the family to allow the child to return home safely. Tawnya is still inspired by those children.

However, one day, while working on a CPS case, a child in crisis would change her life forever, and not for the better.

Tawnya explains, “He was six years old and had autism; he and his younger brother lived with their grandparents.

“Part of the therapeutic plan was that he needed to shower after dinner. His grandma called me to warn me that he hadn’t taken his meds. So I was surprised when I went to retrieve him in his room, and he darted out the front door, naked.”

One thing led to another, and Tawnya found herself leaning over him. In a flash, he landed a hard kick directly to her forehead, breaking her nose. Nobody had told her that he had been learning Taekwondo.

“We quickly got him medicated, and I was brought to the ER. I thought I was okay, but the next day, the headaches came.”

For the next three years, they kept coming, usually as cluster headaches. She also had to re-learn how to read, write, and talk while losing patience with her children and seeking quiet environments more often.

She also developed major social anxiety and Tourette’s Syndrome, with repetitive, involuntary movements and sounds called tics. “Even now, I get tics and say some of the most off-the-wall things. At first, they were embarrassing, but I realized I needed to be more in control.”

Tawnya still has an aversion to crowds. “I used to be spontaneous, but now I don’t go to concerts or like people touching me, even in stores. When I go to the movies, I sit in the back, away from everybody else.”

Adding to Tawnya’s frustration was the fact that her father and brother didn’t understand what she was going through. Finally, she brought her father and his wife to a TBI conference, where they were able to comprehend the source of her struggles. “Now they get it,” she says. “But my brother doesn’t.”

Taking control of her new realities, she has tackled her pain management on several fronts to achieve some sort of relief. For every month during the past 10 years, she has been going to a chiropractor. She also uses muscle relaxers and ice packs. Because stress makes her pain flare up, she always watches what she eats.

Despite medication that achieved varying degrees of success, she has limited patience and must plan every day. She recently switched from barbiturates to Norco to go along with the B2 she has been taking since 2010.

From 2015 –2019, she relied on medical cannabis to stop suicidal ideation. “I was in so much pain. I felt like I was being buried alive.”

As a rule, she’s very careful about medication. “During Covid, I had influenza and pneumonia. I would cry, freak out, and get high blood pressure.”

Now 51, she also takes birth control pills to control the pain, a fact she finds quite amusing. “I feel like an old lady taking birth control pills.”

She attributes another part of her reemergence to an Internet friend, Myles, who inspired her to quit hiding. He encouraged her to reach out to the Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona (BIAAZ) with a request to the Butters Fund for help with payment for an echocardiogram so she could obtain medication for Pedro, her loyal Chihuahua.

Financial assistance was only part of the story, “Their support and friendship has meant the world to me. Suddenly, I wasn’t so alone and didn’t feel unseen.”

BIAAZ Helpline Director Will Grove remembers Pedro fondly. “He was the first recipient of funds from our pet care fund,” says Will. “This gave us a chance to support Tawnya in her recovery. What’s more, her four-legged companion’s story has helped others understand that a severe brain injury can impact every area of your life.”

Supporters of the Brain Injury Alliance understand the importance that pets play; they also funded cremation for Pedro when he passed away so that Tawnya could have closure.

Tawnya still has to pace herself. “I can’t do too much in a day. Even using a debit card can be overwhelming. I just got back from Disneyland. Their Disability Pass was very helpful as cast members would take me to quiet areas to help me prepare for each ride. But even with that, I had major headaches the next day.”

Tawnya’s progress has been slow and steady. “I’ve learned to include others in my recovery and be upfront about my pain, as well as make sacrifices to enjoy life.” Her journey has been difficult, but she maintains realistic expectations. “Nothing about this is easy, which makes all supports even more crucial.”

“I’ve got to stay grounded,” says Tawnya, “and remember I’m not in this alone.”

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