b'the NOGGINpresents BIAAZ Profiles of InterestShining the spotlight on those raising their voice, lending a hand, and making a difference in the brain injury community Newlyweds,Charn and Oliver BryanPERSON(S) OF INTEREST: Charn and Oliver BryanRELATION:Newlyweds PERSONAL AFFILIATION WITH BRAIN INJURY: CharnGrowing up, one of my friends suffered a brain injury from birth and dealt with a significant amount of challenges/deficits. Meeting Oliver and hearing about his TBI, I could understand and grasp some of the challenges heand the ability to show sympathy. The source of inability faced. Now being married to Oliver, I have a greater under- to show sympathy wasnt from a place of a lack of care or standing of how a brain injury impacts ones everyday life. understanding, but rather a sense of you can do it, you got OliverAfter returning home from serving four years in thethis. Having personally fought the battle of survival after a TBI, I understand the fight.United States Navy, I was involved in a motorcycle accident. As a result of the accident, I sustained a severe TraumaticA CALL TO COMPASSION AND UNDERSTANDING:Brain Injury resulting in being on life support for a week,CharnI wish people understood that those with disabili-in a coma for a month, and spending the next three yearsties are people too. They achieve amazing accomplishments, in intensive rehab, relearning everyday skills and activities. they have goals and desires, and they still deserve to be seen. NAVIGATING THE UPS AND DOWNS OF A TBI:Their disability is not their identity.CharnI have an increased degree of understanding,OliverTo me, disability is a concept that one can only patience, and heart for those with disabilities/challenges.understand after personally [experiencing it] or through Moreover, it [brain injury] gave me perspective of my bless- loved ones having to deal with the challenges and struggles ings and the understanding of what challenges people dealassociated with a disability. The phrase, those that under-with every day. stand us, are us is simple, but holds a significant amount OliverAs every survivor can attest to, a brain injury will ei- of power. With brain injuries, similar to most disabilities, if youve seen one brain injury, youve seen one brain injury, ther water-down or magnify ones characteristics and traits.implying that no two are the same. In turn, I wish people Thus, [in my case], having just returned home from servingwould not categorize a brain injury or disability with other in the military, my structure/order, organization, problemsimilar injuries, but each has to be treated individually.solving skills, and the ability to overcome challenges and obstacles were all magnified/enriched. Conversely, areasCOMING TOGETHER AS A COUPLE:that were watered down and quickly identified themselvesCharn- What attracted me to Oliver was his drive and as challenges/deficits was my ability to see the big picture,desire to accomplish the next challenge. As a skydiver see someones views and points from their perspective,and scuba-diver, Oliver had the adventurous spirit I desired.13The Noggin | 2020vol 5issue 1'