"I was speeding. I had a tire blow out. I lost control and I was not wearing a seatbelt. It was my stupidity," said 34-year-old Heartland Care and Rehab resident Willie Jo Cohen, a victim of permanent brain damage.

Cohen's accident occurred Jan. 29, 1992, and if you ask her about other significant dates, the detail-oriented Cohen will be quick and accurate with her answer.

Wednesday Cohen received an award from the Brain Injury Association of Missouri recognizing her courage. Courage in her case includes accepting the limitations of permanent brain damage and going on with her life while struggling through surgeries to fill in an entire side of her head that was caved in; the removal of part of her brain due to infection and then more surgery to fill in what was removed. Her courage was recognized by the other residents, staff, family, friends and her doctors at a pizza party Wednesday when she received her award. Flowers, jewelry, money and cake added to the celebration.

Making great strides

In the 11 years it's taken for Cohen to make Heartland her home, she has made great strides in caring for herself consistently and works at forming meaningful relationships and helping others.

"Grandma" Mona Hill, a resident at Heartland, endearingly refers to Cohen as "Angel." The terms of endearment shared by the two women result from the time they spend together daily and the support they receive from one another.

"When your whole life is ripped away from you, accepting the change is a long struggle," administrator Glenda Cato said. "In the last few years she's improved greatly, and that's why we nominated her. We're really proud."

What stood out most about Cohen's application was that all her accomplishments took place with very little family support. Cohen's sister, Sheila Acup, and mother, Donna Cohen, were able to have their friend, Bobbie Shafer drive them to Heartland so they could watch the presentation, but ordinarily they're without transportation. Donna Cohen recognized her daughter's accomplishments as, "Amazing" and explained that on her fixed income it was difficult to afford a cab to take her there.

"All the brain injury cases have a story and they're all deserving in all respects, but the fact that she's gone through numerous obstacles and hospitalizations and never given up is why she was chosen," said Scott Gee, executive director of the Brain Injury Association of Missouri.

But it has not always been that way.

Cohen came to Heartland in 1994, the same time Cato came on board as administrator. Cato remembers that, even though Cohen could talk, she wouldn't. "She came to us in a wheelchair and it was difficult for her to speak and swallow." She overcame depression with help from people like Janice Gatzemeyer, RN, who's been working with Cohen for nine years. "At first we did hair for all the women on Fridays. We added makeup to inspire Willie Joe when we saw she was depressed. She's come a long way."

A friendly greeting

Any visitor who comes into the building is bound to meet the friendly, optimistic Cohen, who will spend the rest of her life at Heartland Care and Rehab. She doesn't have many visitors of her own so she attempts to visit with anyone coming through the doors. Despite the fact that the effected part of her brain that's responsible for reasoning is not functioning, Cohen has no problem articulating.

A private room that Cohen keeps neat and clean on her own, is a special accomplishment she's earned because of her determination and success in achieving a more independent life. Cohen also takes great pride in posting the daily menu and even visits area junior and senior high schools with other TBI (traumatic brain injury) residents to explain the dangers of not wearing a seatbelt. She also takes the time to try and make teenagers understand that what they sometimes do to rebel against their parents can end up hurting them instead.

Traumatic brain injury is the leading killer and cause of disability in children and young adults. More than 6,000 Missourians annually sustain traumatic brain injury.

Motor vehicle crashes cause 44 percent of all traumatic brain injuries. A traumatic brain injury occurs when the skull slams against a windshield, the ground or some other stationary object. Damage results from the rapid acceleration/deceleration of the brain when it is slammed back and forth against the bony structures inside the skull.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133