The heroes of brain injury are assembling for the BIST 5K Run, Walk and Roll on October 1st!
As we prepare for Race Day, BIST has selected a special superhero squad of amazing heroes of brain injury we will feature on a weekly basis until the big day.
Meet Mighty Mike – #7 in our Heroes of Brain Injury Series.
Be sure to collect all seven heroes!
DONATE TO THE HEROES OF BRAIN INJURY HERE
A father of two, Mike lives in a long term care facility outside of Toronto. Every year, he raises money for a wheelchair accessible taxi so he can get to the BIST 5K Run, Walk and Roll, and walk over the finish line.
Because of where he lives, Mike can’t get to BIST’s programs and services, but he says he looks forward to Race Day as a highlight of his year. Find out why staff and residents at Mike’s long term care facility call him an inspiration.
Can you talk about how you acquired your brain injury?
I was driving home from work at 2:30 in the morning and I blacked out and hit a tree head on. I drove into a shallow ditch. According to the doctor, I hit the windshield which caused a brain bleed.
The right side of the brain was damaged. That’s what they told me what happened.
I was put into a coma for several months. After they showed me the CT scan of my brain and it was submerged in blood.
Prior to the accident, I didn’t know [I had an aneurysm]. The aneurysm moved to the part of the brain responsible for eye sight, which caused me to black out. That was 10 years ago this October 15th.
I still have the aneurysm, and I have a shunt in my brain.
Why do you participate in the BIST 5K?
My therapist Phil told me about the race. He asked me if I would go with him, get fresh air and do the run, he told me all about BIST.
I do it for my cause and possibly to inspire people to achieve [their own] goals.
I look forward to the Run. I walk over the finish line with no assistance or with very little assistance. I can’t walk or run [yet] but I’m getting closer and closer ever day. I walk every day [in therapy].
What does being a hero of brain injury mean to you?
I’m a survivor of a traumatic brain injury which affected my personal life as well as work life. I’ve had intense therapy to achieve the goals I’ve achieved so far. I still have goals and would like to inspire others to set goals and achieve them.
[My goal] is to be able to walk home and be home with my wife and kids like a father and a husband should be.
I think it would be a better life experience than sitting here all the time. But I understand the injury and the situation.
My wife is my anchor. She’s my soul mate and my best friend.
Join the Heroes of Brain Injury Squad – sign up for the BIST 5K Run, Walk and Roll TODAY!
Filed under: Heroes of Brain Injury Series 
