Both short term and long term recovery after a brain injury, such as a stroke, play a crucial role in the quality of life a person will have. Immediate and effective treatments in ERs/A&Es, accurate and accessible treatment in ICUs, short term in-hospital recovery treatments as well as long term out-patient speech, occupational and physical therapy all have a direct impact on quality of life of brain injury survivors. In the time of COVID-19, brain injury recovery is being done remotely after a patient is stable enough to be discharged. Ensuring that the quality of at-home recovery treatment is equivalent to those given at medical facilities is imperative.

SameYou is an organization focused on improving recovery of of young adults after suffering a brain injury and stroke. In the time of COVID-19, SameYou is working with US and UK institutions to pilot and develop virtual rehabilitation programs to ensure brain injury survivors continue to have access to crucial recovery resources. SameYou’s goal is to get young adults back on their feet after brain injury by proving them with the necessary tools to succeed in their new life.

11 months ago I suffered an ischemic stroke at age 25 which killed a large portion of the occipital lobe of my brain. Right after it happened I lost the right side of my peripheral vision, the ability to move the right side of my body, and my short term memory. Thanks to the fantastic work from the nurses, doctors and rehabilitation specialists at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, MI, I’ve been able to slowly but surely regain most of my independence. That team of medical professionals helped make this difficult time be less daunting, and helped me get through the hardest period of my life. 

Although I haven’t regained my peripheral vision, through access to speech, occupational and physical therapy I was still able to get my life back on track. I was able to keep my job, and not only maintain my work level but excel (if I do say so myself) as an engineer at a medical device manufacturer. And what started as a joke with my sister of “Hey, wouldn’t it be fun to run a 10k at some point?” 6 months ago, has slowly become a reality as I now track 10-12mi a week (15-20km). As I prepare to enroll on a driving therapy program (which was delayed 4 months due to COVID-19), I am grateful for the accessibility I have had to a variety of rehabilitation services, resources and opportunities.