Two accidents, only three weeks apart resulting in a  traumatic brain injury diagnosis four months later.

What makes Danielle's story different is that she walks, talks, runs a business, hosts a podcast, and from the outside looks completely fine. And that invisibility, that gap between what people see and what is actually happening inside,  is something TBI wives know deeply. Because they live it every day with their husbands.

In this episode, Danielle shares what it looked like to hustle through the symptoms because she had things to do, to watch her income disappear faster than she could hand off clients, to navigate memory loss and visual overstimulation and rage that made no sense, and to slowly surrender a life she had built at full speed. She also shares the unexpected gift that came from stepping into Erika's home to care for Shelby and what showering a man who used to shower twice a day taught her about gratitude, dignity, and what it means to serve from a full cup.

Danielle gives us all the reminder through this episode that we all are created worthy!

Be sure to tune into the Created Worthy Podcast to hear all the amazing interviews, sharing many amazing women's life stories

As always join us at Reclaim to continue the conversation!

Then came the brain scan and the moment Robert laughed because he finally had a reason 'I'm not crazy' 

This episode covers the brain scan that made it real,  Robert finding Marcus and Amber Capone, the four days in Mexico with a group of veterans, and the moment Becca flew to San Diego to pick him up and saw his bright blue eyes again for the first time in years.

It also covers what Robert built after, Athletes for Care, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit co-founded to support athletes at every level dealing with the mental and physical aftermath of their careers, and the work being done to bring Ibogaine treatment to the United States.

Check out what is happening over at Athletes for Care 

And, as always, continue the conversation over at Reclaim

This episode has been in the making since the moment Erika hit record on this podcast.

Jeff Faldalen has been her coach for the last year and a half. He is the person on the other end of the phone calls when the ruts got hard. The one who told her to keep going when she couldn't see past today. The one who asked her the questions she didn't want to answer and waited while she found the answers anyway.

In this episode, Erika and Jeff pull back the curtain on what that journey actually looked like. Jeff shares his own story, a car accident at 19 that nearly killed his sister, a jewelry career that collapsed overnight, seasons of being suicidal, and three and a half decades of doing the inner work that eventually became his life's mission. He walks through his core frameworks, the V, the hero's journey, the four archetypes, the identity codex in plain language that meets a TBI wife exactly where she is.

This is the episode for the woman who has done the therapy, tried the support groups, and still feels stuck in a narrative she cannot seem to break out of. This episode is for the woman who is one straw away from the one that breaks the camel's back. This episode is for the woman who has been in survival so long she has forgotten what it feels like to be in creation.

You are one conversation away from changing the rest of your life and this might be it!

You can purchase The Identity Codex by Jeff Faldalen and join his community at  theidentitycodexbook.com - $27

Hear his podcast at The Potential Zone

And continue the conversation @ Reclaim with other women who get it!

Nine days before Christmas, Meg Payne got a call from the police while she was at work. Her husband Alan had been T-boned by a truck on his bike.

She was 34 weeks pregnant.

What followed was two months in the ICU and rehab, an insurance company that tried to deny his placement, a baby born without her husband in the room, and a newborn brought to Craig Hospital two days later to meet his dad, who was sitting in a wheelchair and doesn't remember the visit at all.

Alan is now what the medical world calls high functioning. He walks, talks, and on a good day you wouldn't know anything happened. He also has bilateral frontal lobe diffuse axonal injuries, significant memory impairment, and an emotional regulation piece that has required Ring alarm systems, hidden car keys, a zen den built in the backyard, and strict boundaries that both Meg and Alan have agreed to honor.

Silas is four and a half now. And Meg is still figuring out who she is inside all of it - the wife, the mom, the physical therapist, the one holding every plate in the air.

This episode is for the TBI wife who is somewhere in the middle of that figuring out too.

What if there were treatments they simply didn't know about yet?

Simone Fortier has had over 50 concussions as a child and six as an adult. She lost her hearing for two years. She experienced suicidal ideation for most of her life without knowing it wasn't normal. And after seeing every top sports medicine doctor in North America and leaving each appointment with a 1% maybe, she did something radical — she built the treatment herself.

In this episode, Simone breaks down the two interventions she developed that are changing outcomes for brain injury survivors and their families: a precision brain nutrition program that replenishes the specific amino acids the neurodivergent brain cannot produce on its own, and a fascia-based manual therapy protocol that reduces compression forces on the brain — decreasing symptoms like chronic migraines, tinnitus, memory loss, and suicidal ideation, often within one to two sessions.

This episode is for the TBI wife who is done accepting "wait and see" as an answer. For the woman whose husband has been to every appointment and still isn't recovering the way the textbooks said he should. For the caregiver who has been quietly wondering if there is something else out there — and just hasn't found it yet.

What I love about conversations like this one is that they open doors. This may not be the right fit for every situation but it might be exactly what someone in your circle has been searching for. Share it. You never know whose life it could reach.

Brain Health Assessment: Email Simone to receive her free brain health assessment — info@simonefortier.com

https://www.instagram.com/fasciatraininginstitute/ https://www.facebook.com/FasciaTrainingInstitute/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonefortier/

and be sure to join us in Reclaim to continue the conversation

In this episode, Rob shares the full story — getting staples in his head with no numbing because the burn hurt worse, the first neurologist who slammed his pen on the desk and brought him to tears, and when he drove to a job he hadn't worked in years because his brain sent him to the wrong side of town entirely. He talks about the daily, six-years-and-counting migraine that gets worse with the rain, the short-term memory loss, the strange aphasia-like symptom that turns "38" into "three, eight," and the unexpected blessing of suddenly being able to play piano in three keys instead of one.

Rob also opens up about what it actually took to go from isolated and sleepless to building a podcast, writing a book, and creating a free resource hub for brain injury survivors and caregivers — all because he couldn't find anyone online talking about brain injury from lived experience instead of a clinical chart.

This is a story about persistence, about a wife who became the planner, the advocate, and the protector all at once, and about what's possible when you decide your pain might actually help somebody else.

Be sure to check out Rob's website to access tons of free resources, as well as purchase his book.

And subscribe to Rob's podcast to stay in the know.

Donate to Brain Injury Alliance and get Rob and Ashley shave thier heads - last day is June 30th!

As always, join us at Reclaim to join other TBI wives in reclaiming themselves after their husbands traumatic brain injury!

And then she shares the wall she hit this past year, he isolation, the weight. The moment she was one straw away and what she chose to do instead.

This episode is for the woman who is done surviving but does not quite know how to come back yet. The one who downloads every episode and still puts herself last. The one who is waiting for the right moment to matter.

Erika has a message for her 

Come join the Reclaim community for a group of women who get it!

In this episode, Erika Brouillette gets honest about the worthiness wound, the deep, quiet belief that your needs come last, that your worth lives in your usefulness, and that wanting more makes you selfish. This is the belief that started in childhood, long before your husband's brain injury ever happened. And caregiving, the relentless, identity-swallowing reality of life as a traumatic brain injury spouse, has a way of making it louder. Of making self-abandonment sound like strength.

Erika walks you through where that belief started, how it gets amplified after a TBI, and what it actually looks like to question the programming you inherited. Because caregiver identity loss is real. Caregiver burnout is real. And the ambiguous grief of loving someone whose brain injury has changed everything,  including who you are inside of it, deserves more than survival advice and self care checklists.

This episode is for the TBI wife who has stopped dreaming. Who says she's fine when she's drowning. Who cannot remember the last time she wanted something just for herself and felt okay about it. Who has been told, by the world or by her faith community, that wanting more is ungrateful. That good wives give everything. That strong women don't need much.

It's time to question that story.

If you are ready to stop disappearing inside the caregiving and start reclaiming your identity, your selfworth, and the life that still belongs to you, this episode is your starting point. Join us at Reclaim to start putting this all into action!

Pause the episode and sit with these, or grab your journal.

• What did you learn about your worth when you were little?
• What did love require of you growing up?
• What version of you felt the safest to be?
• Where did you learn that your needs come last?
• Where did you learn that asking for help means weakness?
• What would actually happen if you let something fall?
• Where did you learn that wanting more is selfish and was that actually true?

In this episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, Erika sits down with Greg Hayward, a traumatic brain injury survivor who shares his honest and often humorous perspective on life after TBI. Greg spent 35 years in the oil and gas industry, a career built on hard work, the outdoors, and mechanical skill, until one unexpected night changed everything. What started as a normal evening with a friend before a hunting trip ended in a devastating fall down a basement staircase during a sleepwalking episode, leading to a traumatic brain injury that altered every part of his life.

Greg opens up about the long recovery process, from waking up months later with only pieces of memory, to navigating vision and hearing loss, fatigue, balance issues, and the frustrating reality of not always being able to find the words he wants to say. He shares what it was like moving through hospital care, brain injury rehab at Glenrose, and the slow process of relearning his body, his limits, and the way his brain now works.

This conversation also dives into life beyond the hospital. Greg talks about the challenges of returning to work, the ways TBI affects relationships, the isolation survivors can feel, and how everyday tasks like going to a restaurant or sitting in a noisy room can suddenly become overwhelming. He also shares the creative ways he has adapted, from using assistive technology to finding new purpose through his Haywire Dry Rub business and his dream of becoming a gunsmith.

What makes Greg’s story so meaningful is his honesty. He doesn’t sugarcoat the losses, but he also brings humor, grit, and perspective to the conversation. His story is a reminder that life after brain injury may look very different than before, but there is still room for purpose, creativity, growth, and connection.

Be sure to order your Haywire dry rub today! 

And we would love for you to join us in Reclaim where there are women who get it and want to do this life along side you!

Through years of personal development, recovery work, coaching, and deep emotional healing, Carrie discovered that her struggle was never just about food, fitness, or the number on the scale. It was about the pain she had buried, the parts of herself she had abandoned, and the stories she kept telling herself about her worth, her body, and her identity. She opens up about what changed when she stopped running, started facing her truth, and gave herself permission to heal at the root.

Carrie explains how the Whole Woman Method was born from that transformation, a process that weaves together empowered mindset, emotional groundedness, and physical fitness to help women become more whole, more confident, and more connected to themselves. This conversation will resonate deeply with women who know what it feels like to carry emotional pain in the body, feel isolated by their stories, and wonder if healing is really possible.

This episode is an invitation to stop abandoning yourself, stop shrinking, and begin rewriting the story underneath the struggle.

You can connect with Carrie on instagram

To go deeper and connect with women who get it, join us at Reclaim

Join the Reclaim community!

Teri opens up about her own experience walking beside her husband through PTSD, the fear and hypervigilance that came with loving someone in crisis, and the way that trauma quietly took up space in her own mind and body. She shares how therapy helped her recognize the impact this was having on her, and how her healing journey eventually led to the creation of “Sloth Day”, a full day intentionally set aside for rest, stillness, comfort, and nervous system recovery.

Together, Erika and Teri unpack the guilt many women feel around slowing down, why rest is not laziness, and how taking breaks actually makes us more productive, more present, and more capable of carrying what life asks of us. Teri also explains the three different kinds of rest, why our brains need quiet space to function well, and how even starting with a few hours of intentional rest can make a huge difference.

If you are a TBI wife, caregiver, or woman who feels stretched thin and like there is never enough time to stop, this episode will feel like permission to exhale. It is a gentle but powerful reminder that your body, your brain, and your spirit all need rest too.

Be sure to follow Teri at Success in Mind and purchase your Sloth Day swag!

Luke shares the heartbreaking details of the crash, the emergency brain surgery that saved his life, and the trauma his parents and family carried while waiting to see if he would survive. He opens up about waking from a coma, the early signs that he was still “Luke,” and the hard reality that came after leaving the hospital, when rage, depression, suicidal thoughts, and emotional dysregulation became some of the most difficult symptoms of his recovery.

This conversation also dives into the survivor side of caregiving, something so many TBI wives long to understand more deeply. Luke speaks candidly about how aware he became of the pain he was causing the people he loved, how hard it was to trust his own brain, and the gratitude he carries now for the caregivers who stayed. He also shares the six pillars he uses to care for his brain and help others do the same.

You’ll also hear the beautiful and hard parts of Luke’s love story with his wife Jenny, how brain injury impacted dating, marriage, medical decisions, and the fear of not being able to give her the life she dreamed of. Their story is a reminder that hope, healing, and deep love can still grow after brain injury, even when the road is messy and uncertain.

This episode is full of truth, humor, heartbreak, and hope. It is a must-listen for TBI wives, caregivers, survivors, and anyone who wants to better understand what life after brain injury can really look like from the survivor’s perspective.

Connect with Luke on all social media platforms at Luke Speaks TBI and his website: http://Lukespeakstbi.com

Tina opens up about what life was like before the accident, the chaos of getting the call while out of state, the long nights in hospital hotels, and the emotional toll of watching the man she loves become trapped in a body that no longer works the way it used to. As a wife, mother, grandmother, and registered nurse, Tina shares the unique challenges of advocating for Dave’s care while also carrying the weight of every decision, every transfer, every feed, every supply order, and every barrier standing between them and the accessible home he desperately needs.

This episode is a powerful reminder that the hardest part of caregiving is often not the physical load, but the mental and emotional burden of constantly fighting systems that should be helping. Tina’s faith, fierce love, and unwavering belief that Dave will one day walk again make this conversation both devastating and deeply inspiring.

If you are a TBI wife, caregiver, or loved one trying to hold it all together while living in the aftermath of brain injury, this episode will make you feel seen, understood, and far less alone.

Connect with Tina and Dave on their socials

Facebook

Tik Tok

and if you feel led to help Dave and Tina financially with their search for accessible housing here is their GoFundMe

Together, Erika and Jamie unpack the challenges families face when trying to access the Connecticut Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Waiver, including long waitlists, financial restrictions, confusing eligibility requirements, and the lack of specialized providers who truly understand the complexities of brain injury. Jamie explains why advocacy matters, how underfunding impacts care, and why families need to ask questions, tour programs, and refuse to settle for services that are not meeting their loved one’s needs.

This conversation also highlights the emotional toll on caregivers. Jamie speaks candidly about the isolation, guilt, trauma, and exhaustion that many spouses and family members experience, while encouraging them to seek therapy, use available resources, and care for themselves so they can continue supporting their loved one over the long haul. From creative support groups to clinical services, family guidance, and legislative advocacy, this episode is packed with valuable insight for anyone in Connecticut navigating life after brain injury.

If you are in Conneticut looking for help with navigating, I encourage you to contact Jamie at jarber@slg-ct.com

As always, I would love for you to join us at Reclaim to continue the conversation and gain support from women who actually get it!

Reflecting on the last five years since Shelby’s traumatic brain injury, Erika opens up about how her early morning garage workouts became more than exercise. For caregivers living in constant fight or flight mode, she explains how even small amounts of movement can help reset the nervous system and bring hope back into the body. If you’re a TBI wife feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, or running on fumes, this episode offers both the science and simple steps to start moving again.

For women caring for husbands with traumatic brain injuries, life often means living in constant survival mode. The chronic stress, emotional load, and mental exhaustion of caregiving can deeply impact a woman’s nervous system and hormones, making it difficult to know what symptoms are coming from perimenopause and hormonal changes versus the effects of long term stress.

Kate shares her personal health journey after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at age 22, and how she eventually became symptom-free through holistic health approaches, nutrition, and nervous system work. Now, she helps women navigate issues like perimenopause symptoms, adrenal stress, hormone imbalance, emotional overwhelm, and caregiver burnout using neurolinguistic programming (NLP) and subconscious mindset work.

Together, Erika and Kate unpack how living in fight-or-flight caregiving mode can disrupt hormones, impact adrenal health, and intensify common symptoms like mood swings, rage, fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, irregular cycles, and anxiety.

They also explore how subconscious patterns and emotional stress responses can shape how we react to our environment and how learning to regulate the nervous system can help women reclaim a sense of control, calm, and emotional balance in the midst of caregiving.

If you’re a caregiver wondering whether your hormones, stress, or survival mode are driving the changes in your body and emotions, this episode will help you understand what may be happening beneath the surface and remind you that you’re not alone.

If you'd like to book a consultation with Kate, contact her at info@alignednaturalhealth.com

Join Kate at Why It’s Easy to Show Up for Others but Hard to Show Up for Yourself https://meetu.ps/e/PQcTm/vvWVw/i

Peg shares the shock of watching the man she married become a “reasonable facsimile” of himself, and the long road of piecing together what was happening while fighting for short-term disability, long-term disability, and Social Security. She talks candidly about the invisible losses that come with a frontal lobe injury: personality changes, emotional disconnect, panic attacks, short-term memory challenges, no filter, and the constant tension of loving someone who can’t always understand the impact of their choices.

You’ll also hear Peg’s reality as a long-term caregiver: the anxiety of leaving her husband home alone, returning to “worst case scenario” falls, the moment she had to take driving away for safety, and how hospital stays don’t feel like breaks when you still have to be the historian, the advocate, and the voice. Peg also shares a scary season in Michigan involving a cannabis-induced psychosis, and the hard truth that sometimes you have to be a quick thinker and make decisions for someone who can’t see the danger.

Peg also speaks honestly about humor as survival, love as commitment, and how acceptance has become a daily practice. She touches on family dynamics, grief in relationships, grandkids who “get” their grandfather in a way adults sometimes don’t, and the importance of finally building a village when self-sufficiency stops working.

If you’re a TBI wife who feels like your world revolves around keeping someone safe, managing the medical system, and carrying the mental load alone, this episode will make you feel seen. Peg’s story is a reminder that long-term caregiving is complicated, deeply human, and still worthy of tenderness.

In this powerful episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, Erika Brouillette sits down with Dr. Kay Reyna, a first responder wife/accountant turned researcher whose family’s life changed in an instant when her husband, a North Carolina Highway Patrol Master Trooper, was catastrophically injured on duty. What followed wasn’t just the trauma of a severe traumatic brain injury, but a long, exhausting fight to get his brain injury recognized and treated, as workers’ compensation minimized his symptoms, delayed care for years, and pushed the narrative that he was simply “uncooperative.”

Dr. Reyna shares what it was like to raise three children while advocating for a husband who couldn’t advocate for himself, navigating surveillance, court battles, and the crushing weight of being dismissed when you know something is deeply wrong. And then, she shares the part you don’t hear often: how they rebuilt a life through adaptive sports, community, and the kind of hope that shows up even when the system doesn’t. Her journey from finance to earning multiple degrees, including a doctorate, is a testament to what can happen when pain becomes purpose.

Today, Dr. Reyna is using her voice and her research to fight for survivors, caregivers, and children living in homes impacted by brain injury. She’s inviting the TBI community to participate in current studies so these lived experiences stop being “anecdotal” and start driving real change. This conversation is honest, emotional, and packed with validation for every caregiver who’s ever been told, “There’s nothing we can do.”

If you are a caregiver or family member of a TBI survivor, please fill out this survey and help with the research and to make a change in the support we receive

Check out more great links highlighting Dr. Reyna's work:

https://news.gcu.edu/gcu-news/three-gcu-degrees-are-researchers-therapy-and-hope-for-others-after-tragedy/

https://www.wral.com/story/after-injury-trooper-forced-to-fight-for-care/14610962/

https://youtu.be/TakSqw1yJd8?si=-dw85Nx8esdaA4_C

https://www.challengedathletes.org/blogs/humberto-reyna/

https://www.electric.coop/ride-2-recovery-electric-cooperative-bond

Connect with Dr. Reyna at the following:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-patricia-kay-reyna-333703136/ https://cbirt.org/about/people/patricia-kay-reyna operationhomelandhonor.org

Erika walks listeners through the unexpected plot twists of the past year—TikTok Lives with Lalli that are breaking down walls in the TBI world, a sudden hernia surgery that forced her to receive care instead of always giving it, caregivers stepping into her home, major financial decisions she never planned to make, and the raw frustration of navigating seven weeks without Medicaid while fighting daily for her husband’s basic needs. Yet through every challenge, breakthrough, and blessing, one thing became clear: this was a year of becoming.

As Erika reconnects with who she is, rebuilds the parts of life that were stretched thin, and radiates with a renewed sense of purpose, she invites listeners to do the same. This episode is an honest, hope-filled reminder that growth often happens in the hardest seasons—and that even when life asks more of us than we feel we have to give, we are never alone.

If you’re a caregiver, a TBI wife, or someone rebuilding your life in real time, this one is for you.

Be sure to join us as you are at Reclaim to join a group of other women who get it!

Sheila shares candidly about juggling their family’s needs while advocating for Rob’s care, fighting for services, showing up to endless appointments, and learning to rebuild their life one day at a time. She talks about redefining marriage after injury, the power of community support, and the importance of self-care—even when it feels impossible. Her story is raw, relatable, and a reminder that while TBI changes everything, it does not erase love, commitment, or hope.

This episode shines a light on the unseen battles TBI caregivers face daily—and celebrates the resilience, courage, and unwavering commitment that define the journey.

Dr. Karen shares her powerful personal story of deep grief and healing, and how it led her to shift from traditional therapy to more integrative and subconscious-guided approaches. She introduces listeners to her Healthy Grief Framework, an accessible acronym-based roadmap designed to help individuals process grief in a grounded, actionable, and deeply compassionate way.

In this conversation, TBI wives will feel seen, understood, and supported as Dr. Karen breaks down the invisible emotional load of loving someone whose identity has changed, while offering practical tools to reclaim inner peace. Dr. Karen,m also shares free resources to help listeners begin their healing outside the episode, and Erika invites wives to continue this support journey inside the Reclaim community.

This episode is a heartfelt reminder that grief doesn’t always look like loss—and healing doesn’t always look like closure. Sometimes, it begins with permission to name what hurts.

How to connect with Dr. Karen and access her free gifts:

https://bit.ly/Healthy-Grief

https://drkarenkramer.com/  https://www.facebook.com/DrKarenKramer/  https://www.instagram.com/stories/drkarenkramer/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkarenkramer/

Continue the conversation within Reclaim with other women who get it

Chanda shares how her lived experience led to the creation of her nonprofit organization and the legislative advocacy that resulted in groundbreaking Medicaid reforms in Colorado. These reforms now provide coverage for lifechanging integrative therapies—including acupuncture, massage, and chiropractic care—improving quality of life for countless individuals with long-term disabilities.

Through her story, Chanda highlights the importance of holistic wellness, the complexities of navigating Medicaid systems, and the need to treat the whole person. She also offers an exciting look at future expansions for the Chanda Center, continuing her mission to make comprehensive, compassionate care accessible to all.

This episode is a must listen for caregivers, advocates, and anyone passionate about transforming the healthcare system through empathy, innovation, and purpose-driven action.

Connect with Chanda with the following links:

Dorothy opens up about her unstoppable rise from selling her car at 19 to buy her first business, to eventually owning nine successful companies—all while navigating unimaginable life stressors, including a house fire, her mother’s stroke, and the daily demands of balancing life, family, and business.

But it’s her framework for balance that sets her apart. Dorothy shares how she deconstructs life into five critical elements—body, relationships, spirit, work, and money—and teaches women how to rebuild from the chaos. This episode is for every TBI wife or caregiver who feels like they’re holding everything together… and losing themselves in the process.

Whether you're in survival mode or seeking a more intentional rhythm, Dorothy offers tangible tools and deep encouragement to help you reclaim control—and build a life you don’t want to escape from.

You can connect with Dorothy at Streamline Success

Continue the conversation with other TBI wives at Reclaim

But hope came in the form of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)—a breakthrough treatment that gave him back his clarity, vision, and purpose. William opens up about how this therapy changed everything, and why he's now on a mission to make it accessible to others battling the effects of CTE.

Together, Erika and William discuss:

• The silent, progressive damage of CTE in athletes and veterans

• How HBOT helped restore William’s cognitive function and emotional balance

• The alarming connection between CTE, depression, and suicide rates

• William’s dream of launching a nonprofit CTE Recovery Center

• Why early intervention, education, and advocacy are crucial for brain health

This is an episode filled with hope, healing, and purpose—especially for those affected by brain injury, repeated trauma, or neurodegenerative conditions. William’s story is a call to action to protect, prioritize, and heal the brain.

How to connect with William:

https://www.facebook.com/one.man.with.a.chamber.hbot?mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr

 https://www.facebook.com/william.person.792233

https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-person-4072b417/

 https://www.instagram.com/willp1234567?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://youtube.com/@braininjurysurvival?si=KfTK-iFXlhLORgQC

https://www.tiktok.com/@hyperbarichealing?_t=ZT-8zD0dNeEvPi&_r=1_

Be sure to join us for real support and tools that work with friends that get it at Reclaim

Disclaimer:

This podcast is intended for educational and to share personal experiences. The experiences and opinions shared by hosts and guests reflect personal journeys. We are not licensed medical professionals. Always do your own research and make informed decisions about your health and healing journey.

She discusses managing caregiver and mom guilt, incorporating movement into daily routines, avoiding the pitfalls of extreme calorie restriction, and implementing proper sleep hygiene. Dr. Amber also provides insights on simplifying meal preparation, highlights the interconnectedness of nutrition, sleep, and movement, and underscores a holistic approach to self-care. Listeners will leave with actionable steps to take small but meaningful strides toward improved wellness, along with guidance on when and how to seek personalized professional advice.

Visit Amber at ARD Wellness and Nutrition

Join us in the Reclaim community gain even more support with being a TBI wife

In this deeply emotional episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, host Erika Brouillette sits down with Brittany Capalingo to explore the profound impact of traumatic brain injury (TBI) on her marriage, family, and personal journey. Brittany shares the harrowing story of her husband’s motorcycle accident, the challenges of caregiving, and the compounded grief of losing their son in a car accident.

She courageously discusses the abuse she faced post-injury, the isolation she experienced, and the difficult decision to leave for her safety and that of her children. Through her story, Brittany highlights the emotional, psychological, and practical complexities of being a TBI caregiver, offering a powerful message of resilience, self-preservation, and the importance of seeking support.

This episode is a must-listen for caregivers, TBI wives, and anyone navigating trauma and life-altering family events. Brittany’s journey is a testament to the strength it takes to overcome unimaginable challenges and reclaim hope and healing.

Join the community at Reclaim to gain support and tools

Together, Erika and Jacqui break down personal tax benefits, different types of insurance (disability vs. medical), and essential government programs such as the disability tax credit and CPP disability. Jacqui highlights common challenges and potential pitfalls, offering TBI wives clarity and confidence in leveraging the resources available to them. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to understand the financial landscape in Canada and ensure their family is supported while navigating the journey of caregiving.

Together, Erika and Wendy dive into how gratitude can profoundly impact mental health, strengthen resilience, and create a sense of community and connection. Wendy offers actionable strategies for listeners to incorporate gratitude into their own lives—whether it’s through journaling, reflection, or joining a supportive gratitude community. This episode is a must-listen for caregivers, TBI wives, and anyone seeking a simple yet powerful tool to cultivate positivity, hope, and emotional well-being.

Join the Daily Gratitude Movemement on Clubhouse or Facebook

Be sure to join us every Wednesday at 10 am for live support with in the Reclaim community 

He discusses how this journey led to the founding of Harmonized Brain Center in Colorado Springs, a pioneering facility that combines cutting-edge therapies—including Lens neurofeedback, Beamer mat therapy, low light laser therapy, and brain health coaching—with a holistic approach to brain healing. Dallas also highlights the critical role of gut health, neuroplasticity, and maintaining hope and story ownership for both caregivers and patients.

This episode is a must-listen for caregivers, TBI survivors, and anyone seeking insight into innovative brain recovery strategies, the power of resilience, and the transformative impact of combining science, holistic health, and unwavering hope.

Harmonized Brain Centers

Also, remember to join us at Reclaim to connect with women who actually get it. Our next support zoom is Wednesday October 1, 2026 at 10am mtn.

He courageously discusses the emotional and psychological challenges of living with TBI, including depressive episodes and suicidal ideation, and walks listeners through his road to recovery—highlighting therapies, coping mechanisms, and the mindset shifts that helped him regain purpose. Jason emphasizes the critical need for understanding and supporting both TBI survivors and their caregivers, revealing gaps in medical treatment and the importance of bridging survivor experiences with professional care.

This episode is a must-listen for caregivers, TBI survivors, and anyone seeking insight into the resilience required to navigate life after brain injury, and the strategies that make healing, advocacy, and support possible.

How to connect with Lalli:

Decisivelife.org

@VulnerablyLalli

patreon.com/vulnerablylalli

Be sure to join us at Reclaim: reclaim-tbiwives.com

The conversation covers everything from the importance of powers of attorney, living wills, and advanced directives, to understanding Social Security, Medicaid, and managing financial and legal responsibilities during and after a TBI. Von also shares his personal experience caring fora son with special needs and living with his TBI, as well as his wife Michelle and daughter Baileys, offering heartfelt insights into resilience, community support, and self-care.

Whether you’re a TBI wife, caregiver, or someone planning for the unexpected, this episode provides invaluable guidance to protect your loved ones, ensure your family’s well-being, and navigate life’s unforeseen challenges with confidence.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Key estate planning tools every family should have in place.

• How to effectively manage guardianships and conservatorships.

• Navigating Medicaid and Social Security for TBI families.

• Strategies for self-care while managing complex caregiving responsibilities.

• The importance of community, support systems, and proactive planning.

You can contact Von at (303) 662-9922 or their website https://www.limbaughlaw.net/

https://www.naela.org - National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys

Don't forget to join us in the Reclaim community to get more support from other women who get it reclaim-tbiwives.com

Erika also highlights the exciting milestones they’ve reached this season: Shelby’s progress in therapy, his new Xbox controller, the joy of tasting bites of wonton soup again, and the incredible moment at the Pikes Peak Challenge where Shelby walked across the finish line with her support. She shares how she’s finding balance, connecting with her soul through nature and friendships, and embracing the small victories that radiate hope and resilience.

Join Erika as she reflects on love, family, caregiving, and the power of celebrating even the smallest wins in the face of life-altering challenges.

Listeners will learn:

• How to identify energy-draining habits and replace them with restorative practices.

• Simple yet impactful ways to practice self-care daily, even with a busy caregiving schedule.

• How to use reflection and affirmation prompts to build confidence, resilience, and joy.

This episode is perfect for TBI wives who are ready to step into their power, radiate strength, and reclaim their life without feeling selfish.

Erika shares her personal turning point when survival mode nearly broke her, and how learning to set boundaries, develop small repeatable habits, and create simple systems helped her find her footing again. This episode is packed with practical tools and encouragement for wives who feel like they’re running on fumes but are ready to take one step toward stability and sustainability.

Join us at Reclaim! reclaim-tbiwives.com

skylight link: https://refer.skylightframe.com/erikabrouillette 

Erika shares her personal story of disconnection during her husband’s recovery, the turning point that led her back to God, and the daily practices that help her stay grounded even in chaos. You’ll walk away with practical tools you can start today — whether it’s a 5-minute grounding check-in, anchoring to a scripture, or using simple breath prayers to reset your nervous system.

If you’ve been holding it all together for everyone else and wondering when it will finally be your turn, this episode will help you start that journey back to you.

Join us at reclaim-tbiwives.com to go even deeper and follow us on TikTok at @Reclaim-TBIwives

This episode also marks a pivotal moment as Erika introduces her new membership site, Reclaim, (reclaim-tbiwives.com)designed to empower caregivers with the tools, resources, and support they need to reclaim their own well-being while caring for their families. As she previews the upcoming season, which will feature expert interviews, self-care strategies, and practical advice for TBI wives, Erika emphasizes the vital role of setting boundaries and prioritizing self-care amidst the demands of caregiving.

Whether you’re new to the journey or a seasoned caregiver, this episode serves as a reminder that you are not alone. Stay connected, stay supported, and continue reclaiming your strength within this empowering community.

Be sure to follow Erika and Shelby on social

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BEM8bGRfy/?mibextid=wwXIfr

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@reclaimtbiwives?_t=ZT-8yemxmEadf4&_r=1

As their marriage and daily life were irrevocably altered, Rosalyn faced the daunting task of navigating the world of TBI with little support or understanding from the community. Amidst the hardships, she found solace and purpose through journaling, Tai Chi, and community work, emphasizing the profound importance of resilience, support systems, and finding personal strength through it all. Rosalyn’s story is a testament to the power of endurance, the search for healing, and the unyielding love that sustains caregivers through the most difficult journeys.

Amanda delves into the struggles of living with ambiguous loss, a challenge many TBI wives face, and how they navigated the misunderstandings with medical professionals that often accompany such complex injuries. She shares the emotional toll on their relationship, the coping mechanisms they developed, and the therapy experiences that helped them heal. Throughout the conversation, Amanda offers insight into the shifting dynamics within her family, and how they’ve learned to embrace their "new normal."

Despite the challenges, Amanda also emphasizes the importance of resilience, support systems, and finding moments of laughter, showing that even through the darkest times, there is hope, healing, and strength to be found.

Carin reflects on the profound changes in their relationship, her own struggles with gambling addiction, and how she found strength through self-advocacy and peer support. Despite the overwhelming challenges, Carin emphasizes the importance of finding personal joy, embracing faith, and discovering new purpose. Her journey also led her to become an ordained minister, using her experiences to help others in similar situations.

This episode is a testament to resilience, the power of support networks, and the importance of self-care for caregivers. If you’re navigating life with a TBI spouse, Carin's story offers hope, healing, and inspiration for reclaiming joy amidst the struggle.

Kim speaks candidly about the intense surgeries James underwent, the physical and emotional challenges they faced together, and the unwavering fight to ensure he received the best care possible. She also shares the powerful role that community, faith, and self-care played in helping them adjust to their “new normal.” Throughout their journey, Kim explores the struggles with guilt, the difficulties of maintaining their household, and how they found moments of joy in the midst of adversity.

Kim’s story is a powerful reminder of the strength, resilience, and love that caregivers embody every day. If you’ve ever faced similar challenges, Kim’s words will inspire and uplift you, proving that even in the darkest times, there is hope, courage, and light.

Jill opens up about the initial diagnosis, the transformative surgery at Duke University Hospital, and the long road to recovery that followed. She discusses the emotional and physical toll on their family, the struggles of caregiving, and the medical complications they faced along the way.

Through it all, Jill emphasizes the critical importance of a strong support system, including both family and professional help. She speaks candidly about how she’s learned to adapt to her new role as a caregiver while striving to keep a sense of normalcy for her loved ones. This episode offers invaluable insights, strength, and hope for families navigating similar challenges, shedding light on resilience and the power of perseverance through hardship.

Karen opens up about the emotional toll of caregiving, the strain on her family, and how she slowly began to rebuild through therapy, self-care, and boundary setting. She speaks powerfully about transforming pain into purpose, choosing gratitude alongside grief, and the importance of connecting with others who truly understand the invisible weight of this journey.

This episode is filled with practical insight, raw emotion, and deep encouragement for any woman navigating life after a partner’s brain injury.

From navigating Gabe’s complex recovery abroad to relocating him to the U.S. for long-term care, Gloria reveals the raw realities of being a primary caregiver, a mother to a young daughter, and a woman fighting for her family’s future. She speaks openly about the emotional toll of caregiving, the challenges of adapting to new physical limitations, and the unexpected path that led her to launch a kimchi business to support her household.

Gloria’s story is a testament to unwavering love, creative resilience, and the strength it takes to build a new life after everything changes.

With raw honesty, Jacqui shares what it was like to battle the healthcare system, advocate for proper care, manage Greg’s post-TBI seizures, and shoulder the emotional and physical weight of it all. From medical trauma and emotional burnout to unexpected moments of humor and hope, this episode paints a vivid picture of what it means to survive the unthinkable together.

Jacqui’s story is one of resilience, love through crisis, and the search for healing, peace, and purpose in a life forever altered.

Val walks listeners through their love story, raising children together, and the devastating accident that reshaped everything. She opens up about navigating health crises, financial instability, and the emotional toll of becoming a full-time caregiver while holding her family together. Val speaks with clarity and courage about the tools that helped her survive the storm—therapy, mental health support, caregiving advocacy, and the unshakable power of resilience and community.

This episode is a powerful reminder that even in the aftermath of trauma, there is space for healing, love, and forward movement.

Amanda speaks openly about the overwhelming toll caregiving took on her young family, the emotional and logistical burden of managing her husband's evolving condition, and the difficult turning point when Child Protective Services became involved, leading to his placement in an independent living facility. Despite balancing caregiving, parenting, and her own career and academic responsibilities, Amanda found strength in advocacy, community, and her commitment to reclaiming stability.

This episode offers a raw look at the hidden costs of caregiving, the complex realities of navigating healthcare and legal systems, and the resilience required when everything feels out of your control.

Brittiny vulnerably shares the cognitive and emotional challenges her husband now faces, the mental toll of endless medical appointments and therapies, and the impact TBI has had on their marriage, routines, and communication. With grace and honesty, she offers encouragement to other TBI wives, emphasizing the vital role of support systems, patience, and protecting your own mental and emotional health.

This episode is a compassionate guide for navigating TBI after surgery, and a powerful reminder that caregiving is an act of fierce love.

She offers an honest look into the emotional exhaustion, financial burdens, and the detailed care techniques she had to master—while still advocating fiercely for her husband's quality of life. Robin also emphasizes the critical role of self-care, support systems, and the strategies she’s used to navigate a journey no one prepares you for.

This episode is a must-listen for any wife walking the long, uncertain road of TBI caregiving, filled with raw truth, hard-earned wisdom, and hope for those seeking guidance and strength.

Kathleen takes listeners through the frantic early days, the emotional toll of navigating international medical evacuation, and the journey from Aruba to Miami and ultimately back home to Michigan. Her story shines a light on the importance of travel protection, the reality of sudden trauma, and the relentless strength it takes to fight for a loved one’s care in unfamiliar systems.

For any wife facing the chaos of a TBI diagnosis, this episode is packed with insight, warning, and wisdom from someone who has lived through the unthinkable and come out stronger.

From the moment life changed, Corri stepped into the overwhelming role of caregiver, navigating the emotional toll, medical complexities, and isolation made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. With honesty and heart, she opens up about the struggle to protect her husband’s dignity, care for herself, and rebuild a life filled with purpose and hope.

This episode is a reminder that even in the darkest seasons, community, identity, and new dreams can be lifelines for those living through the impact of brain injury.

More than a story of survival, this episode is a deeply personal reflection on the emotional weight of being a wife-turned-caregiver, the challenges of raising children amid trauma, and the resilience it takes to fight for someone you love when the system says "there’s no hope."

You’ll hear how Erika leaned on faith, advocacy, and an incredible support system to hold her family together—and how she continues to show up in the face of the unknown.