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One of the many unexpected things that has happened since my brain injury over a decade ago was being invited to be a staff writer for Brainline.org. Brainline was one of the first online informational resources that my wife and I came to depend on after my 2010 brain injury. A PBS/WETA organization, their information was accurate, trustworthy, and helped us along during the abysmally tough time right after my injury.?

Fast forward to today, and I am the longest-tenured writer in the history of Brainline. No one is more surprised than I am.?

It has not been an easy path. Several years ago, with all the kindness that she could muster, one of my editors said that all my work was beginning to sound the same. Taking it as the constructive criticism that it was, I ruefully admitted that she was right. From that point forward, I took a new approach to writing. Centering myself, I would ask, “What is going on – right here, right now?” It was a veritable game-changer.?

But what happens when “right here, right now,” is the same as it was a year ago? Here in New Hampshire, it certainly feels a lot like it did a year ago. Daily, the news is full of ominous warnings about the pandemic. Our North Country hospitals are full to capacity – and more. The National Guard has been called out to assist. Cases are at an all-time high and continue to climb, and the pandemic drumbeat drones on.?

I can say with certainty that I am not the only one who feels like it is 2020 all over again.?

As we learn more about COVID-19, the data is showing that many Covid Long Haulers now live with significant neurological problems that sound eerily similar to those that accompany brain injury. As a result, brain injury survivors no longer hold exclusive rights to brain fog, neuro-fatigue, slower processing times, and other cognitive dysfunction. Our Covid cousins now live with many challenges long-familiar to those with brain injury.?

Therein lies my biggest fear; in fact, I find it terrifying. My brain injury knocked me down the cognitive ladder more than a few rungs. Sure, I have rebounded a bit. A decade of working hard on my recovery has led to meaningful gains, but I will never make it back to my pre-injury baseline. Thankfully, I am okay with that today – though it took a long time for that acceptance to set in.?

However, the very thought of taking another cognitive hit is terrifying.?

My wife Sarah and I have developed our personal pandemic mantra – “To thine own health be true.” I have long since given up trying to be a change agent for others. People are going to do what people are going to do.?

Nevertheless, for us, our day-to-day decisions remain largely unchanged. Out in public? We mask up. Indoor events with lots of people? Sorry, we are going to take a pass. Perhaps next year. Two shots and a booster? Anything less is akin to playing Russian roulette with our lives. It is not just about us. Decisions we make have the ability to affect others. If it is sounding like I am preaching a bit, perhaps a bit of a brow-beating is in order.?

If you have ever lived with an incident that led to a cognitive decline, you know how life changing that can be. If you have not had a cognitive decline event, trust me on this: You do not want one. I will continue to do all that I can to prevent a second cognitive strike. I owe it to my wife, to my family, to those I love – and to myself.?

Circling back to the decisions of others: they are free to make whatever choices they deem fit. I can only hope that choices that can lead to a cognitive decline are few, and that common sense prevails.?

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