Jackson Health System Miami Times Article: Brain Injury Awareness

Supporting People with Invisible Injuries
By: Kelly Messett

Every year, approximately 2.8 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury, making it one of the leading causes of death and disability in the U.S. Today, an estimated 5.3 million people are living with the lasting effects of a brain injury—that’s one in 60 individuals navigating a reality they never expected. Everyday tasks that once felt effortless can become overwhelming challenges. Yet, despite their prevalence, brain injuries remain widely misunderstood.

For more than 25 years, I’ve been working with people who’ve suffered brain injuries at Jackson Health System, and ever since the launch of Christine E. Lynn Rehabilitation Center for The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at UHealth/Jackson Memorial in 2020. As a certified recreational therapist, I see firsthand how this condition affects my patients.

Unlike a broken bone or a visible wound, a brain injury doesn’t always leave physical marks. Instead, it disrupts memory, speech, mobility, and emotions—fundamental aspects of a person’s identity. These injuries impact people of all ages, and typically occur suddenly after a fall or accident.

While they often heal physically, inside, brain injury patients may be navigating fatigue, cognitive fog, mood swings, and a sense of disconnection from their former selves. Others return to work or school only to realize that daily strategies they once relied on no longer serve them. And because these challenges aren’t always obvious to the outside world, survivors often face not only the struggle of recovery, but also the burden of being misunderstood.

This is why Brain Injury Awareness Month is so important. Awareness leads to understanding, and understanding leads to better support—whether in workplaces, the community, schools, or within families. It means more patience for those who need extra time to process information. It means recognizing the need for accommodations. It means welcoming others as they are.

As a therapist, I work every day to help my patients regain function, independence, and confidence. Here in Miami, we’re lucky to have Lynn Rehabilitation Center, which is a state-of-the-art facility ranked nationally in the top 3 percent of rehabilitation hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.

In addition to offering the latest technology and cutting-edge research, we’re proud to host a variety of programs and classes that help address cognitive, physical, and social behavior, as well as emotional deficits. From sports and yoga classes to community outings, we help patients build on the skills they need to get back to living their lives.

To honor Brain Injury Awareness Month, we host a special event every year, where survivors share what it’s like to live with a brain injury.

We also recently won a grant to take pediatric and adult patients to swim with the dolphins – a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that not only brings joy, but also boosts their confidence in trying new activities.

True progress requires a collective effort. As a community, we need to embrace and welcome people with any disability or injury to get involved and come as they are. If you know someone with a brain injury, take the time to learn what they’re experiencing. And if you’ve survived a brain injury yourself, know that your challenges are real, your progress matters, and you’re not alone.

Brain injuries may be invisible, but their impact is profound. This month, let’s make sure survivors and their caregivers feel seen, heard, and supported.

Kelly Messett is a certified recreational therapist at Christine E. Lynn Rehabilitation Center for The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at UHealth/Jackson Memorial. She specializes in working with patients with traumatic brain injuries, stroke, and other conditions.