BIHN - A Community Shaped By Giver’s Hearts

Sometimes the work you never planned becomes the work that defines you.

I’ve had the concept for this graphic in my head for a couple of weeks, but hadn’t found the time to bring it to life.

You may have heard me reference an accident that happened more than 15 years ago. At the time, I could never have imagined this outcome.

As I lay on Main Street, a crumpled mess of injuries, both visible and unseen, I wasn’t thinking about the future—let alone a life shaped by service, purpose, and community.

The early years were hard. There were moments when I struggled deeply and questioned whether I would even make it through. I certainly never imagined that this would become part of our shared story. And yet, here we are.

I have a deep appreciation for people with what I call a “giver’s heart.” Virtually every BIHN volunteer and board member embodies that spirit, showing up for this community again and again.

Today, BIHN is a bona fide nonprofit. Last year alone, we welcomed a couple thousand participants across our support groups, and our collective voices reached nearly five million people in more than 60 countries.

That scale is humbling—and it belongs to this community.

To Paul, Barb, Dan, Shane, Hillary, Becky, Sam, Chelsea, and Jacob—thank you. Your faith in us, your time, and your commitment are what make this work possible.

And to Sarah—none of this would exist without you.

Grateful. Always.

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Attitude is Truly Everything - Brendan's Story

The date was October 5th, 2024. I had made plans with a friend to go pick them up and drive them back to my house so we could hang out. I needed a willing driver to make this happen, and my most caring sister—who would do anything for me—offered to take the drive. On the way back from picking up my friend, disaster struck. A semi-truck collided head-on with my sister’s car, which I didn’t learn until later tragically took her life. My friend and I both experienced severe injuries. The worst of mine was a traumatic brain injury, along with two broken arms and broken femurs. Shortly after the accident, two separate helicopters arrived at the scene, and my friend and I were airlifted out—my friend conscious, and me unconscious in a coma. The helicopter crew had to work extremely hard just to keep me alive during the trip to Chicago. Eventually, thanks to their incredible efforts, I made it to Chicago alive, but still unconscious. The first of the three hospitals I was treated at was th...

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Hi, my name is Ellie. My story begins when I was 18 years old; I was newly married and nearly 8 months pregnant. I went into early labour, and on the way to the hospital we were in a devastating accident with a dump truck. I lost my baby girl, broke many bones, had internal ruptures, etc., but the most significant injury was a diffuse axonal brain injury. I was in a coma for a month — upon awakening I thought I was 5 years old. I couldn’t walk or talk beyond a few simple words. I also didn’t have the memory retention to understand what had happened. I would think I was still going into labour and repeatedly be told — she didn’t survive the accident, and I had such damage to my body I couldn’t carry future babies. My Last Day in Hospital, 2011 I had to relearn everything about how to function right from the basics of feeding and clothing myself. How to read, write, do basic math — understand my challenges. I spent 2 years between the hospital and a rehabilitation facility call...

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It all started in 2005. We had just gotten engaged, and I was noticing a flashing in the lower left-hand corner of my eyes, known as vision seizures. My PCP sent me for an MRI and found that I had a brain tumor. I was sent to Mass General in Boston to see a specialist. The tumor kept growing, and we were told it needed to be removed before it was too late. It was a very rare tumor, and the oncologist said that there were only 50 known cases of this type of tumor in the world in 2009 that they knew of. They did know that it can grow back on other organs. I mentioned to my new wife-to-be that if she wanted to opt out of marriage because of circumstances unknown, that I would understand. She said no, that we were in this together, and she has been there right along the whole way. We married August 23, 2006, and she is the most loving, caring wife and caregiver I could ever ask for. And I know it was harder on her than on me. A caregiver and support system is of most importance to get thr...

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