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LIVING WITH A BROKEN BRAIN

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Survivor Stories

I just returned from our monthly Phoenix Support Group meeting and felt compelled to write about the movie we watched called Living with a Broken Brain.  It is a Documentary in which actress Maryam d’Abo (you may remember her as one of James Bond’s  007 Girls), who suffered a brain haemorrhage in 2007, guides you through her personal journey of recovery and meets other survivors of brain injuries.

“I had struggled to describe to my husband and family how I had felt after my stroke which made it difficult for them to understand and relate to how I was feeling and the emotions I was going through. They say that only those that experience similar situations can really relate so it was like a breath of fresh air to watch this film and find not just one but a number of people that had felt the same as I had done. At the time you feel you are in a cage, clawing at the sides to get out and screaming inside in silence because you can’t find the words,” says D’Abo in the film.

Her experience inspired this film to be made with her husband filmmaker Hugh Hudson who witnessed her illness . Maryam leads us on a personal journey of recovery, giving hope to those who are isolated by their condition. The film is about the sufferings and the struggles of the brain injured. Many first-hand stories celebrate man’s life force and his will to survive and bring awareness of an unpredictable condition that is on the rise, an illness that is not seen therefore often misunderstood. The original film soundtrack is written by Vangelis and Mark Knopfler and amongst the many survivors appearing in the documentary are Quincy Jones – music producer, Pat Martino – jazz guitarist, James Fox -novelist , Robert Mccrum – literary editor of the London Observer. Supported by neurosurgeons, neurologists, neuro-psychologists who give their testimony and knowledge.
The film concerns all human beings, dealing with the fragility of the extraordinary brain of which we know surprisingly little.

I recommend families of all stroke, aneurysm and AVM victims spend one hour watching this incredible profound story.  Finally finding the words to describe something you have felt and then knowing you are not alone in feeling it is incredibly empowering.

I am thankful we had the opportunity to watch this amazing film and thank all those that attended for their continued support, commitment and passion to our cause.

The Niekro Aneurysm and AVM Foundation™ is committed to supporting patients and families, research, treatment and awareness of brain aneurysms, AVMs and strokes. We provide education on the risk factors, causes and treatments of these conditions, while funding the advancement of neurological research.

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To highlight our impact and convey our mission with clarity, we are excited to announce that the Joe Niekro Foundation is now the Niekro Aneurysm and AVM Foundation. We look forward to building on the Niekro legacy and continuing our mission!
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