Nicole Murphy
Nicole Murphy: Chasing Dreams
“If you want your brain to heal, let it rest.” Nicole’s neurologist told her this after sustaining 5 concussions in a 2-3-year span. She didn’t realize at first how much her brain injuries were impacting her life. But she was experiencing trouble reading, major mood swings and forgetfulness that could be dangerous. This single mom of three needed to put herself first and rest.
Nicole sustained her first concussion in a tractor trailer accident. She recovered for 5 months and went back to work. Shortly after she sustained 4 more concussions due to work related injuries. She went back to her neurologist who urged her to take a break.
Resting was hard for Nicole. She was used to caring for her kids, going to work, attending church for a sense of community; she was even working towards her Masters degree. At this time, she was experiencing a loss of smell, central auditory processing disorder, and struggled to complete daily tasks. She needed help.
Nicole came to Hospital for Special Care’s speech therapy program. She learned healthier ways of being independent, like taking breaks, using a timer for chores and activities, and using visible print outs around the home. She knows to check her list before leaving the house, “Do I have my keys, my wallet and my water?”
Her therapists were more than just speech therapists, they also connected Nicole to community support where she could socialize. Her therapist told her, “I can’t fix you, but I can give you the tools to enhance your quality of life”.
She joined the HFSC Brain Injury Book club where she re-learned to read. Nicole’s therapists knew of her previous love of hiking, so they helped her join the Appalachian Mountain Club and adopt a portion of the trail where it’s her job to maintain and keep the path clean.
Nicole now uses her experiences to help others. She has spoken to students at Quinnipiac so they could truly understand her experience with brain injuries. She regularly attends and speaks at the Brain Injury Alliance’s support group. Her ultimate goal, she wants to work towards advocating at the State Capital to bring a voice for brain injury.
Her advice for others, “You need to have patience through your journey and with yourself. People with a brain injury want to be an active member of their community, but they may just need more time, or may do it differently than others. My dreams didn’t end, I just have to work towards my dreams a little differently.”