From test to testimony: Resiliency after TBI diagnosis

ECU Author/Contributor (non-ECU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Quanisha Davis (Creator)

Institution

East Carolina University (ECU )

Web Site: http://www.ecu.edu/lib/

Abstract: Autoethnography research is a relatively new and innovative means of gathering data on oneself to connect to research and theory while advocating for change within a policy, law, and/ or environment. When doing my autoethnographic research, titled "From test to testimony: Resiliency after TBI diagnosis", I had to use my parents' as a part of my story to lend insights into the early parts of my story and gain access to my past medical records which included my condition and diagnosis. I present myself as a young, African American adult who has experienced a life- changing car accident in her childhood that resulted in a condition known as traumatic brain injury. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a condition where the brain is impacted by some sort of force/ trauma that can result in developmental impairments. In my situation, the car accident led to a TBI diagnosis which left me paralyzed on my right side and unable to function as an average 6-7 year old child. Because of the trauma I experienced, my family and others had to make changes to their lives and rely heavily on God to see them through. The Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment, and Adaptation describes precisely how my family experienced this crisis (family stress), made changes within their environment (adjustment) and overcame this problem using different resources in their surroundings (adaptation). Fowler's Spiritual theory, is the second theory that aptly helps me document the spiritual journey I experienced during the event. The aftereffects of TBI still remain with me, however, my unique experience and the opportunity to reflect on this story allows me to draw upon a few implications for the professionals and members of the society at large.

Additional Information

Publication

Thesis

Language: English

Date: 2023

Subjects

Autoethnography;TBI

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