Traumatic Brain Injury: A Caregiver's Journey

By Ruth G Bitsui

Edison Bitsui enjoyed early childhood in Forest Lake, Arizona, among his family, sheepherding, and horses. His teachings were pure and profoundly Navajo. As earth people in the third world, the Dine (Navajo meaning people) pursue balancing mind, body, and spirit to make it into the fourth world by doing all we can to maintain a balance between Mother Earth and man. Edison had a Master's degree in Public Administration and owned a commercial building construction business. Edison and Ruth were spiritually connected. Their most authentic selves were as husband and wife in a world outside of their homelands. In a world where people are as different from one another as sand and sage. In 2016, Edison Bitsui was injured during team roping practice. For a routine evening of team roping practice, a fall at full speed left him with a Traumatic Brain Injury. The book details their life for five years of a new reality - caregiving, Ruth shares her journey of pain, fear, and compassion. After the accident, he relied on life support before being discharged to an acute care facility. The acute care facility saw him come out of a coma and after a few weeks discharged him to Craig Rehabilitation Hospital, where he stayed for six months. The Craig Rehabilitation Hospital experience helped prepare for Edison's life at home. During the five years at home, he had frequent hospital stays and rehabilitation tenures due to falls and aspiration bouts. After two years an elderly daycare facility accepted him into their program. He had care and friendships outside the home for a couple of hours during the weekdays. The facility provided the well-rounded suppor, which they needed. Edison and Ruth's lives improved to a point where Ruth was able to relax for a couple of hours, exercise, read, or shop for groceries. She said she could live like that forever. It wasn't to be. The COVID pandemic hit and suddenly the impact of no breaks fell heavily on Ruth's shoulders once again. Isolation and fatigue made life a challenge. Ruth's faith is tested and ultimately strengthened as she embraces reality, practices gratitude, and stays close to her feelings, even the painful ones.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0CN7KDV37
• ISBN13: 9798867376338
• Release Date: November 2023
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 119 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.3" x 6.0"