My Brain Injury

                                                      By Pat Dolan

My name is Pat Dolan and I suffer from traumatic brain injury. 

A little over 4 years ago I was working as a civilian for the US Navy as a manager for the Business Operations Directorate of the Command.  I was a master of multi tasking, data analysis and a highly respected advisor both at the local command and on many advisory groups in Washington DC. 

My wife and I met Feb 14 1980 when we both were working at the Pentagon in Washington.  After consulting with my boss she came up to my desk and asked me to complete a task for her.  I of course did so to the best of my ability.  She then corrected my errors and set the pattern for our future.  Gotta say, I’m one lucky guy!  Together we have two wonderful and beautiful daughters 21 and 16.  Laura a redhead and Rose a blonde.  My dad found this most amusing and told me from the start that payback was a...well never mind, you probably get the point.

One evening approximately 4 yrs ago, I slipped in the bathroom of my home -- striking my head and causing permanent brain damage.  My life changed forever.  After nearly 4 months of hospitals and therapy, I was finally able to return home.

For the next 6 weeks I was involved in a variety of therapy activities to improve my memory capacity and reading ability which were the two areas that were most obviously affected by the accident.  Unfortunately I found these exercises boring and unproductive to my eye and abandoned them against all advice.  

Against my wife’s and doctors’ rather strong advice, I went back to work   The job that I held prior to the injury was at the Command level, with Command responsibility driven by Navy level authority.  There were often internal operating issues that I was often called on by the Command to resolve.  Doing this was often delicate and complicated, causing much stress.  I found quite quickly, after my brain injury, that I was no longer up to the task. 

My responsibilities included conveying information from tech manuals to our Public Affairs Group and handling the administrative activities associated with performance awards given within the command.  On top of all of this I was intimately active in nationwide teams dealing with standardizing data.  I was often in Washington DC, while still responsible for the ongoing activities at Port Hueneme. 

Reluctantly and with great dismay I realized that I needed to retire because I could not perform as I had in the past.  This was done with a strong mix of sadness and embarrassment.  

I struggle every day with short term memory issues.  My ability to cope with change is limited and this causes stress for me and my family.  At times I have difficulty coping with seemingly common situations. 

Since my injury I have made a lot of progress.  Many people who did not know me before 2004 would not know of my limitations.  I am one of the fortunate brain injury survivors.  However, I will tell you there are many times I feel far from fortunate.

There are many people with a brain injury who are far worse off than I am.  Many have lost their jobs and had their families break up.  Many cannot drive or work at all.  They have trouble finding a place to live.  Many of my friends in the Brain Injury Center have trouble speaking and some can no longer walk. 

An estimated 16,000 people in Ventura County have a brain injury.  We just don’t hear much about it.

I am here today to ask for your support for the Brain Injury Center of Ventura County.  It is the one organization that exists to help people.  Not just people with a brain injury, but their families, too.  It is a real struggle for families when their life changes so dramatically.  We are almost completely funded by the generosity of private donations…and can really use your help. 

I am also here today to ask if you know anyone with a brain injury; perhaps a family member or a friend.  If so, have them get in touch with the Brain Injury Center.  We can help.