“I struggle to find words when I’m too happy or too angry”

By Aideen O’Flaherty

A SURVIVOR of a traumatic brain injury, this Brain Injury Awarness Month, is calling on people to understand that brain injuries “are an invisible epidemic” and that “every brain injury is different”.

Scot Tanner Bucholz suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2009, when he was struck by a piece of falling metal when he was entering a building where he worked as a property manager.

As a result of his injuries he had to relearn how to speak and how to swallow, and he had to walk with the aid of a cane.
Mr Tanner Bucholz said: “A lot of people didn’t understand how severe my injury was.

“My friends, who were very dear to me, their lives went on and mine didn’t.

“I was on the same floor of the hospital for four years.”

The journalism student now works as a volunteer with Brí Ireland, a nationwide charity which gives support and information to people who have brain injuries, their families and carers.

Brí Ireland has a Tallaght branch which has a support group that meets on the second Monday of every month, and an art group that meets up every Friday from 2pm to 4pm in the County Library, Tallaght.

Mr Tanner Bucholz, who is still living with the effects of the brain injury, told The Echo: “I still have challenges day-to-day.
“I struggle to find the words when I’m too happy or too angry.

“My brain functions now like I have ADHD, and I have to take medication for it.”

When asked about what message Brí Ireland would like to get across from Brain Injury Awareness Month, Mr Tanner Bucholz said: “If you have a brain injury it’s okay to talk about it and seek help – you’re not alone.

“And I think that as a society we have to find a means of giving to charities that help people with brain injuries, which offer things like art therapy which is proven to help people with brain injuries.”

Brí Ireland have set up a Go Fund Me page at www.gofundme.com/briireland, and they are also looking for people to raise funds for them by running on their behalf in the VhiWomen’s Mini Marathon.

To find out more about the charity visit briireland.ie or to learn about or access Tallaght services, contact Ignatius on 087-2164260.