In a significant assembly at the State Capitol Rotunda on Wednesday morning, advocates and survivors came together for the 2024 Brain Injury Awareness Day. The event, which lasted from 8 to 11 a.m., featured Miss Vicksburg Teen Addie Grace Clay as the keynote speaker. Clay, a champion for pediatric brain injury survivors, relayed her own experiences after suffering a traumatic brain injury.
Importantly, the gathering drew a diverse crowd that included survivors of brain and spinal cord injuries, their families, caregivers, and healthcare professionals dedicated to treating such trauma. The sharing of stories and the provision of information were central themes, as attendees looked for support and understanding from those who have navigated similar challenging paths.
The Brain Injury Association of Mississippi/United Spinal Association of Mississippi (BIAMS/USAMS), key organizers of the event, offered a wealth of knowledge on topics ranging from brain injury and stroke to spinal cord injury particulars. They also emphasized injury prevention strategies, with a strong focus on raising awareness about the risks associated with cycling, ATVs, falls, and concussions.
Statistics highlighted the urgency of these discussions: in the United States, a person sustains a brain injury every nine seconds. This harrowing frequency means that a large population, 13.5 million Americans, live with disabilities resulting from traumatic brain injuries (TBI), with Mississippi ranking in the top five states for the number of these injuries.
Source: The Vicksburg Post