Here is the video from the Duke University “Finding Consciousness” conference where I spoke and attended. I hope you watch the entire production because it will certainly help you understand the challenges faced by both the patient (or caregiver) and medical community. The length is roughly 23-1/2 minutes; to be television-ready.
The video only has a small handful of all the presentations given over the three days. I am proud to be one of them.
Specific to me, I am featured twice. Once at the 2:35 mark (through 4:13) and again at the 17:53 mark (through 20:32). That’s almost 20% of the entire video devoted to what I had to say!
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Fantastic! Thanks for sharing! Very informative…and thought-provoking!
Great job Ken. You presented your views clearly and concisely; and came across as a very credible resource, one who learned from hard work and experience as opposed to many of the educated experts in attendance. You hung in with them very well.
Wow, Ken – you Divineys are amazing!
Ken, With all of the medical attendees at the conference you were probably the expert in actual patient care. I am sure they were all in awe of you and the condition that Ryan is in. Great job Ken!
This is required viewing.
Powerful. Would it be that there would be a video entirely with you because your 24/7 perspective from day one brings, in my opinion,murch more REAL information on the subject.
I asked Duke University for my entire segment, but they claim it is no longer available.
Disappointing to hear this, to say the least! Damn! 🙁 I mean Dang.
I won’t write what I am thinking!!!
Good job, Ken — I mean really good job! <3
We were away for a few days and wanted to wait until I could watch the video at home where it is quiet (too quiet sometimes). I will watch it again later today, since there are so many subjects that are covered — mindfulness, pain and the beginning/end of life, language decoders, healthcare system capabilities, locked-in state — too many to absorb all at once. Most of us are probably wondering if there are other conferences like this one, and where do we go from here. Sometimes I think I know a lot about TBI, but at other times, from personal experience, I think I know TOO much about this devasting condition.
Just want to say that I agree, you ARE strong, and you continue to amaze us! Always here for you with much love and shouting to heaven, “In the name of Jesus Christ, Ryan, be healed!” I will spend today fasting and praying for Ryan. It’s a good day for a post-Easter fast!
This brought up memories of talking to my father who was in a coma, we had no idea if he knew we were there and could hear us as we spoke to him but for myself, in the two weeks of unconsciousness before he died, he somehow moved quite forcibly when I said two things which still haunts me to this day. I know he heard me, maybe he heard every single thing that was said in that unconscious and vegetative state. There has to be a way for communicating with all with varying stages of this…..It is probably being invented as I write this….the science of medicine 2013 is not what it was in 1913, or even in 2000. This was most interesting, glad Ken was able to
give his wisdom, he’s living it.
You make a great point that I try to advocate: Non-communicable does NOT mean non-conscious.
Wow… you fit right in with all of those elite medical experts, Ken! In addition to the incredible care which you and Sue provide for Ryan, we are most thankful for his responsiveness to your loving touches and voices. What a blessing your family is to one another and all of us! Stay strong and keep fighting, Ryan!! We are following you all the way to victory <3
Hi Ken, thank you so much for sharing this with us!! You did such a good job capturing the many emotions associated with dealing with brain injury in a loved one. Your comment about walking the halls at a rehab center and seeing people with no one there for them was jarring. You’re absolutely right – what chance do they have if no one notices they have a UTI or that they’re pale or less responsive? Making matters worse is that they may have great difficulty communicating, almost guaranteeing no one will notice them.
Unfortunately I think a lot of patients are written off — and some of the presenters at Duke’s conference keyed in on this. Assumptions are automatically made about TBI patients that may not be true — and if the medical community at large is unwilling to provide the best of care for these patients, how will it ever be known what the potential for recovery is? This is where Ryan comes in, because you and your family have been there every step of the way for him, always noticing when something isn’t right and acting on it. But it goes way beyond that, because you’re not just “maintaining” Ryan’s physical being, you’re exploring every avenue to vastly improve it.
You summarized it well Ken when you said that the whole community of professionals needs to come together to address TBI. It seems there is so much more that could be done. I pray that as a result of this conference, there will be a renewed commitment to provide better care for TBI patients, and more resources devoted to understanding and treating brain injury.
Meanwhile, you and Ryan will continue to do your part to move the ball forward, allowing the opportunity for new discoveries to be made. Most breakthroughs start with a belief and the willingness to pursue that belief. Your belief in Ryan’s fortitude and strength was right; Ryan has demonstrated his ability to overcome obstacles many times. He does things now that indicate the progress he has made. And he’s not done yet, all his potential is there and slowly unfolding. It is a privilege to be able to watch it happen. Thank you for letting us be a part of it!
Sending you love, prayers, hope and admiration for all you do.
Paula
I wish I could say what I want it as wonderfully as you.
Paula is a remarkably talented writer and so are you, Ken.
What a great thing 🙂
Wow, this was really wonderful and very informative. Just this snapshot, a sneak peek into the entire conference, had me wanting to watch/learn more. I loved how they humanized this with your experience, Ken. I see more talks, more events opening up for you. And of course this means more knowledge/information which could be helpful to Ryan or others. Congrats on a job well-done.
Ken, Thank you for sharing.. So very interesting. And you did a great job
love gail
This is awesome!
This was a great video. You spoke from the heart and it showed!!
Incredibly proud of you, Ken. You are just amazing.