Inspiring Triumphs

Yo, my name is Austin Scott and I had a traumatic brain injury. On May 15th of 2023, the day after my high school graduation, me and my best friend at the time held a charity boxing match to raise money for our friend who had gotten a TBI two years prior due to a football game accident. So we held the match, we finished the fight and he w

Yo, my name is Austin Scott and I had a traumatic brain injury. On May 15th of 2023, the day after my high school graduation, me and my best friend at the time held a charity boxing match to raise money for our friend who had gotten a TBI two years prior due to a football game accident. So we held the match, we finished the fight and he was announced the winner, I sat down in my corner, and then I started vomiting over and over again. This didn’t sit well with my mother, so to play it safe my mother called an ambulance. I was rushed to a hospital and then I was immediately rushed into emergency surgery. I know, how ironic was it that I got a TBI raising money for a friend that got a TBI. So flash forward a little and I now had a fake skull, some memory issues, and a bracelet that said “TBI.” But that didn’t stop me. I took a GAP year, and luckily the college I was attending was incredibly accommodating and basically just said, “focus on recovering and come next year, we’ll be waiting for you.” And I forgot to mention this earlier, but I was going to school with the goal of becoming a child psychiatrist. So during my newly found GAP year, I worked as a teacher, specializing in helping kids with learning differences. It worked really well because I was in the hospital the whole summer, but three weeks after getting out of the hospital due to my second seizure, I became a teacher. I also got back in the gym, squatting 315 for 17 and doing too many sit ups to count. In all honesty, the TBI really helped me get refocused on what I wanted to be. It also taught me who my ride or dies actually were and what I valued in the life I lived. I definitely don’t recommend getting a TBI, but I do encourage you to take a step back and reassess what’s important to you; really and truly set your heart on something. So that’s my story. Shoutout to my amazing mom, dad, sister, and brother who made it possible for me to be cognitively and emotionally able to actually tell it.

We can't wait to see what Austin does as he begins his college adventure this fall!

In 2018, at the age of 18, Mak suffered multiple strokes caused by a rare brain disease called a brain AVM, or Arteriovenous Malformation.  No one knew he had this disease, which consists of an abnormal tangle of poorly formed blood vessels, until one of the blood vessels ruptured causing a massive brain hemorrhage and subsequent strokes.

In 2018, at the age of 18, Mak suffered multiple strokes caused by a rare brain disease called a brain AVM, or Arteriovenous Malformation.  No one knew he had this disease, which consists of an abnormal tangle of poorly formed blood vessels, until one of the blood vessels ruptured causing a massive brain hemorrhage and subsequent strokes. This trauma happened two days after his senior prom and just a two months before his high school graduation. Mak spent a month in ICU on life support, before he was transferred to Shepherd Center’s Acquired Brain Injury Unit and weaned off the ventilator.  While there, Mak would work hard to relearn how to swallow, eat and move his limbs again.  Mak would spend 5 months at Shepherd Center in-patient, then 3 additional months outpatient at Shepherd Pathways.  

The strokes have left Mak with many deficits that he continues to work hard today to overcome attending PT, OT and ST as well as alternative therapies every week. The right side of his body does not cooperate and gets very tight a lot.  His right hand is clenched tight most of the time. He can get it open, but once it grasps on to something  he cannot release without help.  He has been diagnosed with Parkinsonism which is very evidenced by his left side uncontrollable tremors, his frequent freezing, and his speech difficulties.  He also has aphasia and apraxia of speech which make speech even more challenging. The brain injury also left him with epilepsy although his seizures are well controlled with medication. While he has these challenges, they don’t define him.  Rather, they make him want to work harder to improve and to participate in all that life has to offer.  He is grateful to be alive. Mak is an adaptive athlete participating in wheelchair racing, hand cycling, rock climbing, and power wheelchair soccer.  He is also taking one college class online per semester in an effort to earn an AA degree.  Like most young adults his age, he is still not sure what he wants to do vocationally, but he knows he wants to help and inspire others experiencing disability like him. 

In the summer of 2023, after graduating from high school, Cody’s life took a drastic turn. Cody was driving home from his senior trip in Florida and fell asleep at the wheel. His vehicle hit a guard rail and flew into the median causing the car to flip several times. As a result Cody was ejected out of the cars windshield. He spent 2 mont

In the summer of 2023, after graduating from high school, Cody’s life took a drastic turn. Cody was driving home from his senior trip in Florida and fell asleep at the wheel. His vehicle hit a guard rail and flew into the median causing the car to flip several times. As a result Cody was ejected out of the cars windshield. He spent 2 months at Vanderbilt Hospital, where his family was told several times they should consider discontinuing life saving measures. Knowing Codys grit and strength, his Mom refused. He continued to improve and was able to be transferred to Shepherd center in Atlanta. He spent roughly 3 months there. During this time Cody’s beloved Mom, Stepdad and Grandfather would make the commute from TN to Georgia to support and care for him. Cody, with his positive attitude, is determined to get back to independence. He has had to relearn everything from walking to talking to eating, nothing is going to stop him. Today you will find Cody doing therapy, with a main goal of returning to driving. He loves to cook, bake, fish & workout. Cody plans to go to a trade school and train in the mechanical equipment department! We can’t wait to see how far he goes!!

In 2019 Brody was working at a cattle sale barn and was a professional Bull rider living in Kansas. Coming home one night during a storm, he was involved in a tragic motor vehicle accident.  

Brody suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury, specifically a diffuse axonal injury. He also had multiple skull fractures, a broken back, broken shoulder, 

In 2019 Brody was working at a cattle sale barn and was a professional Bull rider living in Kansas. Coming home one night during a storm, he was involved in a tragic motor vehicle accident.  

Brody suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury, specifically a diffuse axonal injury. He also had multiple skull fractures, a broken back, broken shoulder, facial fractures, and bruised lungs. No surgery intervention could be done to help.

Family was told Brody was going to pass. But if he survived, he would need longterm care.  He would most likely not be independent.

Brody was in a vegetative state for about 5 weeks. After 40 days in CCU in a Wichita hospital Brody was flown to Shepherd Center in Atlanta, GA for acute inpatient rehab. There he spent the next 3 and half months. 5 of those weeks Brody was in a disorder of the conscious state. After discharge he then went on to Pathways, Shepherd's outpatient rehab for 3 months. 

For the last 4 years Brody has worked continuously, doing several types of therapy including Hippo-therapy, Vestibular therapy, Vision therapy, and Shepherd's Beyond Therapy Program. 

He has had to learn to walk, talk, eat, and speak again. Brody is independent now but still needs to work on driving independently. He never lost sight of his passion for the cowboy life. He currently works on a farm and dreams to one day raise his own cows and bulls, then build his own brand to take to the rodeo. Brody, we are so glad you are here!!

In January of 2016,  Armando was struck by a vehicle while walking across the street. He was transported to the nearest trauma center where his family would learn that he was in critical condition with a diffuse axonal head injury.  This trauma carries scary statistics, leaving 90% of individuals in a vegetative state. Doctors told them t

In January of 2016,  Armando was struck by a vehicle while walking across the street. He was transported to the nearest trauma center where his family would learn that he was in critical condition with a diffuse axonal head injury.  This trauma carries scary statistics, leaving 90% of individuals in a vegetative state. Doctors told them that if Armando woke he would never walk, never talk, and never lead a normal life. Armando spent roughly two weeks in a coma and then began to “emerge” as they say. His dear family waited on pins and needles and prayed as they tested Armando’s abilities to recognize and use objects appropriately. He successfully performed tasks such as brushing his hair, leading to his acceptance at The Shepherd Center in Atlanta. After nearly 6 weeks in the hospital they began this new chapter there. They found the facility, nurses and therapists to be so incredibly kind and helpful. They gained a tremendous amount of hope after meeting people in similar situations. Armando spent 5 months at Shepherd Center. It would be months before he’d be able to walk and talk but he did both with the help of therapist’s and proved those Doctors wrong!! In August of 2016 Armando was released and has been doing out-patient therapies with Shepherd Pathways for the last 7 years. 

Making huge gains in all areas, Armando can be found indepentently volunteering at his local thrift store and working part time. He strives for continued physical healing and would like to enroll in college. Driving and being totally independent are his top goals! We can't wait to see how far you go Armando!