CBIRT Online

Lived Experiences with TBI | Healing Towards a Bright Future, TBI Warrior Foundation

In this powerful episode of Lived Experiences with Traumatic Brain Injury, host Melaney Grenz welcomes retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Victor Medina and his wife, Roxana Delgado, PhD—co-founders of the TBI Warrior® Foundation. Together, they share an inspiring story of resilience, transformation, and unwavering commitment to serving others impacted by brain injury. Victor recounts the life-altering moment during his third combat tour in Iraq when he sustained a moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) on June 29, 2009. A Purple Heart recipient, Victor describes the physical and emotional challenges of recovery, including years of rehabilitation and the difficult decisions that reshaped his life. With determination, he became a rehabilitation counselor and dedicated his life to helping others navigate similar paths. Roxana Delgado, PhD shares her unique journey from professional researcher to include national advocate. As a health scientist and epidemiologist, Roxanna has led critical research on military families and veterans, bringing awareness to the psychosocial impacts of injury and the systemic gaps in support. Her lived experience as Victor’s wife informs her groundbreaking work, especially in developing the Military and Veteran Research Portfolio. The couple also discusses the founding of the TBI Warrior® Foundation, a nonprofit based in Boerne, Texas, that provides rehabilitation counseling, access to care, and caregiver support—not just for veterans, but for anyone affected by brain injury. Their mission is driven by faith, family, and a commitment to community service. Listeners will learn about the foundation’s outreach efforts, including veteran-specific and community-wide support groups, educational webinars like their recent “Thinking, Thriving, and Well-Being” event, and their vision for expanding advocacy and policy change around TBI. "While TBI is prevalent, it’s also a very underserved community," Victor notes. Together, he and Roxanna are determined to change that. Tune in for a story of love, sacrifice, and hope—and find out how you can support their mission at tbiwarriorfoundation.org [http://tbiwarriorfoundation.org/].   Podcast Transcript [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1e-VB1wwHOZyyspnR67rqRiXig3hneOfO/view?usp=sharing]

Lived Experiences with TBI | Marchell Taylor, Beating The Odds

In this powerful episode of the Center on Brain Injury Research and Training’s podcast, “Lived Experiences with Traumatic Brain Injury,” host Melaney Grenz welcomes guest Marchell Taylor. Once entrenched in a life of crime beginning in his pre-teen years, Marchell's story takes a profound turn after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) screening at Denver County Jail in 2016. Through a pilot program led by neuropsychologist and University of Denver professor Dr. Kimberly Gorgens, Marchell received targeted therapies that helped him understand his brain, regulate his behavior, and reclaim his self-worth. Marchell shares his difficult childhood in Flint, Michigan—his early exposure to alcohol, repeated brain injuries, and the escalating choices that led to incarceration. Facing a lengthy prison sentence, he was identified as having a TBI and was introduced to therapy, grief counseling, and meditation techniques. These interventions became the foundation for his transformation. Today, Marchell is a partner in Dr. Gorgens’s research and advocacy work. Together, they helped pass a 2021 Colorado law to implement brain injury screenings for individuals in the criminal justice system. Marchell also reconnected with former inmate Corey Shively to co-launch AYBOS Advocacy and the Rebuild Your Mind Challenge—a mental health awareness campaign within justice-involved communities. We also had the opportunity to speak with his colleagues, Tramel Thomas and Nicki Mitchell, who shared their roles in this meaningful work and emphasized the importance of advocacy, support, and trauma-informed care in justice-impacted communities. Their insight added even more depth to this inspiring conversation. Now a peer counselor, Marchell continues to thrive, dedicating his life to helping others break cycles of trauma. The episode underscores the importance of understanding the role of TBI in criminal behavior and advocates for nationwide screening and treatment programs. Marchell’s story is a testament to resilience and the transformative power of compassion, science, and second chances.

Lived Experiences with TBI | Jonathan Boland, BREATH OF LIFE

In this episode of Lived Experiences with Traumatic Brain Injury, host Melaney Grenz welcomes Jonathan Boland, a former elite athlete whose dreams of NFL stardom were derailed by multiple concussions. Jonathan shares his journey from early football success to the devastating realization that his brain injury made continuing impossible. Struggling with identity loss, he turned to self-medication, leading to a series of mistakes that resulted in a prison sentence. While incarcerated, he found purpose through faith, fitness, and mentorship, eventually earning a second chance at life. Now a certified strength and conditioning specialist, Jonathan is dedicated to helping others overcome adversity and educating young athletes about the dangers of concussions. Through his business, Breath of Life Training LLC, he empowers individuals to rebuild their strength—both physically and mentally. His story is one of resilience, redemption, and hope for a brighter future.

Lived Experiences with TBI | Tim Siegel TEAM LUK3 HOPE FOR MINDS

Join us for CBIRT's first Podcast in the "Lived Experiences with Traumatic Brain Injury" series!  We kick start the series by speaking with Tim Siegel about his book, "Fight Like Luke: Transforming Grief Into Love, Strength, and Faith." and his journey navigating through the world of brain injury after his son's injury in 2015.  His journey led him to create a nonprofit organization called, "Team Luck Hope For Minds Supporting Kids After Brain Injury." https://www.teamlukehopeforminds.org/  Tim and Luke have been featured on podcasts, interviews, and other media platforms such as the NFL Countdown.

Lived Experiences with TBI | Look How Far We’ve Come, Alamo Head Injury Association, Deb Harper- President

In episode five, Deb Harper, President of the Alamo Head Injury Association in San Antonio, shares her remarkable journey from tragedy to advocacy after her husband, Dan, sustained a traumatic brain injury in a 2016 car accident. Deb describes the profound changes in her family’s life, highlighting the challenges of navigating a hidden disability and the initial lack of support services. She found solace and strength in support groups, which became her lifeline as she adjusted to living with “a new person.” Now as the President and Chair, Community Outreach Committee at the Alamo Head Injury Association, Deb contributes to the facilitation of the monthly support groups and organization of the annual Brain Injury Symposium, offering survivors and caregivers a sense of community, resources, and hope. Her message to listeners emphasizes resilience, understanding, and the power of connection in overcoming life-altering challenges. This inspiring episode underscores the importance of advocacy, awareness, and support in the brain injury community.