Raising Awareness and Inspiring Hope: Stacia Bissell’s Journey Through Brain Injury Recovery

TBI survivor Stacia Bissell discusses her story to help others overcome loss, build community, and embrace their new normal

By Samantha Whitney, Research Assistant, Center for Traumatic Brain Injury Research

Stacia Bissell doesn’t fully remember the bicycle accident that led to her injury. One minute, she was enjoying a ride through the hills near her home; the next, she was in the hospital with a fractured arm, cuts, bruises, and a traumatic brain injury. “Doctors said I sustained a ‘moderate’ injury, but it certainly didn’t feel that way. I was an active, high-energy individual, a wife, mother, teacher, and school administrator … and suddenly, I couldn’t even recall what someone had just told me,” Stacia says. “I was scared, frustrated, and angry, and wondered ‘What do I do now?’”

Like many TBI survivors, Stacia struggled to overcome a range of physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges. She experienced chronic pain, fatigue, speech and memory issues, and tremendous self-doubt. Despite the well-meaning intentions of family and friends, she received a good deal of unhelpful advice, such as being told, “Just get up off the couch, get moving, and do more.” Stacia questioned whether people understood the complexity of TBI or believed the reality of the difficulties she faced. Over time, Stacia discovered strength in the people who stayed by her side.

She explains that “while my ‘circle’ decreased, it increased in value.” This, she notes, empowered her to establish a healthier, more supportive environment for healing and personal growth. She also allowed herself time to mourn the enormous sense of loss that comes with TBI. And she says, “I learned to accept help with grace and give grace to others who have been impacted by my injury.” Yet to move forward, Stacia first needed to accept her injury and, she adds, “reestablish my ‘self.’” 

Resilience is key 

Stacia admits it’s been a long journey since her 2011 injury, during which her passion for learning and education helped sustain her. Today, she is a strong advocate and spokesperson for the TBI community. She has established support groups and serves as a mentor and coach for others living with TBI, helping them rebuild their lives, too. Despite her progress, Stacia, like so many others, still deals with the long-term effects of her injury. She returned to teaching for a short time, but even with workplace accommodations, found it overwhelming. The experience led her to promote the importance of kindness, respect, and understanding for people with TBI. By sharing her story, Stacia is inspiring others to embrace their own journey, build community, and find hope in the wake of a life-changing injury.

Extending grace and gratitude 

Through her storytelling, Stacia Bissell shares important insights and strategies on living well with TBI. She favors the practice of “grace” – being kind to yourself and others in order to allow for healing and growth. Here are ways to put grace into practice. 

• Accept your injury

• Resist the temptation to mask or minimize challenges

• Surround yourself with a supportive community

• Ask for help when needed; accept help when it’s offered

• Say “yes” to new experiences

• Embrace confidence, resilience, and gratitude

• Understand that healing is a process

And remember, says Stacia, “There is no expiration date on recovery.”

Stacia shares her journey of resilience and recovery in a powerful podcast, “Look closer. My brain injury is invisible.” This talk, part of our quarterly Brainstorm series, was sponsored by the Northern New Jersey Traumatic Brain Injury System and Kessler Foundation. Stacia also joined members of the Brain Injury Advisory Council for a panel discussion on “Finding your voice: Strategies to cope with words that hurt.” Access both presentations using the QR code.