Stacy Sykora, from Ft. Worth, Texas, was a two-time All-American volleyball player at Texas A&M. She is also a member of the U.S. Olympic volleyball team. Last year, in a bus accident near Sao Paulo, Brazil, she sustained a brain injury when the vehicle carrying her Brazilian team overturned one rainy night.

She was taken to Hospital Sírio-Libanês, and treated in ICU for about one week for head trauma and bleeding in one side of her brain. For several days, she was placed in a medically-induced coma to allow her brain to rest. After the accident in Brazil, she returned to Southern California where she received neurological care, and to be with the Olympic team, where she was assisted by their medical staff and physical therapists.

During the last year she has worked hard to recover and has even rejoined the U.S. women’s Olympic volley ball team. She still has some issues with her vision and tracking balls, however, so it isn’t clear yet if she will play in the London Games, though she will attend.

She has played on the team in the previous three Olympic Games, but right now she says her full game capacity isn’t activated yet. Brain injuries can require a long time to heal completely. Actually, like all injuries, there is no guarantee they will heal entirely. She has been training up to six days a week in order to recover. Her coach has noted her resilience.

According to Caregiver.org, about 5.3 million Americans live with brain injuries and the disabilities associated with them. Recovering from a brain injury can involve neurologists and psychiatrists, as well as occupational, speech, physical and language therapists. Also, of course, medical doctors, psychologists, family members and support groups can be of benefit.
Brain injuries can require a large range of support, and such requirements can be expensive, which is why it can help to have a knowledgeable brain injury attorney.

John Hale is a Waxahachie personal injury attorney and Ellis County personal injury lawyer helping injury victims near Dallas Texas. Learn more at https://www.hale911.com/