Michael Paul Mason

Dr. Joel Cooper with his index cards

Today in Philadelphia, I interviewed Dr. Joel Cooper, the surgeon who performed the world’s first successful lung transplant.  One of the pleasures of meeting someone in person (instead of the phone) is that you get a much better sense of the person’s humanity. In the picture above, you can see Dr. Cooper holding a stack of index cards. One of them is twenty years old and contains the names of several of his patients. Every Christmas, he calls them on the phone and congratulates them on another year of healthy living.

This afternoon I’ll be at the World Congress on Brain Injury presenting a talk called “The Twittered Brain: How Survivors are Using Social Networking to Maintain Their Relationships.” It’s based on a survey I conducted back in October of 2009, where I polled about 60 self-identifying respondents about their usage of Facebook and Twitter after their brain injury.

For years, we’ve been aware of the devastating impact of brain injury on a person’s social life, but this is the first time we’ve really seen a strong possibility of countering those effects. Currently, the use of Facebook by people with disabilities is primarily a large grass roots movement, but I think it can be supported and nurtured by the community. We can provide better access to online services, we can offer assistive devices, and we can train others how to use social networking safely and productively.

Update: Thanks to all those who attended my talk. I was particularly pleased that others have noted a similar phenomenon occurring in places like New Zealand and Australia.

Post-interview fun with friends at Brainline

In between conference talks, I had a chance to skip over to the offices of brainline.org to tape an interview for their “Ask the Expert” series–this one focusing on case management issues following a brain injury. I always enjoy getting to visit my friends there, because they’re always up-to-date on the most innovative changes in the brain injury world.

In case you’re not aware of it, Brainline is an information hub for brain injury education and resources–and it’s also the most socially-connected site that promotes brain injury awareness. Check it out here.

I’ve been recommending David Grann to a lot of readers lately. Here’s a recent Galleycat review I did about The Devil and Sherlock Holmes:

But Grann isn’t just a keen reporter–he employs the subtlest literary touches that add texture and soul to his work. When we meet Steve O’Shea, the “Squid Hunter,” Grann notes that O’Shea’s glasses make his eyes look large, and he reeks of the sea. Then as we begin to learn more and more about the giant squid Architeuthis, the object of Shea’s obsession, Grann drops an occasional parallel between the squid and O’Shea, making us wonder if O’Shea himself isn’t part squid. Grann’s writing sings as well as it teaches.

Read GalleyCat Reviews: “The Devil and Sherlock Holmes” by David Grann

This week, I’ll be attending the Eighth World Congress on Brain Injury, to be held in Washington D.C. March 10-14th. It will be the first time the congress will be held in the US, and it will be occurring during Brain Injury Awareness Month, so I’m hoping the combination results in a big surge of awareness of prevention and research.

On Saturday the 13th, I’ll be presenting a talk called “The Twittered Brain,” which is based on results from a survey I conducted about the use of social networking among survivors of brain injury. If you happen to be participating in the conference, make sure you drop by and say hello.

This Friday, I’ll be at the Brain Injury Association of Iowa’s annual conference in Des Moines,  presenting a talk called “Love in the Time of Brain Injury,” which tells the story of Jen and Seth Adams (pictured left). Just a few months after the wedding, Jen sustained a brain injury that radically changed the course of her marriage.

Click here for details about the talk.

Last week, I had a chance to attend the Brain Injury Association of America’s Business College, which was located at the Historic Menger Hotel, just a stone’s throw from the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas.

The Menger was built in 1859 and, as you can see in the picture, retains much of its splendor today. In addition to being one the city’s most haunted spots, it also houses a wealth of historical intrigue. The Menger cigar bar, for example, was used by Teddy Roosevelt to recruit Rough Riders.

Hotel Menger website.

photo by Michael Cooper

One of the perks of being a writer is that I get to meet extraordinary individuals–and sometimes they’re right under your nose. Special thanks to up-and-coming Tulsa photographer Michael Cooper for a series of great shots I can use for upcoming pr.

Three burn survivors and myself at Brooke Army Medical Center

This past week, I toured the Burn Care Unit at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio, Texas. In case you haven’t heard of it, BAMC is the place that treats every service member who returns from Iraq or Afghanistan with a serious burn.

Remember Olympian hopeful, snowboarder Kevin Pearce? Read about his situation below:

Star challenger watches Olympics from brain injury facility