Brain
Stories

Meet Dr. Robinson. Don Robinson’s Brain Story is one that tells of a highly educated and successful medical doctor who suffered a slip and fall almost 2 decades ago, and who now leads a different life after a traumatic brain injury.

Meet Kara Moore, a mother of two who was once a licensed interior designer working on million-dollar homes from Miami to Ft. Lauderdale. Kara suffers from epileptic seizures resulting from a brain injury sustained from an epidural procedure during the birth of her son. 

Brooke is 26, with a degree in Social Work and a passion for visual art. Her mental health journey began during childhood, and she has experienced periods of depression since then. Brooke’s upbringing steered her away from dealing with the issue.

Meet Steph, a 25-year-old social media manager, and content creator. She is a high-functioning individual who has always been good at completing tasks requiring periods of immense focus. She is charming, witty, and a great conversationalist. At 17, Steph was diagnosed with Bipolar II Disorder. 

Deborah Hunt reached out to UBA and wholeheartedly shared her story of her husband’s life and his tragic diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease. She notes how both his parents had it and that both herself and David were their caregivers until they passed. 

Mike Rubesch is a father, husband, and a successfully retired soccer coach. Unfortunately, Mike is also afflicted by Corticobasal Degeneration, also referred to as Early Onset Dementia. In 2012, Mike’s daughter Justine explained that he began to exhibit signs of spatial disorientation and other minor cognitive issues.

Collin's Brain Story encompasses the passion and drive of an ambitious young man who also happens to be living with Tourette's Syndrome. Collin took some time to speak with the United Brain Association about the challenges he faces and some of his accomplishments and goals.

Meet Kaelyn! This vibrant young girl’s Brain Story is one about living with Autism and Epilepsy. While roughly 2% of the U.S. population has been diagnosed with Autism, it has been observed that more than 75% of those diagnosed have four or more other diagnosed conditions on average.

Meet Rowan! This delightful young boy makes his appearance in our Brain Story series as our youngest contributor yet. Rowan's Brain Story is about living with Angelman syndrome, a neuro-genetic disorder occurring in one in 15,000 live births or 500,000 people worldwide.

My name is Julie Dukes, and I am 51 years old. I grew up in a small rural town in Iowa.  I lived in Connecticut for 15 years, where I raised my two amazing boys. Five years ago, I reunited with my High School sweetheart, and I moved back to Iowa. Proudly, I have been a critical care nurse for thirty years.