What a journey it has been.  

Our names are Tim Blosser and Jana Benscoter. 

We are running in the 'Brain Injury Challenge: Race for Recovery 2019' for those who may never reach the milestones that we've both achieved. Last year, I (Jana) raised half of my $2,000 goal for The Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania. 

This year, Tim and his beautiful daughter Madelyn are running with me. We've set the same goal of $2,000. Can you help us to reach it? 

Nearly two years ago, I was rear-ended by a drunk driver, who was also high on lorazepam. I slammed my head on the steering wheel on impact. Two weeks later, I was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury. 

The effects of it caused me to suffer from severe headaches, vision problems, vertigo, dizziness, depression, confusion, weakness, memory loss, hearing problems, and at times, slurred speech. It caused temporary problems within personal relationships, but thankfully, my symptoms improved over time. When I was discharged seven months later, life was returning to normal. 

Unless you have sustained a severe injury to the head, it's difficult to explain how simple daily functions, like smiling and laughing, become a big deal. I think my most favorite part of recovery - other than being able to walk again - is smiling and laughing. 

I feel tremendously blessed to have made a full recovery, but I understand others may not be as lucky. So, I am running in their place, in their honor, and choosing to support others who may be battling a hidden injury. 

Tim's story began when he was 14.

When I was 14, I was in a bicycle accident, landed on my head, and blacked out. I was in the hospital for several days for observation, but back then, there was little understanding of the long-term effects of brain injury. At age 18, I was in a motorcycle accident, and while I never lost consciousness, I experienced memory loss of the immediate time period following the accident.

Because I appeared lucid to the emergency room staff, they treated me for the obvious injury (broken clavicle), but ignored my head injury - according to my family (because details are hazy to me), the doctor never ordered a scan or even checked my pupils.

My hope is that brain injuries today will be taken more seriously, and that patients will get both the short-term and long-term care they need.