Rising from the Rubble: A Nurse’s Brain Injury, Trauma, and the Fight to Heal

What happens when your life changes in an instant—and no one believes you?

In this powerful episode of The Voyage Cast, we sit down with Laura, a nurse, survivor, and author of No, I’m Not Fine, Thank You, who shares her raw and redemptive journey through traumatic brain injury recovery and the deep, unexpected connection between physical healing and unresolved childhood trauma.

Initially misdiagnosed with a mild concussion, Laura’s condition worsened, but so did her determination. Refusing to accept surface-level answers, she embarked on a years-long process of healing, self-advocacy, and neurorehabilitation, learning firsthand how the brain can rewire itself—and how trauma can live in the body for decades.

In this episode, Laura opens up about:

• The early signs that her brain injury was more than just a concussion
• The emotional chaos and isolation of being dismissed by doctors and peers
• The role that childhood trauma played in her physical health and recovery
• The tools and therapies that helped her heal emotionally and neurologically
• How she turned her pain into purpose through writing and advocacy

This is more than a story of injury—it’s a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, and a message of hope for anyone who’s ever been misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or underestimated.

If you’ve ever faced a battle that no one else could see, this episode is for you.

Check out Laura's awesome book: "No, I'm Not Fine. Thank You"

Transcript

Resilience and Renewal: A Nurse's Journey from Traumatic Brain Injury to Self-Healing 

Host: Welcome everyone to another episode of our podcast. Today, we have a very special guest with us, Laura, who is a nurse. Laura has an incredible story of recovery from a brain injury after a fall. 

Laura: Thank you for having me. My journey started in December 2021. I was at a Christmas Market when I slipped and fell, landing headfirst on concrete. I thought I was fine and avoided going to the hospital as long as possible. However, when I woke up the next morning with significant facial bruising and vomiting, I knew something was wrong. I went to the hospital, where they found a massive bleed in my brain, and I had to have emergency surgery. 

Host: That sounds incredibly frightening. You mentioned that you thought you would recover quickly, but that wasn't the case? 

Laura: That's right. After the surgery, I developed a new brain bleed and had a seizure. I was put on a modified bed rest, and it was a difficult time for me. I felt alone and scared. I had to constantly be on the lookout for symptoms that might indicate things were getting worse. 

Host: That sounds incredibly tough. What did you do to start the healing process? 

Laura: One day, I realized that I had to change my mindset in order to get better. I started listening to podcasts and audiobooks on trauma healing and brain healing, and that led me on a year and a half journey of healing my brain and trauma from my childhood and adult life. 

Host: Laura, can you tell us more about the different therapies you adopted to heal? 

Laura: Sure, I adopted various therapies like neurofeedback, somatic therapy, EMDR, acupuncture, and functional medicine. These techniques helped me reduce panic attacks, manage inflammation, and lead a caffeine-free life. 

Host: That's incredible. Laura, your journey is truly inspiring. Thank you for sharing your story with us. Laura: Thank you for having me. I hope my story can serve as a beacon of hope for others on a similar path. 

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