In May 2000, within a month of finishing her freshman year in high school, my daughter Lyndsi was competing in an afternoon soccer game at school. As she was running full force down the field, trying to pass the ball, it got twisted under her feet and Lyndsi was thrown up and over the ball, landing hard on the left side of her head.

Lyndsi’s fall on the soccer field was much more serious than her mother Lesli and I ever could have imagined on the day the accident happened. The blow to the left side of her head resulted in a number of complications. It caused brain damage, which appeared in subsequent CT scans and MRIs, and seriously weakened the right side of her body.

Following a year of intensive inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation therapy, Lesli and I worked with the administration at Lyndsi’s high school to begin her transition back to school. She began with part-time attendance, and in the fall of 2001, Lyndsi returned to her high school full-time. This proved to be one of the most difficult times for my daughter, as well as for Lesli and me. It was around this time that we started to realize how challenging it would be for Lyndsi to regain her social skills to a level that was acceptable to her peers and the general public.

Oftentimes, there were problems at lunchtime and in the halls between classes. Lyndsi was bothered by the loud noise and constant over-stimulation, which usually ended with her crying. The school administration began asking themselves if they had the ability to even educate Lyndsi. During the spring of last year, we visited the May Institute school with Lyndsi and decided to take the necessary steps to enroll her.

Since entering the May Institute school for brain injury in September 2002, Lyndsi has made very good progress. She has gained strength physically and is starting to participate in sports again. Lyndsi recently participated with a team from the May School, completing the 100-meter run and long jump as part of a local Special Olympics program.

Lyndsi’s academic skills, particularly math and reading, are really improving and she is making good progress. She is also becoming more independent, from doing homework, to taking care of herself and being able to perform her daily living routines. Behaviorally, Lyndsi has also improved. She is better able to conduct herself socially and in a group situation.

I want to acknowledge the teachers, therapists, and staff of the May School for all their help. Their educational and behavioral strategies are helping Lyndsi to reach her most optimal recovery.

This was written by Bob, father of Lyndsi, a student at the May Institute’s brain injury school.