Hello! I'm new here looking to help my brother with a TBI
 

Hello! This story is not my own. I am searching for advice and direction on how to help my wonderful brother, Keith.

Keith, now 51 yrs old, was always the 'black sheep' of the family. He's the middle child. We have an older brother and I'm the baby sister.
He always saw things just a tad differently, always marched to his own beat. He is artistic, mechanically minded, musical and has a heart of gold. He is tattooed all over and might scare you if he pulled over to help you on the roadside, but he would pull over, change your tire, take you home, do anything you needed and never expect anything in return.

I could go on. But, I'll pick up when he met the love of his life about 2 yrs ago. They were 2 peas in a pod, the happiest I've ever seen him. She had 2 grown children and a teenage son from previous marriages. Keith and his love got married Feb 2012. The son was always troubled, was on psychotic meds, in and out of treatment. In Sept of 2012, the now 15 yr old teenage son stole a gun, shot and killed his mother and shot my brother in the head.

The boy confessed to strangers the same night. He is now awaiting trial as an adult for first degree murder and attempted murder.

In the meantime, Keith was life-flighted to the ICU and was unconscious and paralyzed on the right side. He was there for several months where he did begin to regain some use of his right side. We then moved him to a rehab facility where he stayed for another couple of months. When he left there he was able to walk with assistance and feed himself and he could string together 3 or 4 words.

It has been a year now, he is still living with our mother. He has recovered physically very well, and has been able to return to work. His main issues are talking and initiative. He still has a lot of trouble talking and does very little on his own. I know he's dealing with the injury and the loss of his wife.

He has plateaued. He goes to work, comes home, eats, watches tv.
I don't want to say he's completely quit improving. Every now and then, he does something to surprise us, but overall he's very lethargic and probably depressed. Mom and I don't know how to help.

I live 2 hours away which complicates matters.

On a personal note - I live with my husband on a farm with our dog, 9 cats, 4 mammoth donkeys, 1 mule and a bunch of fowls. :)

I welcome this opportunity to broaden my perspective.
Thank you!

Nice to meet you!!