Gray Matters

Brain Injury Survivor Tells it Like it Is Gray Matters provides you the opportunity to view inside the perspective of someone recovering from a brain injury. Through her poetry, Heidi Lerner presents a thorough, subjective viewpoint as well as a professional and objective understanding of brain injury. With a creative flair, Ms. Lerner both educates and strikes a chord, sharing struggles with individual changes, loss and personal challenges, as well as ways that she's found that help her to get by. Gray Matters offers a deeper understanding of the inner-workings of the mind and how in many ways, brain injury affects life as we know it.
"I want to educate people about what brain injury is and what the rehabilitation process entails," said author Heidi Lerner. "I approach the topics of the brain, it's injury, resulting symptoms, rehabilitation, academic interventions, nature's healing influence, and the great benefit of support groups. I present all of this in a way that's casual and fun."

In her poetry, Ms. Lerner articulates about aspects of brain injury such as
the following:

Mood swings and depression
Balance and the right and left hemispheres of the brain
Complications of injury to different areas of the brain
The greatest challenges of head injuries
Accomplishments in rehabilitation
Keeping the faith and
An unending circle of support


Gray Matters helps brain injury survivors to better understand their injuries and themselves as well as by enabling them to be better understood by others. These writings exemplify the potential of inner-strength, adaptability and persistence for survivors of trauma. The greatest gift we can give to those who have lived to tell the tale of this challenge is our awareness and understanding of living with this reality.