Taking steps to help those with brain injuries

The Brain Injury Association of New York State is holding its annual March on for Brain Injury Walk at Eisenhower Park on Saturday, Sept. 14. The walk raises awareness and funds for those who are dealing with a brain injury — which could be caused by cancer, a stroke, physical injury, benign tumors — among a multitude of other things.

The walk and fundraiser are led by the Brain Injury Association of New York State.

The event brings together brain injury survivors, caregivers and professionals in the field to celebrate and honor the memory of the brain injury community.

The Long Island walk will honor Emily Sciascia, who was involved in a car accident that temporarily claimed her life in December 2022. The impact left her with a severe traumatic brain injury, facial fractures, broken bones in her arm and foot, and extensive bruising and bleeding. Medical professionals feared that Sciascia would not survive her injuries — and if she did, they feared that she’d be unable to walk or speak again. But, Sciascia has defied all expectations.

Over the past year, Sciascia has relearned how to walk and speak, and has rediscovered her love for writing, reading, and creating art, found new joy in mornings, and been accepted into neuroscience programs. Instead of resenting the wounded version of herself, she has learned to embrace and care for that part of her, the brain injury association said. Her close friends describe her as “a distillation of wonder — a sound intellect, good-humored, a survivor, and above all, a graceful companion,” a sentiment that resonates even more deeply after her brain surgery.

As the 2024 March On for Brain Injury Long Island Honoree, Sciascia is eager to share her journey, helping others in the community learn and understand that life can still be beautiful after a traumatic brain injury.

This year’s walk will also recognize medical honoree, Dr. Brian Im, who is the director of the brain injury rehabilitation at Rusk Rehabilitation, which is part of NYU Langone Health. There, Im continues to treat patients.

Im is incredibly supportive of the work of the brain injury association, and is a member of its board. He works to spread awareness and raise funds to support the programs and services that the association provides the brain injury community, which he proudly supports.

The March On for Brain Injury Walk occurs virtually and in three physical locations, including Long Island. Walk events kick off at 10 a.m., in the Scarlett Oak Picnic Area of the park.

For more information and to learn more about the association, its work and the Eisenhower walk, visit MarchOn.BIANYS.org.