There’s a kind of injury that often goes unseen.

If someone you love breaks a leg, people rush in with casseroles and crutches and understanding. But if they have a brain injury from a car crash, fall or concussion, the outside might look “fine” while everything inside has changed.

Maybe you’re caring for someone who:

• forgets things they used to remember easily
• gets overwhelmed by noise, light or busy rooms
• can’t tolerate screens anymore
• seems like their personality has shifted

You might be wondering: Is this the injury? Is this them? Is it me?
And you’re trying to hold your own life together at the same time.

This episode is for you if you’re living in that confusing middle ground after a traumatic brain injury – as a survivor, partner, parent, or friend.

In Part 1 of this two‑part Radiant Moments conversation, Michelle speaks with Kelly Tuttle, a neurology nurse practitioner who joined what she calls the “head injury survivors club” after a serious car accident in 2015. Three months later she realised something was very wrong – and that was the beginning of a long journey of brain healing and self‑discovery.

Now Kelly sits across from patients and families every day who are walking a similar path, and she offers both clinical insight and lived experience in a way that makes people say, “You get it.”

Inside This Episode (Part 1)

• Kelly’s Story: From Crash to Concussion to “Something’s Really Wrong”
• Understanding Neuro Fatigue
• Common but Misunderstood Symptoms of Brain Injury
• The Invisible, Chronic Side of Brain Injury
• Communication Strategies for Caregivers
• The Role of Journalling in Recovery

Weekly Caregiver Invitation (Part 1)

This week:

1. Notice one symptom or behaviour that’s been confusing you (irritability, forgetfulness, fatigue, sensory overload).

2. Gently ask, “If this is the brain working harder, not them being difficult, what might that change in how I respond?”

3. If you can, jot down one small pattern you’re seeing – time of day, environment, or triggers.

This isn’t about fixing everything overnight. It’s about starting to see what’s really happening inside a healing brain.

In Part 2, Kelly and I move into the practical: how to support a healing brain day to day, navigate doctors, and rebuild a life that still feels full and meaningful after traumatic brain injury.

Connect with Kelly Tuttle
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brain_np_/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-tuttle-72589810/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brainlovingnp
Website: https://kellytuttle.org/
Complimentary Resource: Stress‑Less Medical Worksheet – via Kelly’s website

J and B Inspired Caregiver Resources: (Radiant Moments - Caregiver Oasis)
J and B Inspired website: https://jandbinspired.com
90 Second Reset Program: https://jandbinspired.com/90-second-reset-program
Oasis Membership Waitlist: https://jandbinspired.com/founding-member

Music by Konstantin Garbuzyuk (via Uppbeat)

#caregiving #braininjury #TBI #neurofatigue #radiantmomentspodcast

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