Children's longing for everydayness: Life following traumatic brain injury in the USA

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: Little is known about life after traumatic brain injury (TBI) from the child's perspective. RESEARCH DESIGN: This descriptive phenomenological investigation explored themes of children's experiences following moderate to severe TBI. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Inclusion criteria: 1) 6 – 18 years of age at injury; 2) moderate to severe TBI; 3) ≤ 3 years since injury; and 4) English speaking and could participate in an interview. Children participated (N = 39) in two interviews at least one year apart. A preliminary model was developed and shared for participants' input. MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Six themes emerged: 1) it is like waking up in a bad dream; 2) I thought going home would get me back to my old life, but it did not; 3) everything is such hard work; 4) you feel like you will never be like the person you were before; 5) it is not all bad; and 6) some people get it, but many people do not. CONCLUSIONS: Social support was important to how children adjusted to changes or losses. Most children did adjust to functional changes by second interviews. Children had a more difficult time adjusting to how others defined them and limited their possibilities for a meaningful life