Headstrong: Surviving a Traumatic Brain Injury

by JoAnne Silver Jones

Overview

She didn’t see the hammer. For a fraction of a second JoAnne Jones saw a young black face, framed by a black hoodie, and then she descended into a place where she felt and saw nothing. Jones survived this sudden assault by a stranger, but it left her with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), fractured hands, and PTSD. Headstrong tells the story of how she learned to live with the daily challenges of TBI. It brings the reader into a life traumatized by violence and set in the context of a society full of violence and vocal, visible white supremacists. Woven throughout Jones’s account are the stories of how medical professionals, friends, family, and strangers became a foundation strong enough to hold her during the worst of times, and to give her the buoyancy to find a path toward hope.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781631526138
Publisher:	She Writes Press
Publication date:	11/19/2019
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

JoAnne Jones is Professor Emeritus at Springfield College in Massachusetts, where she worked for twenty-five years. While at Springfield College, Dr. Jones served as Associate Dean of the School of Human Services and Acting Dean of the School of Social Work. Before Springfield College, she was an Associate Professor at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and an Assistant Professor of Social Welfare at the University of Calgary, School of Social Welfare. Her teaching and research focused primarily on social justice issues. In addition to teaching, she has consulted with public and private organizations in relation to diversity, inclusiveness, and excellence. She is a cofounder of the firm Diversityworks Consulting.

Editorial Reviews

2020 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards Silver Winner in Best New Voice: Nonfiction

“Headstrong is an unforgettable journey into the experience of violent assault and the recovery from trauma. Dr. Jones’ intimately reflective story-telling and brilliant use of narrative voices draws us deeply into her consciousness as she re-lives each step of this physical, psychological, and emotional struggle for life. JoAnne carries us with her on this painful and uplifting journey of remembering and healing. As we read and witness and sob and cheer, we know we are participating intimately in a profound multi-dimensional experience of healing.”
—Steven Botkin, Men’s Resources International


“Eloquently told, Jones invites us into her harrowing journey from violence and brain injury to hope. With unflinching honesty, she shows how her determination to heal, led her to excavate the emotional legacy of her family and develop the emotional muscle to move beyond being a victim. If ever we needed a story of resilience against tough odds, now is the time.”
—Hilary Jacobs Hendel, author of the award-winning book, It’s Not Always Depression


“Jones begins her story by taking us through the day of her assault through her own eyes, starting with a seemingly benign walk from the metro station and ending with a savage beating, which we later learn was done with a hammer. She then proceeds to lead us along the roller coaster of her journey of recovery . . . she explores the nature of the new person she has become, learning to navigate her new life, both the good and the bad, managing her losses and celebrating her triumphs: living. As a brain injury survivor, it was a tough read for me. At the same time, I had a lot of trouble putting it down even for brief breaks. Headstrong is a page turner and a powerful read.”
—Deb Brandon, author of But My Brain Had Other Ideas: A Memoir of Recovery from Brain Injury


“Headstrong is a book about the trauma resulting from a vicious attack, but it also is a triumphant story of resilience. Jones reveals her intimate and hard-won journey toward recovery. The story is hers to tell—but it is our privilege to see inside the heart of a woman whose life is fortified by love and hope.”
—Dr. Patricia Romney, co-editor of Understanding Power: Imperative for Human Services

From the Publisher