Meet MSKTC Ambassador Steven Nape
- Steven Nape
As an undergraduate student at the University of South Carolina, Steven studied philosophy and economics, and as a graduate student earned a Ph.D. in economics. Reflecting on this, Steven believes this investment is perhaps the most important thing he could have done considering the challenges he now faces as a person with TBI, a husband, and a parent. As a life-long athlete, Steven remains committed to diet, exercise, and health. He has participated in many endurance sports, his favorite being open-water swimming. He takes pride in completing an open-water swim in Charleston, South Carolina in 2020. He trained physically and adapted the mindset to not just have the courage to start the swim, but to finish it, which he achieved! Steven also has a passion for music, art, history and philosophy
Steven’s Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Journey
Steven lives with two acquired brain injuries, a stroke from 2011 and a TBI from a motor vehicle accident in 2017. Since these injuries, Steven has benefited from the support of his family and the many therapists who helped him regain some of his quality of life. He continues to struggle with memory, executive function, problem solving, socialization, and vision, but credits his improvement to his dedicated support system. While he is no longer able to work, he can drive himself to participate in hobbies, and to contribute positively to his community. Recently, Steven has become a member of the Virginia Brain Injury Council, an active participant/supporter of his local brain injury services provider, and a community advisor to a student organization at a local university. Thankfully, he has found ways to feel useful again and is able to dedicate time to the well-being of others in the brain injury community. His injuries have shown him the true value of life, of relationships and of those helping support his recovery.
What does Steven think of the quality, usefulness, and user-friendliness of the MSKTC resources?
After his TBIs, Steven sought accurate and easily digestible information regarding his injuries, the prospect of recovery, and the importance of personal responsibility in rehabilitation. MSKTC and all its resources provided everything he was looking for and then some! The MSKTC factsheets and the videos were particularly helpful to him and to his supporters in understanding the challenges of living with a TBI. With brain injuries, it is often difficult to explain to others how you feel and why certain things are challenging or impossible. MSKTC offers data-driven and research-backed material that addresses these important needs. Steven has had opportunities to share MSKTC resources with those in his local community and they have been very well received. They have been as valuable to others, with or without brain injuries, as they have been to Steven personally.
Why does Steven want to be a MSKTC ambassador?
With the goal of contributing to his community, providing education and advocacy for the brain injury community offers an outlet for Steven to feel valuable and useful. Living with a brain injury can be very lonely. Interacting with other people who share your experiences or who provide support for your needs is invaluable. Using MSKTC’s factsheets, for example, makes social interaction more natural as it provides a concrete way of making a connection. As an Ambassador for MSKTC, Steven knows he will have the opportunity to (1) provide valuable, research-based information to help his community and (2) continue his personal rehabilitation through social interaction. In addition, he hopes to use his background in education to suggest additional material or alternate formats to help MSKTC’s mission of effectively reaching those in the TBI community.
What has Steven done as a MSKTC ambassador?
As a new ambassador, Steven has used MSKTC materials in settings appropriate for the discussion of brain injuries. This includes personal psychotherapy sessions, support groups, preparation for appointments with healthcare providers (who may or may not be brain injury specialists), and the various agencies where he has a formal (or informal) advisory role or receives services. As an MSKTC ambassador, he hopes to use the free resources to the betterment of those in his regional brain injury community, including survivors, caregivers, family members, and anyone who is interested in helping those struggling with brain injuries. Steven’s goals are high and while he acknowledges he might not fulfill them all, he strives to do his best armed with the strong, accurate and digestible information provided by MSKTC.