April 8, 2021

Hi everybody. Welcome to the blog where I talk about the present.

Oh man, my frustration level is at an all time high. You see, someone I care for very much has covid. They are far away. When I was normal, I would just hop on a plane or hop in my car and just hit the road, you know, for moral support and any medical support I could lend. But things are different now. The best i can do is just have someone pick up the phone for me. It’s all very frustrating. Just another thing you have to cope with when you have a traumatic brain injury, I guess. It’s interesting, I’ve been watching no news, and I watch romantic comedy. No action films or suspense dramas. Because of all this, I don’t have auras, like I used to. Auras are a precursor to a seizure. But I’m on anti seizure medicine which will basically stop a seizure from happening.

On another note, I had a team meeting with all the people who look after me. It was a good meeting. When you navigate through this world with a traumatic brain injury, you know, the medical world, you’ll come across some people that are very cool. They’ll take their time off to meet you and truly advocate for you. It’s rare, but they exist. One such woman is a woman named Lisa Howard. It’s important you know this name, because she’s in charge of the lower Hudson Valley Traumatic Brain Injury Waiver Program. Yeah, like her, there are people out there who will advocate for you. It’s important you have people like this because unlike me, millions of people can’t speak up for themselves. I guess I’m lucky in that regard. I just have one question for all you guys, does anybody out there know when all this BS is gonna end? I need a vacation! Probably everyone feels like that right now.

Hey! on another nother note. My physical therapist came by and I took a couple of steps with a walker. It was very cool. But I was using muscles I haven’t used in a couple of years. It was tough. Just another step towards walking. It was exciting and positive reinforcement. Something you definitely need when you’re like this! It’s amazing how something so simple can make you happy. It was exhausting though. Thank god I used to be an athlete. I used to have strong legs. I guess it’s another reason to stay in shape. You never know what’s around the corner.

I’m gonna go enjoy the sun and the flowers. It’s spring here and it’s nice to hang outside in the sun.

Talk to you guys next week. Love you.

Love, B. Nice

March 24, 2021

Hi you guys. Welcome to my blog where I talk about my present.

I know I talked about it before, but, oh man it’s important we take care of these home health care aides. Yesterday, I was contacted by an organization that’s pushing for more money and acknowledgement for healthcare aides. I was happy to share my story. You know, I live at home. I could be in a nursing home, but I chose to live at home. I was lucky to have the choice. My family took good care of me. One has a better quality of life if one chooses to live at home. After all, what nursing home would allow me to have my smelly dog. It’s true, there are good healthcare facilities, but there is no place like home. It’s true though, these healthcare aides look after you. They should be paid at least what they get in a nursing home. These healthcare aides work their butts off, plus, they’ve gotta put up with me. LOL

I’ve been on the quest. For some reason, this movement resonates with me. I find it all very frustrating. I keep trying to talk to who I think are the right people, but I keep getting mis-directed. I feel like I’m getting the run around. It almost makes me want to go to the media, but that might create a whole other can of worms. After all, who’s gonna listen to a guy who’s had a brain injury twice.

On another note, I’ve been doing more and more therapy. It definitely pays off. I’m more tired, that’s for sure, but it definitely helps me advance. I’m learning how to stand up at the moment. It’s working good. I’m less shaky.

That’s really all I have to report for this week. I hope you guys are dealing with this Covid mess good. And I hope you’re staying healthy. I’m just here in my own little world. It’s actually not a bad place to be. I said to my sister, “See, it paid off, being a hermit.”

Love, B. Nice

P.S. Here a letter I wrote to the governor a while back. You see, I’ve been at this for a while:

May 16, 2018

The Honourable Andrew M. Cuomo

Albany, NY 

Dear Mr. Cuomo,

My name is Brian Nice, and we are connected I'm a way. Your mother liked my father's artwork and bought a piece for the mansion up there. My parents spent time with your mother at the horse races. My father still talks about it to this day. But, the real reason why I'm writing to you is in regards to the TBI Waiver Program you started, thank God.

I'm a traumatic brain injury survivor. I'm mentally OK, but I'm physically messed up. As a matter of fact, my childhood friend is typing this for me as I dictate. The program you instigated (The TBI Waiver Program) is a great program. It basically saved my ass. But, I strongly feel it's underfunded. I mean, you should see the people who come here to take care of me. Some are good, but I go through a lot to get to the good ones. Maybe what's needed is to raise more awareness, like through the NFL, or the ARMY or something like that. Something's got to be done because I'm putting my life in the hands of people who can make more money flipping burgers. As you can tell, I'm kind of fed up with the care I'm getting. Like I said, I'm putting my life in these people's hands. Maybe they can be paid directly from New York State rather than having to go through agencies. It could generate higher quality of care and give them New York State benefits.

I'm reaching out to you in hopes that you will do something. Please feel free to call me if you'd like to talk more about it. I could tell you some stories that would flip you out.

Sincerely

Brain D. Nice

845-265-2705

P.S. I did a movie about traumatic brain injury. Check it at briannice.com/documentary

March 18, 2021

Oh man! Every day I say, you have your good days and bad days. Today I’m having a bad day, but I’ve been saying that for ten years. I’m exhausted. It’s a good thing I was a competitive athlete because every day is like the first day of training. I just have to plug away at it. Speaking of plugging away at it, I’ve been trying to get more money for my healthcare assistants. I’ve been trying to make this job of looking after me a more attractive job. But, now that I think about it, no money in the world would be enough to look after me. LOL

It’s true. These poor people make nothing. It’s crazy. You would think you would be paid well to look after a human soul. But they can make more money at a fast food restaurant, flipping burgers. It’s kind of irritating. I feel bad for them, cause they have to take like two jobs just to make ends meet. And because they take two jobs, they’re naturally tired. The last thing you need is a tired healthcare worker. Believe me. Don’t get me started. I’ll go on and on about it. I started the process of trying to get them more money, but it’s exhausting for me in this condition. Exhausting and frustrating. Listen, if you’re reading this, you’re gonna get old one day. Everyone gets old, and the last thing you want to do is go into a nursing home. Believe me. The future is gonna be home healthcare. You’ll see. And especially, these days, no one wants to go to a nursing home. I call nursing homes God’s Waiting Room. My advice to you guys out there, never get old, and don’t ever get sick.

Love you, miss you guys.

Love, B. Nice

February 11, 2021

Hi you guys. Welcome to the blog where I talk about the present.

Man, I don’t know what it is, but my temper’s very short. It could be that we’re locked up like caged animals with three feet of snow outside. When you have a traumatic brain injury, it really affects your emotions. My emotions swing wildly from depressed to extreme joy. It’s crazy. Unfortunately, my poor sister got the brunt of my anger one day. Luckily, my health aides are trained to recognize my emotions. I found the best thing to do is sit in any sunlight you get. Whether it be inside or outside, preferably outside. I guess also I’m going through what you might call a mid-life crisis. I just turned 60. Can you believe it? I’m officially an old man. Then, in conjunction with the fact that I haven’t seen my daughter in 2 years, bums me out. But I throw myself into my photography and art. Thank god for that.

You know, exercise is also really good thing. I still go to physical therapy three times a week. Each session is about an hour. It’s tough, but it’s worth it. My goal is to be up and walking as soon as I can. You know, walking with a walker. That’s realistic, I think. I keep doing excercises to strengthen my legs. It’s important. Also core strength is really important. I try do stomach sit ups every day. It’s important.

That’s it for now. I’m gonna keep it short. Oh, one more thing. I always try and keep reggae music on in the background. It takes me back to the sunny islands. Music is important, as well as food. Oh, yeah, and get yourself a fish. A fish will lower your blood pressure. That’s a fact.

Love you guys. Talk to you next week.

B. Nice

February 3, 2021

Hi everybody, welcome to the blog where I talk about the present.

Now, sorry about the shock value on the following paragraph, but it has a lot to do with this new medication I’m on.

There’s nothing like a good dump on the floor to start your day. Now, If I have to rush to the bathroom, my health assistant has to lift me up with a lift, put my harness on, stand me up, roll me over to the toilet chair, put me on the chair, and roll me over the toilet. Now, this time, I didn’t make it. I had an accident on the floor. Now, I’m telling you all this because you may have a traumatic brain injury and you may be reading this, and that is to show that it’s OK if things go wrong. You’re messed up. Shit happens (no pun intended). My dog looked at my health aide as if to say, “How come he didn’t get scolded?”

On another note, I got an email from a college buddy. My coach from college is not doing so well. It doesn’t look good. This guy was something else. He was a tough old bastard. I can see him now at the hospital, in his hospital gown, bare ass, running down the road, muttering “fuck this” or something like that with his handkerchief. His workouts were brutal. But he brought me to a high status of running. I became an NCAA runner. I held track records. I ran across the United States with him and a relay team. We were in the Guinness Book of World Records. The guy was a good coach. You know, thinking about it, probably his training contributed to my survival. Under his training, I had to endure a lot of pain and suffering. Basically, he made me a tough old bastard as well. RF

Love, B Nice