When Katie Ellis sustained a severe brain injury over 10 years ago, doctors didn’t think she would live. But they didn’t realize how strong her spirit is.

During her time in our Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Program, Katie worked tirelessly to beat the odds, fighting her way out of the hospital and back into the community. Her courage, perseverance and personal progress are inspiring on their own, but she didn’t stop there:

Katie has turned tragedy into triumph by using her experience to transform the lives of others.

In her free time, Katie meets with other survivors of brain injury to share her story and empower them to get involved in the ABI community. She can honestly tell them, “I’ve been where you are,” and inspire the hope and strength to fight as tenaciously as she did.

For the last 8 years, Katie has been the co-facilitator for the Project Genesis / BIAC support group in Willimantic and has assisted with our collaborative Fun in the Sun Picnic. Katie has also presented “What It’s Like to Live with an ABI” to a large Boy Scout group. Katie always has a smile on her face and works hard to help those around her.

In honor of her leadership in the ABI community, Katie was awarded the Brain Injury Alliance of CT (BIAC) Community Service Award, which is “Awarded to those whose community service has furthered the cause of brain injury survivors, their families, and caregivers.” Katie received a beautiful plaque at the BIAC annual conference in March 2017 in front of an audience of over 300 attendees.

 

Thank you, Katie, for tirelessly demonstrating the transformative powers of courage and connection.