03/16/2026
In 2021, orthopedic physical therapist (and former Olympian!) Kris was struck on the head by a falling object, what seemed like a minor injury quickly became a long, winding journey through concussion and brain injury recovery.
At first, she tried to push through: one stitch, a day of rest, back to work. But her symptoms, fatigue, confusion, visual challenges, and what she calls feeling “wonky”, only intensified.
Eventually, she turned to the Hennepin Healthcare Traumatic Brain Injury Program, where a coordinated team of physical medicine, speech therapy, psychology, neuro‑optometry, and OT helped her rebuild her life with compassion and expertise.
Kris learned the hard way that brain injuries require a totally different kind of healing: careful pacing, energy management (“energy is king”), and a deep respect for the brain’s limits. She found new strategies, new structure, and even new metaphors, like “poking the bear,” “wonky waters,” and tending to her “cognitive pyramid.”
Today, Kris continues discovering what life after brain injury looks like, more patience, more tools, and more understanding for the 100,000+ Minnesotans living with TBI.
Her story aims to build that understanding for others, too.
Read more about her story on our Here for Life Blog webpage: www. hennepinhealthcare.org/blog
