Editor's Note: This series recognizes people who make a difference in their communities. To nominate someone, call Wendy Victora at 315-4478 or email wvictora@nwfdailynews.com.
MARY ESTHER — It was 20 years ago when Martha Bayer’s life and purpose changed forever.
She said the moment she learned her 19-year-old son had been in a ski accident that would leave him permanently brain damaged, her priorities shifted. Everything she had once known was different.
Now, the Mary Esther woman strives to bring families hope for the future through her support group Brain Injury Connection, which meets every Wednesday at Trinity United Methodist Church in Fort Walton Beach.
“When you’re in that type of situation, you start to look for the fortunate nuggets,” Bayer said. “I saw how much talking about how I felt and what we were going through helped. I wanted to do that for other families.”
The support group meets in an environment of complete acceptance, and attendees talk about everyone’s struggles, accomplishments and goals for the next week.
Bayer says she hopes to continue to spread the word that the support group’s service is available.
There are approximately 3,500 brain injury survivors in Okaloosa County. Bayer says she counsels about 60 of those.
“We haven’t even scratched the surface,” Bayer said. “My son is 40 now and he and I are both living with it every day. I’m feeling his losses and compromises just like other families of people with brain injuries.
“Our support group makes a difference once a week for them.”
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Angel McCurdy at 850-315-4432 or amccurdy@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @AngelMnwfdn.
