TBI & Healing Thoughts - Recently Updated Pages

Standing Tall: Traci Nubalo Talks to Vitolo

PatritziaRossini — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:29:37 CST

My Hubby has been logged into SL for less time for the past year, due to illness. Now that the worst is over, I feel safe to talk about it. Vito underwent some rough surgeries, and he is finally up to the weight the doctors hoped. Journalist Traci Nubalo talked to Vito once he was settled, and she wrote a great article.

Vitolo Rossini: Standing Tall

BY TRACI NUBALO
PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 7, 2012The Metaverse Tribune

Martial Arts Instructor, Ice Cream Man, Community Mainstay,Vito Rossini wore a lot of white hats as an involved citizen of Tucson, Arizona back in 2003. When he left his home that morning in his ice cream truck little did he know that by nightfall he’d be wearing a most horrific new title: TBI victim.Leaving work that day, he was struck by another vehicle and suffered massive damage to his head.Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is the leading cause of death and disability in Americans ages 1 to 44. It results in approximately 52,000 deaths per year in the United States and a full 2% of the population – about 5.3 million Americans – currently live with disabilities from TBI, according to the Brain Trauma Foundation.In Vito’s case, he spent 6 ½ weeks in a coma and two more years in rehabilitation. He was left partially paralyzed on his left side, and has serious pain issues. He gets around on a walker, and wears prism glasses to correct chronic double vision.During the long months in rehab, Vito met his lovely wife Patrizia, a medi-van driver, as she transported him to an appointment. They have been married for four years.In 2006 Vito discovered Second Life, and immediately found a world where he could do all the things he could no longer do in RL – run, dance, even fly. He got involved in creating and “training” artificial intelligence dogs in SL, and found that he had a knack for the scripting language required to program them.And, of course, he told other “TBI friends” about SL and they, too, logged on to join him here. Many of them got AI dogs from Vito and a very strange thing began to happen. He began to get reports that his some of his handicapped friends who were working with AI pets in SL were experiencing changes in the way they were dreaming at night. This was usually followed by some degree of measurable positive change in their health and functionality in RL.It was learned that the “relaxed play” that one engages when interacting with a virtual pet can be a source of healing for the TBI patient. It’s assumed that by lessening the stress of learning via this “relaxed play”, the brain is encouraged to open new and healthier neuronal pathways. In many TBI patients this has resulted in welcome and lasting results. “They sometimes experience an exhilarating feeling of success in their inworld achievements,” says Vito. “And this stimulates them to work even harder and to begin to make progress in other important areas of life.”I had written a piece about Vito for a Second Life magazine in April of 2011. I decided to revisit Vito “The DogFather” Rossini to see how he is.Traci Nubalo: Great to see you again, Vito. How have things been going for you since our last visit?

Vitolo Rossini: I’m doing very well, Traci. Thank you. I’m getting better slowly. I spent the last two years – following colon surgery – trying to eat more and gain some weight. I finally hit my target goal of 140 lbs.
TN: Excellent! How did you go about this?
VR: One of the things that has helped me the most is the use of medical marijuana. I guess I’ve become something of an activist in the medical marijuana community, helping others who are also benefiting from such medications.”Vito has also written a couple of articles in the interim. His topic of choice is the use of virtual worlds to facilitate RL growth and change. In one fascinating piece “Traversing the Real Life Dreamscape in Second Life” Vito discusses the use of “virtual fear abatement techniques for systematic desensitization.” Easy for him to say!An example of what this means is that Vito has begun helping those with a dread fear of falling by repeatedly getting them to roleplay “falling off” high buildings in Second Life. Over time, their RL fears relax as their anxiety over falling in SL quiets down.Similarly, he cites a case in which he used another form of the technique to help thirteen disabled friends, all of whom suffered with a chronic, dread fear of dogs. After the fear abatement roleplaying exercises in Second Life nine of the thirteen have relaxed enough that they are now able to own RL service dogs.I find myself very moved by what this once-broken man has been able to do to help and to serve others, in the midst of his own personal tribulations. It seems certain that most of us might have folded our cards when dealt such a disastrous hand by life. This man’s attitude and infectious good will have left me humbled and hopeful for the rest of us.As we said goodbye Vito commented: “Life is good. Patty is very good to me. Second Life has made me more able to function in RL. It’s given me direction and made me less afraid of other people. I’m really enjoying helping others learn to use SL as a therapy in their own lives.”I’m learning that in a world that can beat people down so easily, a man like Vito Rossini becomes a valuable role model, inviting all of us to stand tall beside him.

TBI & Healing Thoughts

VitoloRossini — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:23:03 CST

I am devoting this website to inspirational thoughts by anyone who has survived a Traumatic Brain Injury, or by those who are supporters of our struggle.
Each writer will be given their own page, on which they can express themselves with art, poetry, prose, or any form of expression that is geared toward inspiring survivors to "keep up the fight".

Miracles Can Happen!!!!!!!

SpiritOfLife — Sun, 08 May 2011 13:42:39 CDT

My injury was caused by an EX alcoholic abusive person
My family deserted me except for my Mom
How I have to thank her dearly for her support

After the injury none of my family recognized me
I was not invited to any gatherings
No one came to see me
I felt deserted and alone by the people who were to love me the most

Now after the divorce my sister-in-law has stepped up
For my birthday she had me over the day before
She has taken me out shopping and I take her out to eat
Of course I give her money for gas

We see each other about every other week
The rest of the family still does accept me
Well they are changing to
My brother and niece came over on my birthday and brought me a cake and a DVD
I could not stop crying

After around 17 years, (14 years since the injury)
They are recognizing me
I am part of the family I love so much

I do not want to hear MIRACLES CANNOT HAPPEN
MIRACLES MAY TAKE A WHILE BUT THEY DO HAPPEN!!!!!!!!!!!!

Miracles do happen!!!

SpiritOfLife — Sun, 08 May 2011 13:30:30 CDT

There is no abstract available for this page revision.

I LOST EVERYTHING

SpiritOfLife — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 03:57:12 CDT

There is no abstract available for this page revision.

SpiritOfLife

VitoloRossini — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 14:09:39 CST

Families are to:
love us unconditionally
supportive even in time of disasters or change
caring
respectful
accepting us for who we are
encouraging us to be as good as we can be

After our injury the family we knew:
runs away
hides in time of trouble
smothers us with good intentions like we are too delicate to accept reality of a death, illness, celebrations
make decisions for us
looks down on us as we are less then human
locks us up in nursing homes, group homes or other facilities that we may not need
take away our ability to make our own decisions, mistakes and independence
lowers our confidence in our new self, our new abilities, and new world
takes away our ability to reach for the stars

The majority of us experience this phenomenon
We have our choices to make
Accept the family we have before the injury which means the family that changes after the injury
leave the family we know after the injury
form a new family that does
accept us for who we have become
what we can do
be there to let us fall but help pick us up when we need it
encourage and aid us in reaching for the stars

SpiritOfLife

Christmas message 2010

SpiritOfLife — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 21:10:57 CST

Christmas time is a time to give to baby Jesus our precious gifts
The most precious gift of all is the gift of friendship
whether old or new
past or present

Friends are the greatest gift of all
Sharing, caring, support and encouragement
are all gifts given to friends and from friends

May your life be full of life, love and laughter even through the rough times
I can only pray and light a candle
to a friend

God bless you
and keep you close
and may his light always shine around you

3 Personality Types in a Virtual World

VitoloRossini — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 16:03:27 CDT

After a few years in a virtual world, and meeting thousands of residents, I grew to realize that more than half of virtual world residents are homebound in one way or another.
Disabilities come in many forms. I am physically disabled, and leave home rarely. Many share my situation.
There are those that are emotionally homebound also.
Whether one is at home using a Virtual World for emotional, physical, or any other reason, there is one thing that we all have in common.
This is our window to the world.
As residents we learn that even though we are graphic images, cartoons if you will, our feelings can be hurt. Others in the metaverse can break our hearts without even a thought.
Why?
There are three distinct personality types that come "in world".
*There are Residents

A resident is a person that depends on their virtual environment as their social, educational or creative environment on a daily basis. A resident spends from 2 hours a day up to 24 hours a day "in world". I am a resident. When a resident logs in, they count on their window to the world to fill their life.
*There are Visitors

A visitor has is a person that has RL as their window to the world. They may use SL as an extra curricular activity or for business. Most visitors come in world once a week to once a month. When in world they pay tier, collect money, answer IMs, send group notices, and then they are gone.
These people can hurt your feelings because they are concerned with getting what they came to do in world done, and getting back to RL. They are not concerned with a residents needs, only with how the virtual world affects them and their personal goals.
*There are Players

A player comes to a virtual world to do just that, to play. You are nothing more than a "Pacman" character to them. They do what feels good at the moment, without regard to the avatars around them. They will hurt one's feelings by being inconsiderate. They do not always do this on purpose. The things they do that can hurt others, is done selfishly, and they are concerned only with self gratification.

A word to Players and Visitors:
The things you do in a virtual world, can change the mood, the day, even the life of a Resident.
You come to collect money, or to let off steam, and I suppose that is your right.
Try to remember that this short "stop" for you might be someone else's entire Universe.
Act accordingly, so that you don't hurt someone deeply by treading carelessly or greedily through their world, as you are "passing through".

Vito's Page

VitoloRossini — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:25:04 CDT

What Do You Do When The Music Stops?

What do you do when the music stops?,
And the sun no longer shines through the pane(pain?),
The thin eggshell of your existence POPS,
And instead of sunshine you’re touched by the
rain.
Reality lashes it’s long sharp tongue,
As naked you stand...You can no longer hide,
Searching for friends to stand among,
Just to have that tongue shove you aside.
There’s no hiding behind your youth anymore,
For youth, like yon eggshell , teeters and drops...
Like Humpty Dumpty -- impossible
to restore!
What do you do when the music stops?
Touch for a reading of this poem

********************************************************************************************************************************************************

Bricks

One brick at a time... one day at a time.. I build the new me.
Spilling cement, desperately needed to patch the gaps I leave between the bricks.
I catch what cement I can, and smooth it in.
Yeah- my wall has leaks... yes the weather gets in, and I get chilled...
But I built this ... it is mine. I will live in it.
I wont compare this new shell, with the prefabricated ones I dwelled in before.
I will stay here, and be happy here.
This is mine...
only mine
Touch for a reading of this poem

**********************************************************************************************************************************************************

THANKS FROM VITO

I came to Second Life at the end of 2006, after 2 years of rehabilitation from the devastating effects of a prolonged coma. I was re-hospitalized in early 2007, and closed my SL account. After returning home in April of 2007, I reopened a new account.

The last 3 years have been amazing. In SL I have learned to function again, and this has spilled over into my real life.

I now owe the Universe a great debt for my fortunate circumstance of staying alive.

It is in SL that I repay the debt. SL has taught me much, and I have learned to create, build, and be a productive part of the lives and learning of other residents.

My goal has been and remains to be to use my land, and Virtual dogs, as a source of success for others. When residents come to my land I make sure that the place is set up, so that it becomes almost impossible not to have a fun interaction with the dogs or many other attractions I have built. A fun interaction leaves the door open for information to slip into ones mind, and anything learned makes the day a success.

I would like to say thanks to many people for believing in my dream.

◊ ~ My biggest inspiration has been the encouragement of my RL/SL wife Patty. She assists me with my in world goals, and gives me moral support when I have doubts.

I love Patty beyond anything I could ever explain.

It was not until after long rehab from the results of my coma that I met Patty. A driver for a city transportation service for the disabled, Patty picked me up one day from a trip to the public library. We fell in love fast. We have been together for over 3 years.

My sweet wife has watched over my shoulder, and through the screen of her own computer, as the adventures of sl have unfolded.

A word of caution to all. When a partner in a relationship is deeply involved in Second life, it can make our loved ones feel "left out". Patty has her own SL account, but she does not use SL in the same way that I do. We all must take precautions, that we do not leave our rl loved ones with less of our attention that they need, or one's SL will become a tender spot in any partnership.

◊ ~ I want to thank my good friends Driftwood Nomad, and Darrly Chang. These 2 guys are the originators of the 1st real SL Dog. D&D dogs allowed me to learn and grow.

My 2 good pals have shown great confidence, in allowing me to direct all of their in world services for them. In return, I recently Invited them to move D&D Dogs to Dogland in Rhoda ( my Dog Park), where they will remain supported by me, and never again pay tier. Read about D&D dogs at: http://www.sldogs.com/

◊ ~ The members of the group Survivors of TBI, have shown me great interest, and have supported their TBI center. They too have a permanent place in world, 3000 meters above Dogland Park.

◊ ~ I have learned much from VKC Dogs creator, Enrico Genosse. Once a good friend, he had me for almost 2 years, help him find the "bugs" in his dogs and system. This learning caused Dogland Park to be the most visited of any Dog park in the metaverse. The popularity of Dogland, and the support that it still gets, caused a rift in the association I had with Mr. Genosse. A gifted creator, he still is loved by me, even though I disagree with his ethics and practices.

I own 10 groups in world, that have loyally supported my goals.

◊ ~ I thank the 2000+ members of these groups with my heart full of love.

*Working Dog Handlers

*Survivors of TBI

*VKC Dog Owners Open Chat Group

*Dogland Training Group

*Harmonious Society of Peaceful Fist

*Karate-Do

*Dogland Kids

*Working Dog Handlers

*We Love Dogs

*SL Grid Marketing & Advertising

The group Survivors of TBI gives members access to group meetings, 24 hour help line, Skype conference, and group phone conference.

I also spread my word about Dogs, TBI, and SL on the web, on the following websites;

http://www.virtualdogtalk.org/

http://tbisurvivors.yolasite.com/

http://petoftheday.com/talk/member.php?u=23955

http://dogfathervitolorossini.spaces.live.com/default.aspx

http://www.avmsurvivors.org/

http://www.sluniverse.com/php/vb/members/vitolo+rossini.html

http://www.avatarsunited.com/avatars/vitolo-rossini

http://slhealthy.wetpaint.com/page/Survivors+of+TBI

http://dogfather.wetpaint.com/

http://vitolo.wordpress.com/

http://www.myspace.com/476651647

http://network.associationofvirtualworlds.com/profile/VitoloRossini

http://www.twine.com/user/vitolorossini

http://twitter.com/vitolorossini

http://dogfather-sl.blogspot.com/

http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/35ANQUX2M2UBDU6TZ5LWSFSOCI

http://sllibrarians.ning.com/profile/VitoloRossini

http://www.linkedin.com/profile?viewProfile=&key=47971562&trk=tab_pro

http://doglandpark.ning.com

The first of the links provided above, includes a 24 hour live chat line for talk, assistance, and service, as well as request forms for those who do not wish to interact in live chat.

http://www.virtualdogtalk.org/

http://tbisurvivors.yolasite.com/

◊ ~ I thank the members of the 7 off world (not in SL) Dogland Groups. The members of these groups have regular meetings online, as well as access to email communication, Skype calls, and group phone conference. These Can be found at:

Yahoo Groups - Dogland Dog Owners

ProfilesLive Groups - Dogland Dog Owners

FaceBook Groups - Dogland 's "FaceBook 2nd Life Group"

Facebook Fan Pages - Dogland Dog Park

Wetpaint - The Dogfather

SLUniverse - Dogland Dog Owners

Avatars United - Dogland Dog Owners

Now let me not forget Linden Labs, and the group of Lindens that see that all is in order in world. They have provided us with a platform to live a second life. A good portion of SL residents are homebound for one reason or another. Physical, emotional, and other variable conditions, can have one staying at home. SL has freed us, and given us a world.

◊ ~ I thank Linden Labs for the world I now inhabit. I thank the governance team for not allowing land bullies to have their ways. They have taken care to investigate every difficulty, and have not yet failed to provide me, members of my groups, and those who are close to me with resolution of abuses and violations of TOS and Community Standards.

◊ ~ AND... If you took the time to read this, I thank you too! You have shown an interest in what is going on in the heart and mind of another.

If in any way I have inspired any soul to use SL as a tool to expand your lives, and feel success...

◊ ~ I Thank the Universe!

******************************************************************************************************************************************
******************************************************************************************************************************************

Success Begets Success (the video)

Beauty out of Sorrow

SpiritOfLife — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:43:51 CDT

Even through the pain
shakiness
frustration
sorrow
and other complications of TBI

Beautiful things can be made
Do not be afraid of them
Open up and let them flow

Watch as the cocoon
become a beautiful butterfly

Spirit

Tragedies

SpiritOfLife — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 16:38:06 CDT

Through the tragedies,
deaths,
and misfortunes
that come our way.

Look up
you will find the sun shining
behind the gray clouds
and the beautiful miracles
that are ours to claim.

reality

SpiritOfLife — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 23:45:33 CDT

I am so sorry for my actions the last few weeks. It is hard to explain. I had made remarkable improvements from the head injury. It is like I plateaued and now I am on a downhill spiral. I am having problems focusing. My brain is going 100 mph and I am having difficulty slowing it down. I have no future.

It has been almost 2 years since my husband decided that I was too much for him to handle. I had a helper come in and transported me to anywhere I needed or wanted to go, she helped with cleaning of MY home, doing dishes and laundry. In reality there was very little that she needed to do. I did for myself. My husband was never there. I slept in my own bedroom. The doctors all agreed that I could live independently with very little help Everyone was so impressed on how well I was doing. I was independent and in control of my life. My husband did not agree. He took everything that mattered, away from me including my seizure alert dog.

So I was placed in assisted living. Before I was placed in this assisted living facility, I had big plans. I was going to college. I was bringing in an extra disability money that I had taken out at work. I was not doing too bad. Everyone was so impressed on how well I was doing.

I made the mistake of marrying a man who I later found out did not marry me out of love. I settled with my insurance so I could buy the home and other things. I was getting $800 a month for a life time. Only to settle for $70,000 about 5 years ago..

Since I have been in this place, I started jabbering. I am having problems getting my thoughts together. From what my Mom has told me of the beginnings of my injury, sounds like what I am going through now. It is not fair to anyone. Is there anyone to blame no not really.

I am going to increase my meds to get myself in a more calm do not care feeling. All I can think of is everything I have lost including friends, family and people who believed in me. I have no future except to die in this prison. I have tried for over a year but I have not found any way to get out of my situation.

I have made the wrong choices all my life. Now I do not have any choices. Even though I am fully capable to make my own choices and be independent that has all been taken away. I live in a fantasy world. The real world has nothing for me.

I keep asking questions because I need some hope but there is none. The day I came in here my life ended. Now I am going to have to get the doctors to knock me out. It is the only way I can continue to live in this life I am in now.

I cannot have any lasting relationships or friendships. I drive them away with my complications. I had a very bright beautiful future. Now I do not have one at all. Nothing is ever going to change. Reality is just what it is reality.

Poem: Family befor and after injury

SpiritOfLife — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:58:30 CDT

Families are to:

love us unconditionally
supportive even in time of disasters or change
caring
respectful
accepting us for who we are
encouraging us to be as good as we can be

After our injury the family we knew:

runs away
hides in time of trouble
smothers us with good intentions like we are too delicate to accept reality of a death, illness, celebrations
make decisions for us
looks down on us as we are less then human
locks us up in nursing homes, group homes or other facilities that we may not need
take away our ability to make our own decisions, mistakes and independence
lowers our confidence in our new self, our new abilities, and new world
takes away our ability to reach for the stars

The majority of us experience this phenomenon
We have our choices to make

Accept the family we have before the injury which means the family that changes after the injury

leave the family we know after the injury

form a new family that does

accept us for who we have become
what we can do
give a shoulder to cry on
let us make mistakes and help guide us to solutions
give us a kick in the backside when we start feeling sorry for ourselves
be there to let us fall but help pick us up when we need it
encourage and aid us in reaching for the stars

SpiritOfLife

Poem: Friends (SpiritOfLife)

Friends come and go whether we have a TBI or not:

As a survivor the more friends we have
the more success we can have

acceptance for who we are the good and bad
stand beside us when need them
Pick up us when we fall and cannot get up ourselves
kick us back to reality or when we need to wake up
help us and accept us through the mood swings
listen to us and do not leave us when we jabber or go off the wall
accept our confusion and talk us out of it and help us calm down
not to judge us
understand that we do have complications like memory, confusion, problems understanding, jabbering and feeling alone
still accept us when we make mistakes and help us through then
NEVER NEVER LEAVE US EVEN THROUGH DEATH

Unfortunately we do loose friends:
We go through the process called Death & Dying
For to us it is a death

it is ok to cry
it is ok to get angry
shut our mouth because we can only make things worse
if we are the cause of the loss try and communicate but if they cannot accept it is OK
we must move on
let that friend or friends go
let them know that we are still here if they need us
back away and accept

LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKE

Friends are precious and will always be in our hearts, mind and prayers

Changes
Many days I wake up

so glad to be alive
I feel on top of the world
no seizures
no tiredness
no lonely feelings

Then there are days

I cannot move a muscle
I have no energy
I feel I have no reason to get up
I feel extremely exhausted
I look around my little room and no one is there
I start missing things that are important to me such as my seizure alert dog
I feel lost
I am confused

Doctors, nurses and friends all say you are just depressed
But I know better it is just another bad day due to tbi complications
I do not need a doctor, counselor or more meds
I need to just relax and ride through the storm

Because tomorrow is a brand new day and I will feel the joy again.

changes

SpiritOfLife — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:46:11 CDT

There is no abstract available for this page revision.

Families before and after injury

SpiritOfLife — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 14:24:41 CDT

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Attractions Above Dogland Park

VitoloRossini — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 05:25:19 CDT

Dogland Dog Park has long been the most visited Dog Park in Second Life.
People have come for the Artwork, and to play with our many SL dogs. Folks love to come, and adopt our fully trained VKC dogs at greatly reduced costs, and to attend the VKC training classes. Our dog supplies are the best, and we have D&D dogs, and Dog avitars, as well as all other types of pets.
There is something new!
3000 meters above Dogland Park, are two great new areas. A Fun Center, and an enlightenment Center. There is also a holodeck going up. The Fun Center has great attractions!
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Rhoda/148/183/3019