Designated days, weeks and months created to raise public awareness constitute standard fare for the routine statements and news releases that emanate from the provincial government.
But when Jason Nixon issued a statement to note that June 2025 is Brain Injury Awareness Month, a news release quoting him took a personal and not-so-boilerplate turn.
“When my son was injured in a collision in late 2023, my family was deeply affected,” says the statement from Nixon, the minister of assisted living and social services.
“Brain injuries don’t just heal with time like a broken bone. They affect memory, emotions, movement and even the ability to talk,” said Nixon, the member for Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre.
“My son faced many obstacles that tested his patience and resolve, and our understanding of what healing truly means.”
Published reports after the accident said that twin siblings Austin and Chyanne were involved in a single-vehicle crash on a rural road just south of Sundre. Chyanne walked away with minor injuries, but Austin was hospitalized in critical condition and spent nearly two weeks in a coma.
Each year, about 5,000 Albertans join the ranks of Nixon’s son and suffer an acquired brain injury, or ABI. In all an estimated 175,000 Albertans live with the effects of an ABI, Brain Injury Alberta says on its website.
An ABI is damage to the brain that occurs after birth and is not related to a congenital or degenerative condition, the organization says. It can come from accidents or falls, but also from strokes and health events like infections or tumors.
Nixon called all brain injuries unique and noted that the road to recovery can be, “long, unpredictable and challenging.”
His statement continues: “My son had to learn many things, including to talk and walk again. At first, he only took small steps, then stairs, but eventually he ran. After months in the hospital, he fought his way back home and back to school and worked diligently every day to catch up to his peers and graduate from high school on schedule.
“Through his difficult recovery, we saw first-hand the strength and determination exhibited each day by individuals with brain injuries, their families, and their incredible medical and support teams.”
Support for those with brain injuries or the people close to them is available at www.alberta.ca/brain-injury-supports
