The Post Traumatic Growth Initiative

General Michael V. Hayden Interview by Ted Meyer

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Former Director of the CIA and NSA shares his life altering and affirming story as a stroke survivor in this honest heartfelt interview.

General Michael V. Hayden, former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.  Before becoming Director of CIA, General Hayden served as the country’s first Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence –and was the highest-ranking intelligence officer in the armed forces. Earlier, he served as Director of the National Security Agency. Currently, he serves as a principal at The Chertoff Group, a security and ...

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The Post Traumatic Growth Initiative

Healing Through Art, One Step at A Time

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Healing Through Art, One Step at A Time

Juan Juarez, Patient and Artist interviewed by Frances Ancheta-Becker, Supervising Creative Arts Therapist at San Mateo Medical Center

Juan Juarez Tank paintingJuan is a patient in the long-term care/skilled nursing unit at San Mateo Medical Center, in San Mateo, California, a local county government hospital in the San Francisco Bay Area. Juan was originally from ...

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Featured, San Mateo Center, The Post Traumatic Growth Initiative

Elizabeth Jameson Interview- Embracing life to its fullest

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A truly remarkable spirit. Rather than running away from her diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, Elizabeth Jameson used her newly acquired medical condition as an opportunity for transformation. Not only did she change her profession from attorney to artist, but she allowed her new perspective to pervade her artwork and view of the world.

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Featured, The Post Traumatic Growth Initiative

San Mateo Medical Center in Collaboration with Our Heart Speaks: Healing Through New Awareness, Ability & Creative Expression

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San Mateo Medical Center in Collaboration with Our Heart Speaks: Healing Through New Awareness, Ability & Creative Expression
Our lead collaborator is Frances Ancheta-Becker, MS, RN, CTRS, supervising creative art therapist at San Mateo Medical Center.

Patient Art Installment #1

Ravi R.

Primary diagnosis: Diabetes Mellitus Type 2, s/p below the knee amputation

Story:

Ravi was a former landscaper and gardener who ended up getting a below the knee amputation due to uncontrolled Type 2 diabetes. Ravi had no previous interest in the arts, and led an active daily life doing intense physical work in gardens and garden stores.

Ravi was depressed and ...

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Featured, San Mateo Center, The Post Traumatic Growth Initiative

A Broken Brain Leads to New Connections and Transformation

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In 1988, Jon Sarkin suddenly developed tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and hyperacusis (over-sensitivity to certain frequencies).

This led to surgery and as a consequence a brain hemorrhage and subsequent stroke.

He awoke deaf in one ear, his vision splintered, and his balance permanently skewed. Parts of his brain had been sliced and removed.

His brain was broke, however the neurons that were left made new connections.

As a result, he developed a drive to compulsively create art which helped his recovery.

To this very ...

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The Post Traumatic Growth Initiative

New Found Ability: From Trauma and Pain blooms a painter

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I am first generation born in raised in Wallingford CT. I attended Saint Michael’s College and earned a liberal arts degree in political science.

My current medical condition has been an on-going challenge.

A boat accident in 2015 resulted in a broken back, 2 injured wrists and shoulders.

To date, I have had 2 major back surgeries, 1 shoulder surgery, 2 left wrist surgeries and more surgeries scheduled.

I have had over 50 MRI’s and x-rays, more than 100 doctors visits,1,680 days of chronic ...

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Motivational, The Post Traumatic Growth Initiative

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