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aphasia, Brain health, Health, Healthy Happy Loving Life, Kebba Buckley Button, The life you want, UpBeat Living
© Kebba Buckley Button, MS, OM. World Rights Reserved.
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Film legend Bruce Willis has been having increasing difficulty with focus and language. In recent years, filmmakers have noticed changes in Bruce. They have shortened his work days, reduced his lines, used a body double for action scenes, and had an actor feed Bruce his lines through an earwig. Finally, Bruce was having enough difficulty to simply retire. Now what?
Bruce’s family announced that what he is dealing with is aphasia, a brain condition that affects communication. The family has not shared how much medical testing has been done for Bruce, to diagnose or determine how to best help him. There are a few causes of aphasia, and there are a few types of this condition. High blood pressure strokes or blows to the head can cause aphasia. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, irreversible aphasia can be caused by slow-growing brain tumors or a disease. Speech and cognitive therapy have helped some to recover. Temporary aphasia can occur with a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA). Fortunately, Bruce Willis can afford to seek the best brain doctors.
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I can relate to having a damaged brain. In my college days, I was struck in the head by a flying object that weighed about 25 pounds. Ouch! Fortunately, it struck one of the thickest bones of the face, below my left eye, and it rolled off to my right. The impact was enough for a concussion, plus contrecoup injury; the brain was thrown to the right and hit the right inside wall of my skull, creating a lot of pain. It was summertime, and I didn’t want to wait in the heat for Mom to pick me up from a summer university class. The sunshine and heat made my head pound. So I started driving myself to classes, against advice. The first day, driving home, I was turning the classic VW Beetle (standard shift) into my parents’ subdivision, when my brain went blank. I had my left foot on the clutch, with the clutch out. I had no idea what that meant right then, but I knew it was vitally important. I had my right hand on the shift stick but had absolutely no idea what to do next. I just knew it was really important not to move that little black ball other than the right way. Fortunately, it was a quiet subdivision, and there was no other traffic at that moment. I coasted to the right curb, right hand frozen on the shift knob, left foot frozen on the clutch pedal, and waited until I knew what to do. And waited. And waited. It was frightening! Finally, the concept of shifting gears came back to me, and I knew what to do. I was able to drive home. Multiple symptoms followed for years.
I wonder if Bruce Willis has been aware of and frightened of his brain’s decline? Maybe his wife and doctor will coauthor a book. Maybe one day we’ll see the brain scans. Meanwhile, it’s wonderful Bruce has such a loving family around him, as the best path forward is identified.
For the rest of us, Bruce’s experience, and that of his family, can remind us to do what we can for our brain health before bad brain factors may overtake us:
- Eat a low-fat good-fat diet with lots of greens and colorful fruits
- Avoid sports that are famous for brain damage risk, and/or wear a helmet
- Watch your blood pressure and follow your doctor’s advice if it’s high
- Get regular checkups including blood panels
- Totally manage your stress! Take up meditation, yoga, or tai chi, and nurture your calm
- Take life less seriously and laugh more
(Yes, all these topics are covered in other articles on this site.) Do these things, and that will be you, ever more Healthy Happy and Loving Lifesm!
Kebba Buckley Button is a stress management expert, holistic healer, and award-winning author who celebrates life. She has a longtime natural healing practice and is an ordained minister. Among her books are: Discover The Secret Energized You (http://tinyurl.com/b44v3br), Inspirations for Peace Within: Quotes and Images to Uplift and Inspire, and Sacred Meditation: Embracing the Divine. The books are available on Amazon and through Kebba’s office. They are also available in Scottsdale, Arizona, at the Franciscan Renewal Center bookstore and at the bookstore at St. Barnabas on the Desert Episcopal Church. Or simply email us to order: kebba@kebba.com . Thank you!
Books by Kebba Buckley Button
Healthy Happy Loving Life! 
First off, how scary for you to be driving when you went blank. My now 53 year old daughter had a slow growing brain tumor but luckily we found out early. She had surgery at 12 years old and the surgeon told us this type grows slow and your body adjusted to it over time until it finally takes over. I’ve always been so thankful we found it early. It’s so sad about Bruce.
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Thank you for bringing brain injuries into the light. I admire how you were able to wait with the fear until you could remember how to drive. It seems as though you bring that to your practice today. Your writing showa how you’re able to see fear as an aspect of an experience not as a character flaw. Your perspective will help a lot of people. Great post, Kebba!
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That’s pretty scary when you’re driving, Kebba. How fortunate you’ve recovered. I know how it is to go blank. For me I’m sure it was sleep deprivation and stress. I went blank a few times – once in the locker room at work. Couldn’t find my locker. Another time while I was talking to a doctor. I thought is she who I think she is? Lucky it was just momentarily. After retirement I joined a high intensity aerobics class. That was the ticket. My brain cleared up, even my vision. I remembering going wow! driving on the freeway. As for Bruce Willis, I wondered why he kept working for so long if they had noticed. I suppose his name still brings the bucks.
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That must have surely been a scary experience for you, Kebba. Thank you for sharing it with us and highlighting the issues we can have with brain injuries.
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Vidya, it was terrifying. And of course, I wondered what else might yet happen with that injury. I still wonder about some brain symptoms from time to time. But I am blessed with strong health otherwise, so on I go.
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I saw that about Bruce Willis and I hate he is facing this and I so sorry about your injury as well. I Pray you both continue to do well.
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Thank you so much! Prayer needs are great right now. But let’s keep at it! And God bless you!
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