Survivor Story: Making Super-Powers Out of Deficits with Comedian Mimi Hayes

Making Headway

C’mon, y’all know you’ve done some strange and laughable things while being brain injured. Maybe it was funny at the time, maybe it's taken years to laugh, or maybe you still can’t. Finding the humor in all the heart-(ahem, brain)-ache makes those hard days just a little easier. After Mimi Hayes suffered a brain hemorrhage from a ruptured cavernous malformation, she did just that. Taking her experiences on the road, she has made a career as a comedian. Nothing makes her feel better than having people laugh with her. Join us for some chuckles today with Mimi Hayes, making brain hemorrhages look cool since 1992!

In this episode:

• Mimi’s Survivor Story: brain hemorrhage due to a ruptured cavernous angioma in the cerebellum
• Symptoms of fatigue, loss of balance, didn’t know where she was in space, visual disturbances, migraines, couldn’t move head or eyes without vomiting
• Symptoms mistakenly categorized as psychological!!!
• Took a couple weeks to get an MRI--Mama Bear to the rescue!
• The bleed happened at a stressful time in Mimi’s life. She thinks the added stress contributed to bursting her previously benign cavernous angioma (a clump of vessels that never unfurled correctly at birth)
• Initial treatment was at home: watch, wait, and hope for reabsorption. Mimi started losing physical function, coordination, double vision and vision loss, loss of taste, weight loss. With the increase in symptoms, her neurosurgeon reassessed and now Mimi needed brain surgery
• Recovery from brain surgery:
• Post-anesthesia hilarity: Sit Down Helen!
• ICU
• Rehab Hospital: coming to grips with changed abilities. Aggressive therapy soon after surgery led to quick physical results. If you didn’t get this it doesn’t mean it’s too late!
• Outpatient therapy
• Back to work in 5 months with accommodations and self regulation
• Recovery is nuanced. Everybody’s recovery timeline is different. The intensity of your injury doesn’t mean a certain timeline, i.e. “mild” injury doesn’t mean quick recovery and visa versa
• After about two years of teaching post injury, Mimi started some new creative pursuits: book writing and comedy.
• Humor in tragedy, the importance of finding laughs through hard times
• Finding new purpose after brain injury
• Teaching after brain injury no longer felt like her purpose. She opened herself up to new possibilities. She hit the eject button and moved to NYC.
• Be open to new possibilities
• Jump into the void
• Book deal: I’ll be OK, It’s Just a Hole in my Head by Mimi Hayes
• Brain Injury circuit: TV spots, comedy gigs with sets on brain injury, Brain Injury Association presentations
• Step into yourself after injury: you have a new perspective, changed spirituality, changes in life. Get into those changes. It's a great time to reinvent yourself (48:12)
• Being an advocate in the brain injury community helps you care that much more about doing the work, It becomes bigger than you. You are helping others.
• Being a part of the brain injury community throughout the years: A support for you and others!
• Brain injury is always going to be a part of your story
• Owning your story and deficits showcases what is possible after brain injury
• How can you reframe your deficits as a special super power?? Own it! (52:41)
• Everyone is trying to make their way and be happy and confident
• Take that step and figure it out as you go. You don’t have to be perfect; there’s never a perfect time. Take the plunge if you feel a pull.
• Some of us are ready to share and others are not at that point. Be patient with yourself and reach out to the community if you are ready.
• Some may not be aware the community exists and when they do find it they may not know how to interact with it
• Figure out what platform works for you and be patient.
• There’s a full array of types of people, people in different stages, people with different abilities and many groups for them all. Find what works for you
• Is breaking into comedy really like the show Crashing?
• Yes!
• The Fringe festival in Scotland: working the hustle
• Not everyone gets it but they don't need to. You do you. Do what feels good! For Mimi, people laughing at her makes her feel better than anything else
• Give yourself grace, this is not an easy place to be in life. It’s hard stuff that we’re doing.

Links to resources mentioned

• I'll be Ok, It’s Just a Hole in My Head by Mimi Hayes:
• Audiobook (using this link gives us a small kickback to pay those podcast bills, thanks for your support!)
• Paperback (this one does too)
• For an autographed copy, connect with and message Mimi on Facebook or Instagram
• Find Mimi at:
• http://mimihayes.com/
• Mimi and the Brain podcast
• Instagram: @Mimihayesbrain
• Facebook: @mimihayesbrain
• Clubhouse: Mimi Hayes

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