Written and Shared by Amanda Kern, MSW, LMSW, Trauma Survivors Network Coordinator
“PATH AHEAD” GROUP AND THE COMFORT CART
We kicked off 2025 with a new support group at UM Shock Trauma called “Path Ahead”. Every Monday, families of current patients gather with our TSN coordinator, a therapist (either PT or OT), and – most importantly – a trauma survivor. The presence of survivors has been a game-changer. Families light up hearing from someone who truly gets it. There’s something incredibly grounding about hearing a real story from someone who’s been through it and come out the other side… someone who can say from experience, “your loved one might not be able to respond right now, but it means a lot to them that you’re there.” That kind of reassurance – coming from someone who’s lived it – means so much more than coming from a staff member.
Before group, our TSN coordinator makes the rounds with our “comfort cart” – which, fun fact, was inspired by a TSN webinar, so shoutout to whoever first shared that idea and implemented it at their center! The cart started with just a few snacks and now it’s full of thoughtful items – coloring books, hygiene kits, and little notebooks. It’s been such a hit that even survivors are helping us stock it. Jordan (a survivor) and his mom Jessica recently donated a bunch of great items – they said it was their way of paying it forward.
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MINDS OF THE FUTURE SURVIVOR PANELS
Our “Minds of the Future” program brings students – most of them interested in healthcare – into UM Shock Trauma for a behind-the-scenes look at trauma care. We recently started adding a survivor panel at the end with our TSN survivors, and it’s been powerful. A few survivors share their stories, then we open up the floor for Q&A. The impact on the students has been incredible. They leave thinking differently about injury prevention, disability, and even what it really means to work in healthcare. Some tell us that it was their favorite part of the whole trip and teachers have shared that students were talking about the panel long after the trip was over.
But honestly, it’s just as meaningful for the survivors. One of them said, “I’ve told my story before, but this made me realize how far I’ve come.” It’s been a space for reflection, growth, and connection for everyone involved.
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SHOCK TRAUMA “QUILT” PROJECT
This spring, we partnered with the nonprofit Art with a Heart for a really cool project: a ceramic tile quilt created by our TSN members and the staff at Shock Trauma Center. Each person designed their own tile (or two or three or however many they wanted!), and together, they’ll form multiple large “quilts” that will be displayed on the 4th, 5th, and 6th floor trauma waiting areas and in the trauma clinic.
The event was a mix of creativity, reflection, and community. People painted designs representing their survival, symbols of strength, quotes, and personal messages. There was a lot of laughter. It gave folks a way to share their story in a totally different format and something lasting came out of it. We’re unveiling the finished quilts on National Trauma Survivors Day, and we can’t wait for everyone to see what was created together.
