By: Kiley Como with Shane Smith Law
In an emergency, most people assume they know how they would react. Get out. Stay safe. Leave everything behind.
But what happens when a traumatic brain injury changes the way your brain processes danger, priorities, and decision-making?
In this powerful episode of Mind Matters, Kiley Como welcomes back traumatic brain injury survivor and advocate Jamie Severance, who recently survived a devastating three-alarm apartment fire. Jamie’s story offers a rare, firsthand look at how a severe traumatic brain injury can shape a person’s actions during a life-threatening crisis and why those actions may not make sense to outside observers.
A Fire That Changed Everything Again
Years after surviving a severe Grade 3 diffuse axonal brain injury, Jamie faced another traumatic event when his apartment building caught fire.
What began as a routine fire alarm quickly became a race for survival after a neighbor pounded on his door, warning everyone to evacuate because the building was burning.
Jamie first helped his mother, who lives with severe mobility limitations, safely out of the apartment. Then, after she reminded him their young cat was still inside, he made a split-second decision that stunned everyone watching.
He turned around and ran back into the burning building.
A Different Kind of Survival Response
Jamie successfully found and rescued the family cat. But before leaving, he made several decisions that, from the outside, appeared irrational.
He:
- Checked rooms one final time
- Closed an open bedroom window
- Grabbed his laptop, phone, chargers, and work equipment
- Retrieved important documents needed for daily life
Firefighters outside the building yelled for him to leave immediately. From their perspective, every second increased the danger.
But inside Jamie’s mind, something very different was happening.
When the Brain Prioritizes Continuity Instead of Survival
Jamie explains that his traumatic brain injury affects the way he responds under pressure.
Rather than focusing solely on immediate survival, his brain instinctively searched for continuity.
His thoughts centered on questions like:
- How will I continue working?
- How will I rebuild after this?
- What do I need tomorrow?
- What important documents will I need?
Looking back, he recognizes how unusual those priorities were in the middle of a burning building. Yet those decisions were consistent with the way his injured brain processes high-stress situations.
Understanding Disinhibition After Brain Injury
Jamie discusses one of the lasting effects of his diffuse axonal injury: disinhibition.
Disinhibition is a neurological symptom that can reduce impulse control and affect judgment, especially during stressful situations.
In a crisis, most people instinctively follow emergency responders. Jamie acknowledges that his injured brain processed those commands differently.
Although firefighters were yelling for him to leave, he remained focused on completing the tasks his brain believed were essential before evacuating.
That disconnect highlights an important reality of traumatic brain injury: survivors may appear to be making reckless decisions when, in reality, their brain is prioritizing information differently.
The Invisible Disability Others Cannot See
From the outside, Jamie’s behavior confused people.
One neighbor reportedly even told firefighters he might be deaf because he was not responding to shouted commands.
In reality, he heard them.
His brain simply interpreted the situation differently because of his neurological injury.
This is one of the greatest challenges faced by many brain injury survivors.
People see the behavior.
They do not see the injury causing it.
The Fire Was Only the Beginning
The apartment complex suffered catastrophic fire, smoke, and water damage. The building became uninhabitable, leaving dozens of residents displaced.
For Jamie and his mother, the challenges continued long after the flames were extinguished.
His mother had evacuated without critical pain medication, and replacement prescriptions were not immediately available.
Meanwhile, Jamie found himself navigating:
- Red Cross assistance
- Temporary housing
- Replacing identification documents
- Maintaining employment while homeless
- Caring for his mother and their rescued cat
Despite the overwhelming circumstances, Jamie immediately created a GoFundMe and focused on organizing the next steps. Once again, his brain gravitated toward structure and problem-solving.
What Can Professionals Learn From This?
One of Jamie’s goals in sharing his story is to help others better understand how traumatic brain injuries affect real-world decision-making.
His experience offers valuable insight for:
- Healthcare providers
- Attorneys
- Caregivers
- First responders
- Mental health professionals
Traumatic brain injury does not simply affect memory or speech. It can fundamentally change how a person responds during emergencies. Understanding those differences may improve communication, treatment, and crisis response for survivors in the future.
Finding Meaning in Tragedy
Although Jamie lost nearly everything in the fire, he hopes sharing his experience will help others better understand the invisible effects of severe traumatic brain injury.
His willingness to openly analyze his own actions provides a unique perspective that medical literature alone often cannot capture.
It reminds us that brain injury is not always visible, but it can profoundly influence how someone thinks, reacts, and survives under extreme stress.
Final Thoughts
Emergencies reveal how our brains respond under pressure. For traumatic brain injury survivors, those responses may look very different than what others expect.
Jamie Severance’s story is a powerful reminder that invisible disabilities are real, and understanding them requires compassion, education, and a willingness to see beyond appearances.
If you or someone you love is living with the effects of a traumatic brain injury, know that support is available, and recovery is about far more than physical healing.
In pain, call Shane. 980-999-9999
Shane Smith Law is committed to helping injury victims navigate both the medical and legal challenges that follow life-changing accidents.
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