Despite nearly four in 10 U.S. adults reporting symptoms of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) at some point in their lives, a new national survey by the Brain Injury Association of America reveals a troubling truth: most Americans still don’t fully grasp what brain injuries are, how they happen, or the lifelong challenges they can bring.
Cazoshay Marie knows this all too well. In May 2017, her life changed in an instant. The vibrant wellness professional, yoga and meditation instructor, and raw vegan chef was struck by a car traveling 48 miles per hour while crossing a street in downtown Phoenix. The impact launched her 15 feet into the air and 100 feet forward, leaving her with injuries that would ultimately change the course of her life.
“He did not get out of his car to assist me. A literal Good Samaritan saw what had transpired and came over to help me—she called 911 and stayed until paramedics arrived. Of course, I sustained numerous injuries, some of which resulted in long-term disabilities and conditions—the primary one being the traumatic brain injury and concussion, which has led me to this point today,” Cazoshay recalls.
Before the Crash: A Life in Motion
Prior to her injury, Cazoshay lived a life full of purpose, movement, and independence. As a single mother, entrepreneur, and wellness expert, her days were filled with activity—training for a half marathon, teaching, cooking, and chasing dreams with her son by her side. Originally from Anchorage, Alaska, she had made bold moves, including a spontaneous relocation to Oregon, driven by a desire for opportunity and self-determination.
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“I really just had freedom of choice. I was able to do whatever I wanted to do, whenever I wanted to do it,” she tells BlackDoctor.org.
That sense of freedom was abruptly and brutally interrupted by the accident that left her with a traumatic brain injury, among other lasting effects.
The Invisible Battle
Perhaps one of the most difficult parts of Cazoshay’s journey has been living with an invisible disability.
“The fact that it is an invisible disability is one of the most challenging aspects—to get people to understand what my daily experiences are like. Some of the ongoing effects of my brain injury include chronic, debilitating migraines—I get them almost every single day,” she shares. “I have issues with my vision as well, problems with my vestibular system—issues with balance, dizziness. I experience chronic fatigue as well as a result of my disability.”
For Cazoshay, navigating daily life is a constant struggle—it’s no exaggeration; every day is a challenge.
“There’s no aspect of my life that is not affected by my disability and by the symptoms that are associated with my brain injury. So everything from driving, being able to cook, working on the computer—literally everything: self-care, my ability to be able to endure social activities—everything takes extra consideration,” she says. “…The invisible aspect of it is that people don’t see… all the accommodations that it takes for me to be able to do the things that I do.”
In addition to the hidden effects of Cazoshay’s injury, she experiences daily symptoms that can be unpredictable.
“A brain injury is a chronic and dynamic condition, where you don’t always know, ‘Okay, this is going to be too much activity,’ or ‘This is the thing that I can do, and this other thing is going to be too much.’ So all of that goes into the considerations that you have to make when you’re living with a traumatic brain injury or concussion,” she shares.
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The Long Road to Recognition
Despite the obvious trauma, Cazoshay was not immediately diagnosed with a brain injury at the hospital. Her symptoms—dizziness, vision disturbances, and confusion—were dismissed. She was discharged after just 24 hours.
“I was experiencing all these symptoms—dizziness…difficulty seeing, but all that was completely ignored. I felt completely unheard and really made to feel as if…I was making a bigger deal out of it than what it actually was. And again, I wasn’t in a car when I was [hit]… just my body at 48 miles per hour by a car—and there were other things that had occurred, other injuries as well, that they had not diagnosed at that time,” Cazoshay notes.
Her experience reflects a systemic issue, particularly affecting Black women, where pain and symptoms are often underestimated or ignored.
“I come across many brain injury survivors who were not initially diagnosed with brain injuries. And so what’s missing is that critical early care that makes a big difference in your ongoing outcomes and living with brain injury. Again, this is not something that’s uncommon…There are still a lot of misconceptions regarding brain injury and the symptoms that are associated with it,” she adds.
Therapies, Tools, and the Will to Keep Going
Cazoshay describes recovery from a brain injury as a full-time job, but she has found strategies that work for her.
“One of the things that was extremely helpful for me was physical therapy. After sustaining my brain injury, I experienced significant and chronic issues with my mobility, particularly with my balance. The injury affected my vestibular system, which in turn impacted my vision. As a result, I often felt dizziness, and my eyes struggled to work together to coordinate my vision and movement,” Cazoshay explains.
Both physical therapy and vision therapy have played a crucial role in helping her manage the ongoing challenges associated with a brain injury.
“I believe this is my third round of vision therapy,” she explains. “I would reach a certain level of healing and feel okay for a while, but then the symptoms would return, requiring me to go back to vision therapy. So, that’s what I’m currently experiencing—I’m back in vision therapy.”
Counseling has also been instrumental in Cazoshay’s healing journey.
“There’s the emotional toll of living with this condition as well,” she adds. And so, going to therapy, going through counseling—I recommend it to every single brain injury survivor I come across, because it’s just so important to be able to have that support from a professional. To be able to not only have an outlet to express the things that you are experiencing—because it can be a very isolating experience, even those around you may not fully understand all the things that you are going through as a result of your brain injury—but also to have someone to be able to speak to about the things that you’re experiencing, and then to also get that feedback about possible ways that you can deal with it.”
Advocacy, Art, and Empowerment
Despite her symptoms, Cazoshay has reclaimed her voice—and uses it powerfully. She is a member of the Brain Injury Association of America’s Advisory Council, leads a virtual support group for parents with TBIs, and hosts events for disabled individuals and caregivers. She’s also an artist and poet, combining creative expression with advocacy.
“Disability doesn’t mean invisibility. We’re still creative, passionate, and full of value. We just need different accommodations.”
Upcoming projects include a workshop in partnership with the Kennedy Center’s VSA program, combining art and disability as a means of expression and healing.
Community and Family: The Silent Strength
Cazoshay credits her family, especially her mother, brother and son, for helping her survive those early days. Her mother relocated from Alaska to care for her for a year, and her young son stepped into a caretaker role with love and strength beyond his years.
“Support is everything. I would not be here without my family.” “All of my family has taken on a caregiving role—including my son. The accident happened just shy of his 11th birthday, and it was… particularly in the beginning of that time, it was almost like a role reversal where he was the one who was taking on a pretty strong role of caring for me. I wasn’t able to drive, I wasn’t able to cook,” Cazoshay shares.
Without her family’s support, Cazoshay says she would not be here.
“…They were there with me at my appointments to take notes and to help make sure that I could remember everything that was going on—to make sure that my doctors knew and understood. Because that’s another thing that you experience as someone living with a brain injury. I think even if you don’t have a brain injury, it can be difficult to remember all the things that you need to let your doctor know,” she adds.
She also speaks of the emotional support she’s received from her church community and encourages others to seek out similar networks to combat the isolation that often accompanies invisible disabilities.
A Call for Empathy
Cazoshay’s message to the world is clear: listen. She urges people to approach others with empathy, patience, and a willingness to learn. Not all disabilities are visible, and assumptions can be harmful.
“I think one of the biggest things, honestly, is listening. Because there is constantly new information that’s coming out about brain injuries. Even for myself, I’m continually learning more about brain injuries and the ongoing effects,” Cazoshay notes.
Cazoshay also encourages creating an environment where individuals can feel comfortable talking about the accommodations they need.
“That’s one of the biggest things. Because … I don’t assume that everyone is just automatically supposed to know everything. That’s not a fair assumption to make about people,” she concludes. “It’s not a fair thing to put on people. So I think just creating that space for us to be able to express, ‘These are the things I need. You know, I need for you to speak slowly. I need for you to perhaps repeat something,’ and not assume that we’re stupid. That’s another one of the big aspects. You know, cognitively for me, my short-term memory is one of the things that was primarily affected. So it’s not that I don’t understand what’s going on—[it] might take a moment, for my brain to catch up. So don’t assume that I’m stupid. And honestly, that’s not a very nice way to treat people anyway. Just having that open space where people can feel comfortable indicating and expressing the things that we need as brain injury survivors.”
Final Thoughts
Cazoshay’s story is one of resilience, transformation, and unwavering purpose. She has transformed pain into power and uses her voice not only to heal herself but to advocate for others who live with the invisible wounds of traumatic brain injury. Through her art, words, and community work, she reminds us all: survival is more than just getting by—it’s living loud, even in the shadows.
“One of the biggest things that I would like for people to understand is that just because you see someone present a certain way doesn’t mean that they don’t still have struggles, doesn’t mean that they don’t still need accommodations and consideration. And so I would say just for people to have more of an open mind and to take it upon themselves to receive more education with brain injury,” Cazoshay concludes.
For those who want to follow her journey or get involved in her advocacy work, Cazoshay is active on social media (@Cazoshay_Marie) and on her website.
