In Wisconsin, Brain injury forces West Salem teen to rediscover past, recreate present | Brain Injury

Erin Butzler makes memories. A head injury in 2009 swept away all of her old ones. Vacations and holidays vanished. Family and friends became strangers. When she woke up in a hospital bed, she woke up to a new world.

“My mom was in the hospital the whole time, but I don’t think I really

recognized her as my mom,” Butzler said. “At first, the only things I knew were my name and where I lived.”

She only remembers bits and pieces, so the 18-year-old West Salem High School senior had to relearned it all, with the help of loved ones and teachers.

Butzler remembers nothing about what happened the day she was injured. From stories, she knows she was playing soccer when another player kicked her in the head.

She got up and kept playing, but something was wrong.

“Another girl noticed something was the matter and flagged the coach to take her out,” said mother Becky Butzler, who was at the game. “She was very out of it.” Erin was taken by ambulance to the hospital.

Coming home was like entering a new house, she said. She couldn’t remember her father and two brothers.

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If you have any questions or concerns about what can be done to help children who have suffered from brain injuries, or families of children who have died, please call Christopher Keane and The Keane Law Firm toll-free for free consultation at (888) 592-5437 (KIDS), click on contact us here, or use the web form provided at http://www.keanelaw.com

Brain injury experts to meet in Milwaukee

The conference will address the neurophysiology of brain injury, advances in imaging research and new approaches to treatment and rehabilitation.


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If you have any questions or concerns about what can be done to help children who have suffered from brain injuries, or families of children who have died, please call Christopher Keane and The Keane Law Firm toll-free for free consultation at (888) 592-5437 (KIDS), click on contact us here, or use the web form provided at http://www.keanelaw.com

Child Sustains Traumatic Brain Injury in Car Accident, Mother Charged

A woman who drove under the influence of strong prescription drugs and failed to fasten her children's seat belts has been charged in connection with a car accident she caused that injured both her children, according to ABC's WQOW 18 news website.  Investigators believe that the Wisconsin mother put both children in car seats but stuffed the buckles behind the seats rather than fastening them.  In the accident, which occurred last April, one of her children was ejected from the vehicle and sustained a traumatic brain injury.  A crime lab report reveals that the mother had three prescription drugs in her system when the crash occurred, one of which was used to sedate surgery patients.

As an advocate for injured children and father of two himself, Chris Keane expresses his deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the children in this accident, and he hopes for the full and fast recovery of the traumatic brain injury victim.  Narrowing his legal focus to child injuries, attorney Chris Keane has worked with the best experts in the field of pediatric traumatic brain injury.  If you have questions about child brain injuries, feel free to contact Chris Keane online or by phone at 1-888-592-KIDS for free answers concerning your unique situation.

Symptoms & Signs of Head Injuries/Brain Injuries

The symptoms and signs of head injuries in children vary depending on the specific type, severity, and location of the injuries involved, but some of the neurological symptoms common among head- or brain-injured children are listed below (adapted from the Community Connect to Research site):

• headache


• dizziness


• seizures or convulsions


• unresponsiveness


• drowsiness


• loss of consciousness or "passing out"


• confusion


• memory loss


• slurred speech


• vomiting or nausea


• problems walking


• numbness, weakness, or even paralysis in part of the body


• problems with coordination


• aggressive or irrational behavior.

Some of the physical signs often associated with child head injuries are the following:

• bleeding from the ear


• discoloration (black and blue) behind the ear or around the eyes


• clear fluid coming out of the nose (often indicating a skull fracture)


• a dent where the impact occurred


• a cut, bump, or bruise on the head


• a bulge at the soft spot between the skull bones (in infants).

As illustrated in the above-listed symptoms, head injuries are often serious and require close medical attention and care.  If you believe that your child has suffered a head or brain injury and you have questions for child brain injury attorney Chris Keane, feel free to contact him online or by phone at 1-888-592-KIDS.  As a father of two himself and advocate for injured and abused children, he will answer your questions for free regarding your unique situation.

Amino Acids May Help Child Brain Injury Victims Improve Cognitive Functions

We recently added a FAQ to our website about current research on amino acids and their potential value to brain injury victims.  To read more about how amino acids may treat the brain damage that affects cognitive functions in children, click here.

As the "leading cause of death and disability in young children," (according to the Ivanhoe medical news website), traumatic brain injury is not to be taken lightly:  it can negatively affect a child's memory, ability to learn, and other functions of the brain.  As an advocate for injured and abused children who have suffered brain damage, Chris Keane has experience working with the best medical experts in the field of child brain injury.  If you have questions regarding pediatric traumatic brain injury or child head injuries in general, contact Chris Keane online or at 888-592-KIDS for free answers and advice unique to your specific situation.

Lead Poisoning: A Brain Injury Suffered by Many Children

We recently added an article to our library about lead poisoning and child brain injuries.  Although lead poisoning "can affect nearly every system in the body," according to the CDC, it is considered a head injury and a brain injury, which can result in learning or behavioral problems by the time a child is four or five if it goes undetected for a while.  To read more about lead poisoning, click here.

Don't put your child at risk of the consequences of lead poisoning.  Get your child tested as soon as possible, and feel free to contact child brain injury attorney Chris Keane with your most pressing questions.  After spending years as an advocate for children with head and brain injuries, he has worked with the best medical experts in the field, and he will consult with you for free regarding your unique situation.

Contact Chris Keane online or call 1-888-592-KIDS (1-888-592-5437).

Child Brain Injury Focus: Cerebral Palsy

One of the many types of child brain injuries we receive questions about is cerebral palsy.  A number of forms of the condition exist; cerebral palsy is simply and umbrella term that refers to a number of neurological disorders which result in abnormal movement.  Cerebral palsy can occur at various times in young children:

• during pregnancy


• during childbirth


• or after birth, typically up to the age of three.

Commonly referred to as CP, the condition is caused by damage to the motor control centers in the child's developing brain.  According to the Mom Stress Relief website, almost 800,000 people in the U.S. live with CP, suffering problems ranging from mild to severe damage of the nervous system (the more brain damage that exists, the more severe the symptoms).  Although sometimes the symptoms may not be noticeable until the nervous system of the child becomes more developed, the most common symptoms reported are the following:

• limited motor skills


• seizures


• difficulty swallowing


• loss of hearing


• speech impairment


• skeletal deformities


• learning disabilities (in extreme cases to the point of mental retardation)


• and even  paralysis.

Often these symptoms occur due to the abnormal state of the muscles:  they are typically very relaxed or very stiff.  As a result, a child with cerebral palsy may hold his or her limbs in unusual positions, make jerky or abrupt (or sometimes slower) movements, and experience difficulty drinking, eating, or sucking.  Some CP victims may drool often or have trouble controlling their saliva, or they may aspirate food or drinks.  Children who suffer from the effects of cerebral palsy on only one side of the body may have shorter limbs on that side.

If your child has suffered a brain injury or has cerebral palsy, feel free to contact child brain injury attorney Chris Keane with your questions.  As a loving father and an advocate for injured children, he will answer your questions for free with compassion and regard for your unique situation. Click here to contact Chris Keane online or call 1-888-592-KIDS (1-888-592-5437).