Tragedy on the Taconic — the 2nd trauma
One of the programs we encourage people to visit and use most highly is the Trauma Survivors Network by the American Trauma Society. One of the components of that program is called 2nd Trauma. It’s a component that is geared towards surgeons, nurses and social workers. The premise is learning tools to treat family members of trauma victims with more compassion and a deeper sense of care for them. It’s called 2nd Trauma because the family and friends of the one with trauma injury really are the 2nd trauma victims in the matter. On this site we believe in the principle that recovery really is about the journey from victim to survivor—one things for sure, in the early hours after the injury, you are a victim whether or your injury or that of a loved one.
This played out on the Today show on NBC. Matt Lauer had the difficult task of interviewing two sisters and children of two of the dead in the other vehicle—The SUV occupied by Guy and Michael Bastardi (son Michael driving and father Guy a pas sanger) and a close family friend, was struck head on by Diane Schuler, the driver of a Minivan headed the wrong way on the Taconic State Parkway outside of New York city. All three were killed.
Whether it’s injury or death or both, trauma takes a heavy toll on those most closely associated with the tragedy.The two sisters of Michael discuss at length out what they’re feeling. Pay close attention to the video below as they talk about the transition from “just a horrible accident” to what was a crime committed against them.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
We see stories like this all the time on the local news, rarely is a situation so horrific that the nation is gripped by it, as it plays out on a national stage.
These things do not happen in a vacuum, but for the majority of trauma survivors and their families end up feeling like it does. Support usually pours out in the early stages, but sometimes slowly and sometimes quickly disappear, in some cases, it’s never there to begin with.
One of our core missions at TraumaSurvivor.org is to shed light on this issue. Doctors heal the body, but there aren’t too many resources out there for one’s sole.
We take this important moment to let everyone know there is a resource out there built for situations just like this, the Trauma Survivors Network. It is well crafted for both the survivor and family, what they call the 2nd trauma. If you are a trauma survivor, the family of a survivor, or the family of someone like these two sisters are trying to come to grips with tragic loss, their web site can be an important resource for you. Please take a moment to visit the site. If you have a story to tell, do so in the community forum; there are areas where both survivors and family can tell their stories, seek advice and connect with others in the same situation.
If you are not touched by trauma, if you know someone who is, take a moment to let them know about this resource, you never know how much they may need it.
If you’re on Twitter and you think there’s a remote chance a follower of yours might be able to use this resource, please consider using the retweet link at the top right of this page, you never know who might find hope from a single click of your mouse!
