Cultivating Resilience in Family Caregivers of Patients With Severe Acute Brain Injury: Maurice’s Journey Through COMA-F

Many family caregivers of patients with severe acute brain injury (SABI) that result in coma endure prolonged emotional distress. After electing to pursue life-sustaining treatments (i.e, tracheostomy and/or percutaneous endoscopic or surgical gastrostomy tube placement), many caregivers face prolonged uncertainty, ambiguous grief, burden, and heightened risk for their own adverse health outcomes downstream. To address the paucity of psychosocial interventions for this population, we adapted an existing resiliency program for dyads of acute brain injury patients with good mental status and their caregivers (Recovering Together), to meet the specific needs of caregivers of SABI patients with poor initial neurological recovery (the COMA Family Program [COMA-F]). COMA-F aims to to prevent chronic emotional distress among SABI caregivers by providing evidence-based skills training early on, during their loved one’s transition out of the neurosciences intensive care unit. Here, we highlight the experience of Maurice, a caregiver enrolled in the pilot trial of COMA-F. Maurice’s journey demonstrates the emotional and relational challenges associated with SABI caregiving, as well as COMA-F’s unique ability to provide emotional support, cultivate resilience, and potentially empower SABI caregivers. At the conclusion of the program, Maurice endorsed significant improvements in anxiety and depression and reported high satisfaction in an exit interview.