Team member turns her experience with concussion into a personal mission to raise awareness

AdventHealth Littleton occupational therapist Lisa Hackett knows firsthand the life-changing impact of concussions. Decades ago, she suffered a concussion in a car accident that went undiagnosed for more than a year.

At the time, she was balancing the demands of a new job and caring for her infant daughter. What she first assumed was sleep deprivation and the stress of early motherhood turned out to be something far more serious.

“It wasn’t until about a year later that I realized something wasn’t right,” Lisa recalled. “I finally went to see a neurologist, and after testing, that’s when I knew this was real. I was finally able to get the help I needed.”

Lisa’s personal journey has fueled her mission: to make sure no one else goes through the confusion, stigma, and missed diagnosis that she experienced. That’s why last month, she created an education booth at AdventHealth Littleton for National Concussion Awareness Day.

On September 19, Lisa spent the day telling team members and visitors all about the signs and symptoms, and how to get help and treatment. Lisa credits tools like the REAP (Remove/Reduce, Educate, Adjust/Accommodate, Pace) Manual for helping medical professionals, families, and even schools coordinate care. Lisa said many of the people who came by her booth hadn’t realized the extent of available resources nearby.

“Education is huge. Knowledge is power,” she said. “Both of my daughters have also faced their own head injuries. With my second daughter, we recognized it right away and got her the support she needed. The difference was night and day compared to what my first daughter went through.”

As an occupational therapist at AdventHealth Littleton, Lisa integrates her personal and professional knowledge daily. She works with patients whose concussions may be overlooked amid other medical issues.

“People come in with a fall or a broken bone, and the focus is on that injury, so concussions can get missed,” she explained. “That’s where I can step in and make sure the patient gets screened for a traumatic brain injury.”

Her goal is to help patients regain their independence and daily function while making sure they are connected with the right specialists: whether that’s speech therapy, physical therapy, or a dedicated concussion clinic.

“It’s powerful hearing people’s stories,” Lisa said. “So many just try to push through it, but when you don’t give yourself time to heal, you can do more damage. Concussions are brain injuries and need to be taken seriously. Just because you can’t see a brain injury, doesn’t mean it’s not there.”