Brain injury prevention champion recalls cousin's ordeal.
Howard Brown, left, Brian Sieber, Barry Brown and Rob Brown gather around Steven Sieber, seated, in December 1981.
Photo/COURTESY
North York's Steven Sieber was a bright university student with hopes of a career as a computer science supervisor when he was hit by a car, a catastrophic event that left him with a severe brain injury for almost a quarter-century before he died nearly a decade ago.
Just 21 years old when he was hit by a car while crossing the street to catch a bus in July 1977, he spent several weeks in a coma.
When he emerged, Sieber and his close-knit family discovered his world had changed forever.
He would never walk again, or even stand unassisted, even though his mother, Helen Sieber, organized an army of volunteers to come to the home to use a technique called patterning on her son.
For example, the volunteers would move Sieber's limbs to simulate the crawling or creeping motions of a baby. The idea behind the controversial technique was to stimulate the inactive part of the brain.
Sieber also experienced a number of other symptoms including slurred speech, blurred vision and emotional issues.
"He would get angry at others and yell at them and afterwards, he would say 'I don't know why I said that.' It was the brain injury of course," said Helen, who had quit her job as an administrative assistant to care for her son.
Sieber's cousin, Howard Brown, had just finished university himself and was travelling in Europe when he received a letter from his family telling him the devastating news of his cousin.
Although Brown and his brothers had grown up in Kitchener, they often visited and were close with their cousins, Steven and his brother Brian.
"Our big thing when we came to Toronto from Kitchener was going to the local deli and getting corned beef sandwiches. They weren't available in Kitchener," said Brown with a laugh.
Years after the accident, through his interest in Sieber's life, Brown was asked to serve on the Ontario Brain Injury Association's board of directors.
Six months after Sieber died on Dec. 30, 2001 Brown was asked by the association to form the Brain Injury Association of Canada.
On Monday Jan. 24, the national association will host Toronto's seventh annual Hawaiian Oyster Odyssey, a tropical-themed fundraiser for brain injury support and advocacy.
After a couple of years at other venues, the fundraiser is returning to North York's Miller Tavern, where it got its start, thanks in part to restaurant partner Rick Montgomery.
"We just have to give back to the community when we get a chance," Montgomery said. "This is a good cause. It is the type of injury people tend to overlook until it hits close to home."
As an advocate for brain injury survivors, Brown often turned to his cousin to act as a sounding board about the challenges of brain injuries, which are the leading cause of death and disability for Canadians under the age of 45.
He had even hoped Sieber would be able to address a legislative committee drafting Ontario's persons with disability act years ago.
But a couple of days before he was to appear before the committee, Sieber suffered a stroke and ultimately passed away a couple of weeks later, three days past his 46th birthday. In her son's place, Helen Sieber advocated changes to the legislation to better recognize brain injury survivors.
Brown believes his cousin's ordeal highlights the importance of brain injury prevention and advocacy.
"Why am I involved? Because this guy inspired me. Because he was a fighter, he was an advocate and he never gave up until the end," he added.
The Hawaiian Oyster Odyssey takes place Monday Jan. 24 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Miller Tavern at 3885 Yonge St. south of York Mills Road. Tickets are $150 before Jan. 17 or $200 at the door.
The fundraisers, which are held across Canada, have raised $750,000, including donations from corporate sponsors such as national presenting sponsor the Insurance Bureau of Canada.
During the event, the Ontario finalist for two free airline tickets to Hawaii will be drawn. Winners's names will be drawn at the national conference in August.
For more information, visit www.biac-aclc.ca or www.hawaiianoysterodesseys.ca