Board Member—Carroll Kamlin
Carroll retired from Salem Health after working for the organization for ten years (two in administration and eight in outpatient rehab). She was touched by the plight of those dealing with newly acquired brain injuries after witnessing their struggles as they labored to regain the physical and cognitive abilities lost following TBI. She also observed the difficulty these patients had navigating the complicated and often confusing medical system. Carroll noticed a real lack of services in regard to this population and wanted to help. She felt with her administrative background, she could be an advocate for those that seemed powerless to advocate for themselves.
Along with the compassion she felt for this underserved population, Carroll knew personally the difficulty, sacrifice, and responsibility involved in having a family member with a disability. Her grandsons both have special needs—one is on the autism spectrum and the other was born with a rare genetic condition known as 9p Minus. This syndrome can manifest in a variety of ways depending on which section of the 9 chromosome is missing. For Carroll’s grandson, this meant undergoing an extensive and difficult cranial vault reconstruction surgery at birth—a surgeon had to essentially “remodel” the majority of her grandson’s head, creating a more normal shape and allowing room for his brain to grow. In addition, he suffers from sensory issues due to his condition. One of the main reasons Carroll decided to retire was so she could be a help to her daughter, the mother of the two boys.
Following the loss of her husband in 2019 and mother in 2020, both of whom she cared for until they passed, Carroll moved to a property on the Makenzie River, which she now shares with her daughter and grandsons. She feels contented living among the quiet splendor of the forest, which is helping her heal from her recent losses. Carroll traded her 5000 sq. foot home for a modest 200 sq. foot tiny house, which she feels is the perfect choice for her. Now she has more time for the things that are important—helping her daughter with the boys and spending time doing the things she enjoys such as sewing, gardening, and taking long walks surrounded by the beauty and serenity of nature.
Carroll continues to advocate for people who have brain injuries or other neurological conditions through her new role, serving on the MIMI Board of Directors. She says she feels privileged to be part of this important work.