THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

♪♪] >> JEFF: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

COMING UP TONIGHT, PROGRESS IN RECOVERING FROM TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES THAT IS AHEAD.

FIRST TONIGHT, A LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF AMERICA'S BEST BALL PARK, A NEW DOCUMENTARY FROM THE SHIRLEY POVICH CENTER FOR SPORTS JOURNALISM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CAPTURES THE MANY TWISTS AND TURNS THAT RESULTED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ORAL PARK AT CAMDEN YARDS.

>> PEOPLE LOOK AT THE WAREHOUSE AND THINK IT WAS ALWAYS TOO BIG PART OF THE STADIUM AND THIS THING CALLED THE UTAH STREET CORRIDOR WAS ALWAYS TO BE PART OF THE STADIUM BUT THAT IS JUST NOT TRUE.

IT WAS NEVER ENVISIONED IN THE STADIUM.

IT WASN'T IN THE BUDGET.

THE WAREHOUSE WAS TO BE KNOCKED DOWN.

AND IT WAS A RAT-INFECHTED DERELICT BUILDING THAT HAD NO PURPOSE OR RECOURSE.

>> THERE WAS A WHOLE ISSUE OF WAREHOUSE ITSELF.

AND THIS IS WHERE THE POWER OF LANSDOWN SCHAEFER CAME IN THE STADIUM AUTHORITY DID NOT HAVE OWNERSHIP OF THE WAREHOUSE.

A FRIEND AND POLITICAL ALLY OF SCHAEFER HAD PARTIAL OWNERSHIP.

ULTIMATELY HE PERSUADED THEM TO SELL.

>> IT WAS A MESS.

THAT'S THE NICEST THING I COULD SAY, ABANDONED, BROKEN GLASS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

THE WINDOWS BUSTED.

PIGEONS LIVING IN THERE.

THE POOP IN THERE THE HORSE STUFF ON THE SOUTH END.

THE ROOF LEAKED THE ELEVATORS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING.

THERE WAS NOT ONE THING THAT WAS RIGHT OTHER THAN THE FACT IT HAD POTENTIAL.

>> THE WAREHOUSE WAS A UNIQUE ICON AND IDENTIFIABLE IT WOULD LIVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SCALE AND TIMELESSNESS TO THE PROJECT.

SO WE HAD SUGGESTED THAT THE WAREHOUSE REMAIN.

>> IT SEEMED ANTITHETICAL TO THE INFORMATION WE WERE GOING TO CREATE A BALL PARK WITH MODERN AMENITIES IN DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE AND TEAR OUT THE CONTEXT THAT COULD US A RATIONALE TO FOLLOW THEIR LEAD AND HAVE AN ASYMMETRICAL HEIGHTS TO THE WALLS AND UNIQUE FEATURES THAT WOULD DEFINE AMORY LECUYER.

CAMDEN YARDS.

>> Jeff: JOINING US ARE EUGENIO ROCKSMITH, JOAN AND SANDRA BANISKY IS A RETIRED PROFESSOR AND COLEADER OF THIS PROJECT.

MARK, TELL US HOW THIS GOT STARTED?

>> I WISH I COULD TAKE CREDIT BUT IT WAS A PRODUCT OF CONVERSATION WITH MARK WASSERMAN WHO YOU SAW IN THE CLIP HAVING BREAKFAST WITH FORMER OFFICIALS OF THE STADIUM AUTHORITY AND THE ORIOLES AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND THEY WERE CONCERNED THIS STORY WOULD BE LOST IF IT WEREN'T PRESERVED BY JOURNALISTS OR BY US.

AND OF COURSE WE WERE HAPPY TO TAKE THE PROJECT ON.

>> Jeff: YOU FOUND GREAT OLD PICTURES.

I SHOULD REMEMBER, I DO NOT REMEMBER WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE THERE BEFORE THE BUILDING SURROUNDING THE WAREHOUSE WERE KNOCKED DOWN.

>> YEAH, AN INDUSTRIAL SITE IT WAS NOT ON ANYBODY'S TOURISM LIST FOR BALTIMORE.

THERE WAS A STEAM PLANT HAD THERE.

THERE WAS A DOUGHNUT SHOP A MIDDLE SCHOOL.

SO CAMDEN YARDS GAVE THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY A DIFFERENT LOOK.

>> Jeff: YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THIS YOU ARE A JUNIOR.

FOR ME, THIS BALL PARK IS STILL BRANDS NEW, IT JUST OPENED YESTERDAY, I THINK I REMEMBER MEMORIAL STADIUM CLEARLY FOR YOU THERE'S NEVER BEEN ANYTHING ELSE THERE.

TELL ME WHAT YOU BRING TO THE PROJECT AND HOW MANY STUDENTS WERE WORKING ON THIS?

>> ROUGHLY OVER A COUPLE DOZEN STUDENTS THERE WAS A SPRING COHORT WHEN I STARTED AND THE PROJECT WAS INTRODUCED.

AND WE DID THE INTERVIEWS SIDE OF THINGS AND FOOTAGE AND THEN THE TRANSITION TO THE FALCO HOTTER.

I'VE WORKED ON THIS PROJECT THROUGH SPRING, SUMMER, FALL, WINTER TO NOW.

CAMDEN YARDS BEFORE THIS PROJECT WAS A REALLY PRETTY BALL PARK AND I KNEW IT WAS INFLUENTIAL BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WHAT EXTENT AFTER WORKING ON THIS FOR A YEAR, IT'S INFLUENCED PNC PARK, ORACLE PARK IN SAN FRANCISCO AND PARKS BECAUSE IT CONNECTS TO THE CITY.

IT'S BUILT IN.

THE BRICK IN THE STADIUM WITH THE WAREHOUSE JUST TALKED ABOUT IT WAS A DERELICT PLACE AND NOW IT IS THE THING PEOPLE THINK OF WHEN THEY THINK CAMDEN YARDS.

>> Jeff: AND THE CITY OF BALTIMORE.

SANDY, YOU COVER THE POLITICAL FIGHT.

AND IT SEEMS LOOKING BACK OF COURSE IT TURNED OUT THE WAY IT TURNED OUT BUT IT WAS NEVER A GUARANTEE.

>> WHAT MARK AND I DECIDED WE WERE BOTH COVERING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BALL PARK.

CAMDEN YARDS STARTED WITH THE COLTS LEAVING BALTIMORE.

THEY HAD BEEN BACK IN THE EARLY 80s AND LATE 70s THERE WAS DISCUSSION WHAT IF WE HAD A DOWNTOWN STADIUM.

BUT WHEN THE COLTS LEFT IT BECAME VERY REAL THE TEAM THE BALL PARK, THE BASEBALL TEAM IS OWNED BY A WASHINGTONIAN WASHINGTON DOES NOT HAVE A TEAM.

>> Jeff: THAT WAS EDWARD BENNETT WILLIAMS THE MOST INFLUENTIAL LAWYER IN AMERICA AT THE TIME.

WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER IS ELECTED GOVERNOR IN THE FALL OF 86 AND ALL HE WANTED IS TWO STADIUMS TO BE BUILT IN THE CITY OF BALTIMORE.

BUT HE COMES UP AGAINST THE LEGISLATURE SAYING WAIT A SECOND IS WE'RE IN CHARGE HERE WE ARE THE LEGISLATURE.

AND THEY WON'T GIVE A HEARING TO HIS BILLS.

>> Jeff: IT WASN'T LIKE THE CITY COUNCIL.

>> NO, IT WAS NOT.

THAT WAS A SURPRISE TO THE GOVERNOR AND HE CAN'T GET A HEARING IN THE LEGISLATURE ON THESE BILLS.

AND SHALL WE TELL THE STORY?

>> SURE.

>> SO IT'S MARCH THE GOVERNOR HAS HIS NORMAL WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE AND THE LEGISLATORS SAY WHY SHOULD WE PASS THESE BILLS THE OWNER OF THE TEAM WILL ONLY AGREE TO A ONE-YEAR LEASE.

WHY WOULD THE GOVERNMENT SPEND THIS KIND OF MONEY WITHOUT THAT GUARANTEE.

AT THE END OF A PRESS CONFERENCE SCHAEFER ANNOUNCED AND EDWARD BENNETT WILLIAMS WILL BE HERE NEXT WEEK TO TESTIFY AT A HEARING THE TOP LEGISLATIVE AIDES ALLEN AND DAVID, RUN UP TO THE MAYOR AFTER THE PRESS CONFERENCE AND SAY BOSS THIS IS GREAT NEWS.

AND HE SAYS, YEAH, GIRLS YOU BETTER MAKE A PHONE CALL.

SO THEY HAD TO CALL EDWARD BENNETT WILLIAMS TO SAY WE THINK YOUR A COMING HERE AND HE SAYS I'M HAVING CHEMOTHERAPY IN BOSTON AT DANA FARBER THAT MORNING.

SO I WON'T BE THERE.

AND OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT WEEK, THEY HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS AND FRESH FROM HIS CHEMOTHERAPY IN BOSTON HE SHOWS UP AND TESTIFIES AND MESMERIZES THE LEGISLATORS AND A COUPLE DAYS LATER THE BILLS WENT THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE.

>> Jeff: I WILL SKIP AHEAD TO WHEN IT OPENS THE IMPACT WAS EXTRAORDINARY.

IT WAS PACKED.

AND IT WASN'T JUST PACKED FOR A COUPLE OF GAMES, IT WAS PACKED FOR YEARS.

>> YEAH, IT WAS THREE YEARS OF SELLOUTS THE BALL PARK INSTANTLY BECAME THE ICONIC BASEBALL VENUE.

AND AS JONAH MENTIONED, SO MANY BALL PARKS THAT FOLLOWED CAMDEN YARDS REALLY FOLLOWED THAT KIND OF TEMPLATE THAT CAMDEN YARDS ESTABLISHED WHICH IS OLD-FASHIONED, FROM AN ESTHETIC STANDPOINT FROM SITE LINES AND ALL THE MODERN CONVENIENCES THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT AS A FAN.

>> Jeff: INCLUDING NOW A GIGANTIC SCOREBOARD.

VIEWERS IF YOU WANT TO THROW IN A QUESTION SEND AN E-MAIL AT LIVE QUESTIONS AT MPT.ORG.

IN THE CLIP WE HEARD JANET MARIE SMITH SAY SOMETHING ABOUT ASSEMBLY INDUSTRY ON THE FIELD, THE STADIUM WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT?

>> A BALL PARK IS BUILT IN A SUBURBAN COMMUNITY TYPICALLY IT'S A SYMMETRICAL DESIGN SURROUNDED BY PARKING THAT IS THE MODEL OF YOUR BUILDING OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A CORN FIELD.

BUILDING IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT YOU ARE RESTRICTED BY THE SIZE OF THE PROPERTY.

AND WHEN YOU THINK OF EASTBOUND BETS FIELD AND FENWAY PARK AND WRIGLEY FIELD THESE ARE THE CLASSIC BALL PARKS BUILT IN THE TEENS AND EARLIER THOSE BALL PARKS WERE ASYMMETRIC BECAUSE YOU HAVE A PIECE OF PROPERTY AND HAD TO FIT A BALL PARK IN THERE.

AND CAMDEN YARDS RESEMBLES THAT BECAUSE THE PROPERTY DICTATED THE DIMENSIONINGS OF THE FIELD.

>> Jeff: HAD THEY BLOWN UP THE WAREHOUSE THEY COULD HAVE DONE WHAT THEY WANTED TO.

>> DON'T SAY THAT.

>> AS SPORTS LOVING SPORTS FAN, WHAT IS THE WAREHOUSE MEAN?

>> WELL, THE FUNNY PART IS A LOT OF PEOPLE WANTED TO BLOWUP THE WAREHOUSE THAT WAS THE FIGHT THE WAREHOUSE WAS THE TOPIC A LOT OF PEOPLE IT WAS TOO DARE LIRKT IT'S GROSS INSIDE.

AND THEY WANTED THE VIEW OF THE HARBOR THEY WANTED THAT WATER VIEW THAT IS WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE FOUGHT FOR THIS BRICK RIGHT HERE, THE LONGEST CONTINUOUS BRICK BUILDING ON THE EAST COAST IS COOL AND ADDS TO THAT OLD-FASHIONED ESTHETIC.

IS THAT WON THE DAY THERE.

AND I MEAN WHEN I THINK OF CAMDEN YARDS I THINK OFFED WAREHOUSE FIRST.

THAT IS WHAT ADDED TO THAT, JUST IT ADDED TO THE ICONIC STATUS ALREADY.

>> AND THE CITY IS MADE OF BRICK ROWHOUSES.

AND SO WHY NOT KEEP THIS VESTIGE OF THE INDUSTRIAL PAST.

>> Jeff: IS THAT WHY THE FIELD IS, I DON'T KNOW, 20 FEET BELOW STREET-LEVEL IS THAT RELATED?

>> THAT'S IN PART BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE JANET MARIE SAID THIS STADIUM IS GOING TO EXIST UP AGAINST THESE ROWHOUSES.

2 AND THREE STOREY ROWHOUSES YOU CANNOT HAVE THE SHAPE SHIP IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD SO THEY EXKA VACCINATED AND LOWERED THE STADIUM YOU WALK DOWN AND THAT LOWERED THE PROFILE.

SO ALL THAT WAS ON THE MINDS OF THE DESIGNERS.

>> Jeff: GO AHEAD.

>> I WANTED TO POINT OUT SOMETHING WE ARE PROUD OF AND IS IMPORTANT IN THE PROJECT AND THAT IS SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SO IMPORTANT TO THIS PROCESS.

WHO SOME OF THEM ARE NO LONGER HERE.

OTHERS THEIR ROLES HAVE NOT BEEN FULLY APPRECIATED.

HERB BELGRADE, THE FIRST CHAIRMAN, WE INTERVIEWED HIM IN THE FALL.

AND HE DIED IN APRIL OF THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

THAT GAVE US A SENSE OF URGENCY ABOUT THE PROJECT.

I THINK WE REALIZED THAT WE WERE PRESERVING A HISTORICAL RECORD THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT.

BUT NOT ONLY HERB, BUT WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER THERE WERE STUDENTS IN THE ROOM WHO WERE BORN LONG AFTER WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER HAD BEEN A FORCE WHO DID NOT KNOW WHO WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER WAS, EDWARD BENNETT WILLIAMS AND WE ARE PROUD OF THE FACT THESE PEOPLE THEIR REPRESENTATIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS ARE RECOGNIZED.

>> Jeff: THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS, YOU KNOW, ALMOST LIKE A FABRIC OF TIME THING THAT THIS TURNED OUT THE WAY IT DID.

HAD THE MAYFLOWER MOVING VANS IN 1984 NOT TAKEN THE BALTIMORE COLTS FROM DOWN THE STREET IN OWINGS MILLS WOULD HAVE BEEN LESS URGENCY WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND THERE ARE GREAT VOICES AND HERB BELGRADE, OF COURSE, HE WAS THE GUY WHO GUIDED THE WHOLE THING CALMLY AND GOT IT THROUGH.

WE HAVE THE GROUNDSKEEPER A MONTH BEFORE OPENING DAY SAYING I CAN NOT GET THE GRASS TO GROW AND GOD IT HAS TO GROW.

LITTLE STORIES THAT WE PUT TOGETHER.

>> AND THEY WERE STILL PAINTING CAMDEN YARDS OPENING DAY THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT THE PAINT DRIPPING OFF ON TO THE FANS.

>> STUDENTS GOT UP TO SPEED QUICKLY ON TALKING TO PEOPLE ABOUT THE POLITICS MARYLAND POLITICS IN THE 1980s, THE HISTORY OF BALL PARKS, AND YOU KNOW, PUT TOGETHER THIS PROJECT.

>> Jeff: I WONDER, JONAH, YOU FAST FORWARD IN OTHER FEW DECADES AND MORE AND MORE CITIES WILL HAVE BALL PARKS WITH RETRACTSABLE ROOFS, PLAYING INDOORS DO YOU THINK THE PRESSURE FOR THAT EVER GETS SO GREAT THERE WOULD BE A NEW STADIUM REPLACING CAMDEN YARDS SOME DAY?

>> NO.

I THINK CAMDEN YARDS HAS SOMETHING SPECIAL THAT STADIUMS DON'T BECAUSE IT CONNECTS WITHED CITY OF BALTIMORE AND ITS PEOPLE.

THIS WHOLE PROJECT I THINK IS MORE THE HISTORY OF BALTIMORE ITSELF.

MORE SO THAN JUST CAMDEN YARDS WE LOOKED BACK TO THE ORIGINAL BALL PARKS IN THE 1900'S.

HOW THAT IMPACTED THE CITY.

OBVIOUSLY THE COLTS LEAVING AND THEN THE IMPACT CAMDEN YARDS HAS IT BRINGS THE RAVENS BACK A DECADE LATER AND ADDING TO THE WATERFRONT AREA FOR BALTIMORE.

AND I DON'T THINK LIKE RETRACTIBLE ROOF LOSES THE LUSTER OF THE STADIUM ADDING THAT SPACESHIP VALUE TO SOMETHING THAT IS HARKENING BACK TO OLD-FASHIONED BASEBALL WITH BRICK AND STEEL BEAMS.

>> Jeff: ANY STORIES ABOUT A COVERT MEETING ANY OTHER STORIES YOU WANT TO GET IN THIS LAST-MINUTE.

>> LET'S LET JONAH TELL THIS.

>> I INTERVIEWED BOB FLANAGAN PART OWNER OF THE TEAM AT THE TIME.

>> HE WAS SECRETARY TREASURER.

>> THANK YOU.

AND HE WAS AT A MEETING WITH EDWARD BENNETT WILLIAMS DONALD SCHAEFER, ART, TALKING ABOUT MOVING THE ORIOLES DOWN 95 CLOSER TO BOSTON HARBOR TO BUILD A STADIUM WITH ANOTHER NFL FRANCHISE IN THE MID-80s.

DEAL FELL THROUGH NEVER HAPPENED BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF DIFFERENT ASPECTS WHERE THE ORIOLES WOULD HAVE BEEN.

COULD HAVE BEEN CLOSER TO DC.

>> Jeff: WELL, IT'S FASCINATING AND ALL ON-LINE AT CREATING CAMDEN YARDS.ORG.

MAY WINDUP BROADCASTING IT.

BUT MARK, JOENA, SANDY APPRECIATE THE TIME THIS WAS FUN.

LET'S GO O'S.

WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Jeff: AND JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT YOUR HEALTH IS Dr.

EUGENIO ROCKSMITH A NEUROLOGIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND REHABILITATION AND ORTHOPAEDIC INSTITUTE AND PROFESSOR OF NEUROLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

YOU SPECIALIZE IN TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES WHICH CAN OCCUR IN MANY, MANY WAYS WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON WAYS?

>> THE MOST COMMON ARE MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS, FALLS IN THE ELDERLY.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, LIVING IN BALTIMORE BEING FROM BALTIMORE, A LOT OF VIOLENT CRIME.

>> Jeff: AND THESE TYPES OF INJURIES CAN JUST BE DEVASTATING.

>> DEFINITELY CAN BE VERY DEVASTATING, HAVE A PROFOUND EFFECT ON SOMEONE'S LIFE FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES, NOT ONLY THE PATIENT BUT FOR THE FAMILY MEMBERS.

>> Jeff: AND YOU KNOW THIS FIRSTHAND TELL US THE STORY.

>> SO WHEN I WAS 24, I WAS AN OFFICER IN THE AIR FORCE.

AND I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK IN COLORADO, IN COLORADO SPRINGS.

AND I HAVE NO RECOLLECTION BUT I WENT THROUGH A STOP SIGN AND I WAS BROAD-SIDED BY A FORD BRONCO.

AND I WOKE UP TWO WEEKS LATER IN A MILITARY HOSPITAL IN DENVER I HAD BEEN COMMONS TO FOR 12 DAYS.

I HAVE NO RECOLLECTION OF ANYTHING.

I WAS -- I HAD SIGNIFICANT NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEMS AND I DID INPATIENT ONCE I EMERGED FROM THE COMA I DID INPATIENT REHABILITATION AT THE MILITARY HOSPITAL IN DENVER.

AND THAT STARTED MY ROAD TO VERY, VERY LONG AND DIFFICULT RECOVERY.

>> Jeff: HOW MANY YEARS WOULD YOU SAY UNTIL YOU WERE BACK CLOSE TO 100%?

>> YOU KNOW THAT IS A DIFFICULT QUESTION TO ANSWER.

IN MANY WAYS, MAYBE AFTER THE FIRST ONE TO TWO YEARS I WAS BETTER IN MANY WAYS THAN I HAD BEEN BEFORE THE INJURY.

AGAIN IN OTHER WAYS I WAS WORSE.

BETTER IN THE SENSE THAT I HAD BEEN THINKING ABOUT GOING TO MEDICAL SCHOOL AT THE TIME.

I WAS UNHAPPY WITH MY CAREER CHOICE WHEN I WAS IN THE AIR FORCE.

BUT I THINK THE BRAIN INJURY MOTIVATED ME TO PUT FORTH THE EFFORT BECAUSE I HAD TO PROVE TO MYSELF AND ALL THE DOCTORS THAT GAVE ME VERY DIRE PROGNOSES THAT I WOULD DO IT.

IT GAVE ME THE DRIVE TO REALLY FORCE MYSELF TO BE DISCIPLINED AND GET INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL AND WORK HARD THROUGH MEDICAL SCHOOL SPHOOR NOT AN ACCIDENT THAT YOU BECAME A NEUROLOGIST?

>> NOT AT ALL.

>> Jeff: WERE THERE DEFICITS STILL THAT CHALLENGED YOU THROUGH MEDICAL SCHOOL?

>> WELL, I HAD DOUBLE VISION FOR QUITE A WHILE THAT TOOK A WHILE TO RESOLVE.

>> Jeff: AND IT GOT BETTER?

>> IT GOT BETTER, YEAH, IT GOT BETTER.

I DID HAVE IN MEDICAL SCHOOL YOU HAVE TO HAVE FANTASTIC MEMORY AND ONE OF THE COMMON COMPLICATIONS OF A BRAIN INJURY IS SHORT-TERM MEMORY LOSS AND I DID DEAL WITH THAT FOR A WHILE BUT I LEARNED WAYS TO COMPENSATE FOR MY DEFICITS IN MEMORY.

I LEARNED DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES AND MEMORIZATION TECHNIQUES TO HELP ME REMEMBER THINGS.

>> Jeff: IS RECOVERY FROM A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY A SORT OF THING WHERE LET'S LOOK AT A PERIOD SAY TWO YEARS WHERE MOST OF IT IS FRONT LOADED IS IT AN EVEN PATH MAY CONTINUAL PROGRESS OR IF YOU DON'T MAKE RAPID PROGRESS THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS YOU WILL NOT GET BACK?

>> IT REALLY DEPENDS.

KIDS AGO IT WAS THOUGHT THAT WHEN PATIENTS HAVE A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY WHAT THEIR INJURY IS, IS HOW THEY ARE GOING TO BE FOR A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THEIR RECOVERY.

AND THEY MAY OR MAY NOT GET DIFFERENCE.

NOW WE KNOW THROUGH RESEARCH THAT RECOVERY IS A PROLONGED PROCESS THAT HAS UPS AND DOWNS.

YOU CAN HAVE PATIENTS THAT DO WELL AND THEN THEY MAY PLATEAU.

AND MAY START TO DO BETTER AGAIN.

FOR ME, I WOULD SAY PROBABLY BY THE FIVE OR SIX YEAR MARK, I HAD MADE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF MY RECOVERY.

BUT RECOVERY CONTINUES EVEN AFTER THAT.

AND IT CAN CONTINUE FOR YEARS FOR DECADES AFTER THAT.

DEPENDING ON WHAT TYPE OF DEFICITS YOU HAVE THE SEVERITY OF THE DEFICITS AND WHAT TYPE OF INTERVENTIONS YOU USE TO HELP YOURSELF RECOVER.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS DIFFERENT TODAY IN TERMS OF THE IMMEDIATE TREATMENT, THE ACUTE TREATMENT WHEN SOMEBODY COMES IN TO SHOCK TRAUMA IN YOUR SYSTEM AND ALSO THE REHABILITATION WORK THAT YOU DO?

HOW HAS THAT CHANGED?

>> NOW, ESPECIALLY IN A FACILITY LIKE SHOCK TRAUMA HOSPITAL THEY USE CUTTING EDGE MEDICINE TO REALLY SAVE PEOPLE'S LIVES.

PEOPLE WHO ORDINARILY WOULD THAT HAVE RECOVERED FROM THE KIND OF INJURY THAT THEY SUSTAINED.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE ISSUE WITH THAT IS THAT WHEN THOSE PEOPLE RECOVER, AND THEY MAKE IT TO THE REHAB HOSPITAL, WHAT WE'RE LEFT TO HELP THEM RECOVER FROM IS VERY, VERY CHALLENGING.

AND IT IS A VERY LONG ROAD AND CAN BE PAINFUL ROAD ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAVE ORTHOPAEDIC INJURIES.

AND IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT REALLY TAKES A LOT OF EFFORT.

>> Jeff: THIS PSYCHOLOGY OF THAT, YOU WERE YOUNG MAN LIVING YOUR LIFE, AND NOT EXPECTING ANYTHING BAD TO HAPPEN AND THEN WHEN ANY PATIENT IS SUDDENLY IN THAT SITUATION AND WAKES UP TWO WEEKS LATER, IT HAS TO BE A SHOCK AND GOT TO BE DEPRESSION THAT COMES WITH IT?

>> THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I DEALT WITH AS I WAS RECOVERING.

FOR THE FIRST FEW WEEKS AFTER MY INJURY, I LITERALLY DID NOT BELIEVE THAT I HAD BEEN IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND I HAD A BRAIN INJURY.

I TRULY FELT I WAS DREAMING THE WHOLE TIME AND I WAS GOING TO WAKE UP FROM THE DREAM AND REALIZE YOU WILL BE BACK IN MY AIR FORCE JOB DOING WHAT I WAS DOING.

IT WASN'T UNTIL THE NIGHT BEFORE I LEFT TO GO BACK TO NEW JERSEY FROM COLORADO SPRINGS THAT I SAID OKAY IF I WAKE UP TOMORROW I KNOW THIS IS NOT A DREAM.

I REALLY BELIEVED I WAS DREAMING.

AND WHEN I WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING I SAID THIS IS REAL.

THIS REALLY HAPPENED.

>> Jeff: WE HOPE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ANYBODY WATCHING BUT FOR PEOPLE IN NEED OF THESE SERVICES THE ADVANTAGE OF BEING IN A SPECIALTY SETTING LIKE YOU HAVE?

>> THE VANSES ARE THAT ADVANTAGES ARE WE HAVE AN INDEPENDENTS REHABILITATION FACILITY WE SPECIALIZE ON THE BRAIN INJURY UNIT WE SPECIALIZE IN TREATING BRAIN INJURIES OF ALL DIFFERENT CAUSES.

AND WE HAVE THE CLINICAL EXPERTISE WITH THE THERAPISTS, THE NURSES, THE PHYSICIANS, AND WE ALL GET TOGETHER AND WE REALLY SHAPE A PERSON'S RECOVERY FROM BRAIN INJURY.

AND I THINK THAT THAT HAS A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON HOW WELL SOMEBODY DOES LONG-TERM.

>> Jeff: HOW ABOUT THE IMPACT OF SUPPORT GROUPS?

>> SUPPORT GROUPS ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT IS A WAY IN WHICH BRAIN INJURY SURVIVORS AND CAREGIVERS CAN GET TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT SHARED EXPERIENCES.

AND SURVIVORS AND CAREGIVERS CAN LEARN FROM EACH OTHER WHAT TO DO FOR THEIR LOVED ONE TO HELP THEM RECOVER EVEN BETTER.

IT IS A FANTASTIC VENUE AND WE HAVE A SUPPORT GROUP THE FIRST MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND REHABILITATION INSTITUTE SPONSORED BY CANDICE, A THERAPIST AND SHE IS FANTASTIC.

SHE IS SO DEDICATE TO DO HER JOB AND CARING FOR THESE PATIENTS.

>> Jeff: Dr.

EUGENIO ROCKSMITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND REHABILITATION AND ORTHOPAEDIC INSTITUTE, SIR WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> Jeff: AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "DIRECT CONNECTION" WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS.

FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪]