MISSION

Mind Your Brain Foundation works to fill the gap in TBI post-acute/rehabilitation care by conducting dynamic, regional, patient-centric conferences that include presentations, interactive discussions, cognitive workshops and resource sharing by a variety of clinical experts, research authorities and TBI survivors.

History

Our Story: From Personal Struggle to a Community of Hope

Candace Gantt: A Life Changed in an Instant

In 2005, Candace Gantt was a successful Senior Corporate Director at Ritz Carlton, a dedicated mother to her two young daughters, and a passionate tri-athlete and marathoner.

  • Integral in opening hotels worldwide.
  • Developed world-class guest-centered reservation systems.
  • Balancing a thriving career with motherhood and athletic pursuits.

Just two weeks after her first half Iron Man competition, on Thursday, July 21, 2005, Candace’s life took an unexpected turn.

  • While on a routine training bike ride, she was hit by a construction vehicle which launched her into a telephone pole.
  • This devastating accident left her with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and in a coma for 10 days in the Penn NeuroTrauma ICU

The Fight to Recover: A Warrior's Spirit

Against all odds, Candace’s resilient spirit shone through.

  • Within months, she was walking and talking again.
  • The incredible care team at Penn, led by Dr. Sean Grady (Charles Harrison Frazier Professor & Chairman of the Dept. of Neurosurgery at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania), played a monumental role in her recovery. Their constant encouragement and knowledge were invaluable.

The Unseen Struggle & a New Purpose

While Candace made remarkable physical progress, she grappled with the invisible challenges of her TBI – feeling like 10-20% of herself was still missing.

  • Frustration with insurance policies and navigating treatment options left her feeling defeated, despite her instinct to fight.
  • She shared these struggles with Dr. Grady, expressing feelings of isolation and discouragement.

The Birth of an Idea: Supporting Fellow Survivors

With Dr. Grady’s unwavering support, Candace channeled her experience into a new mission:

  • To help brain injury survivors like herself gain access to crucial tools, support, resources, and information – all for FREE!
  • Together, Candace and Dr. Grady envisioned the first-ever patient-centered conference to guide TBI survivors from coma to community and beyond.

The first MYB@Penn Med conference was in March of 2015 followed by the development of the Mind Your Brain Foundation in 2019: Bridging the Gap

The Mind Your Brain conferences help fill a critical gap in the continuity of care for TBI patients.

The Challenge

When survivors leave acute care and rehabilitation, they often lack a network of ongoing support, information, and education. Beyond the immediate trauma, survivors often struggle with substantial rehabilitation expenses that insurance fails to cover, further hindered by the restrictive offerings of state service providers.

Our Solution

  • Mind Your Brain provides a yearly conference and a supportive community to address these unmet needs.
  • Provide financial support for unmet rehabilitation and medical needs

Our Mission: Advocacy, Support, Education, and Research

Mind Your Brain is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for ALL those affected by TBI:

  • Patients
  • Families
  • Caregivers

We strive to reach these brave warriors and offer them comprehensive support.

You Are Not Alone: Finding Hope and Connection

TBI presents significant challenges, often leaving survivors and their loved ones feeling confused and isolated.

  • Mind Your Brain brings together an extraordinary community of survivors, families, and caregivers.
  • We provide a space to connect, share experiences, and discover available care and therapy options.
  • There IS hope. A strong foundation is essential for this journey, and Mind Your Brain is here to establish, maintain, and strengthen that foundation.

Our free yearly conference empowers the entire TBI community, helping individuals find the missing pieces and move forward. We also stay connected with survivors and caregivers throughout the year with our Mind Your Brain Monday e-mail newsletter each week.
Mind Your Brain Foundation (MYBF) officially became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization on May 31, 2018.