The 2024 Brain Injury Awareness Day was held at the State Capitol in the Rotunda Wednesday from 8 to 11 a.m., where Miss Vicksburg Teen Addie Grace Clay was the guest speaker.

Brain and spinal cord injury survivors, family members and caregivers, as well as medical professionals who treat brain and spinal cord injuries, were in attendance.

Clay, a survivor of a traumatic brain injury, shared her story and her passion for helping other pediatric brain injury survivors.

The BIAMS/USAMS had brain injury, stroke and spinal cord information available for both civilians and members of our military, as well as injury prevention information on Cycling Safely, ATV Safety, Fall Prevention and Concussions.

Every nine seconds, someone in the United States sustains a brain injury. At least 13.5 million Americans live with a TBI-related disability and Mississippi is in the top five states in the country in number of brain injuries.

There are over 18,000 new spinal cord injuries each year in the U.S.

The Brain Injury Association of Mississippi/United Spinal Association of Mississippi assists survivors, family members, caregivers, and professionals in improving the quality of life for individuals who have sustained brain and/or spinal cord injuries and develops programs to prevent such injuries.