Krempels Center

To think that I can amply convey my gratitude for, while adequately describing the magic of Krempels Center (KC) in a short blog post is not realistic. However, having become such a huge part of my life and inspiring the MTSB initiative, here goes…Located on Portsmouth, NH’s community campus, KC is a community-based day program operating with the mission to improve the lives of people living with brain injury. I know what you may be thinking…so it’s basically a rehabilitation center? And believe me, even after almost 12 years of active membership at KC I have a difficult time explaining its’ almost spiritual impact on the lives of members.

I can’t imagine going any further without familiarizing readers with the story of KC’s founder, David Krempels’, own Traumatic Brain Injury. In his own words, David was a “late bloomer”, an accomplished builder who found love and married when tragically, he and his wife were rear-ended in a horrific accident by an 18 wheeler on their honeymoon in June of 1992. With his life shattered; grieving the loss of both his new bride and former life, David was unable to work, left in financial crisis, and struggling to afford the essentials.

After his civil suit went to trial and the jury awarded him a large sum of money, a ministers’ son who was raised “to believe (he) should do something good and important with (his) life”, David shifted from building houses to rebuilding lives. Started as The Krempels Brain Injury Foundation, the organization primarily provided grants to ease survivors’ financial struggles. Obviously, the financial needs of brain injury survivors must be met first, but as a survivor himself, David understood the tremendous loneliness often felt after brain injury. This knowledge was reinforced when after asking what one particular survivor needed, a family member replied, “What he really needs, is a friend.” I think the saying goes, “No man is an island”, which describes the human need for connection to thrive, and an island can certainly be a lonely place to be.

Having first-hand knowledge of the relief and comfort provided by monthly support groups, David envisioned a physical space where survivors could come together in a supportive community that met regularly. With this thought, a desire to improve the lives of brain injury survivors, several boxes of pizza, and a few brave survivors, the community-based day program now known as Krempels Center began now more than 20 years ago. Being a member of Krempels Center is a blessing in my and countless other survivors’ lives. This short parable which I’ll paraphrase here really seems appropriate:

A man was walking along a path and fell in a deep hole.

Many walked by the hole offering advice and thoughts on how he could get out. The man was getting depressed, with his hope of ever getting back to the path fading. Many people walked the path above the hole offering advice and sympathy to him.

As each passerby walked away, the man’s despair and loneliness grew. About to collapse in defeat, the man was startled when someone suddenly jumped in, landing beside him. “Why did you jump down here,” asked the despairing gentleman? Our central character was filled with hope and relief when his sudden companion replied; “Don’t worry, I’ve been in here before, and I know a way out. Let’s get out of here together.”

I always struggle to put into words what Krempels Center means to me. I find the experience of rejoining the world and being infused with hope difficult to describe, but love the way this short story conveys the feeling!

See David Krempels recount his story here: (http://krempelscenter.org/about-krempels-center/founders-story