Investing in the comeback: parent's experience following traumatic brain injury

The increasing incidence of survival following traumatic brain injury necessitates a closer examination of long-term care and caregiver issues. A sample of parents and brain-injured offspring from 20 families was explored to identify a qualitatively-generated theory describing the parent's experience following a brain-injured child's return to the home setting. The grounded theory methodology was used during data collection and analysis. All the brain-injured offspring had survived moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, were living with at least one parent, and were aged 17-34 years. Investing in the Comeback is the generated three-phase theory. These three phases--centering on, fostering independence and seeking stability describe the work of parents living with brain-injured offspring.