You know Richard Wagar as the founder of the VBIA. You may even know him as a former business consultant and executive coach.
But you should know about three amazing women in Richard’s life. All three were affected by brain injury.
You know Richard Wagar as the founder of the VBIA. You may even know him as a former business consultant and executive coach.
But you should know about three amazing women in Richard’s life. All three were affected by brain injury.
Richard’s mother was a hero. You would recognize her as the type of person who never hesitates to help those in need. In the 1960’s she returned to high school and took classes with her own children as classmates. She wanted to become an operating room nurse. The whole family celebrated joyously when she succeeded. She was a wonderful nurse. After sacrificing so much of her life to help people, Richard’s mother suffered a disabling stroke at the age of 57. This would tragically lead to a series of strokes followed by early-onset dementia and death.
Richard’s younger sister Penny was just a toddler when she was struck by a car. You can imagine Richard’s horror when he saw her land on her head. She survived the accident, but suffered horrible migraines her entire life. But she wouldn’t let that stop her. Penny earned a Master’s degree and became a special needs teacher.
Richard’s baby sister Karen also helped those in need as a social worker. She later developed brain cancer. She fought valiantly and seemed to have gained full remission. Years later, the cancer returned, and Karen died in January 2018. In her final months Karen enjoyed playing the piano. Hearing the performance helped Karen keep track of how far the cancer had spread in her brain.
If you know Richard Wagar, then you know his life has been defined by persistence in the face of adversity. As a brain injury survivor himself, Richard continues his family’s legacy of survivors helping survivors.
