We were lucky to catch up with Amy Longmoore recently and have shared our conversation below.
Amy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.
In July of 2020, our 17-year-old daughter, Sierra Longmoore, was involved in a car crash and sustained a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), multiple skull fractures, collapsed lungs, and a mid-brain stroke. Her family was told she would not live through the night. By the grace of God, she made it through.
Her recovery has been propelled by her grit and determination plus the incredible support from medical professionals, her community, her family, and even strangers. Grateful for her blessings, Sierra vowed during her recovery to help others who survived a TBI on their journey so they were not alone.
Sierra didn’t travel her journey alone but with her entire family, and community. It is the same journey other TBI survivors have experienced and what she and her family learned is that there are many facets of TBI, caregiving, and the rehabilitative journey that are not well known and understood. They are ‘invisible’ to those who haven’t experienced it.
The Longmoore family’s desire to offer their experience, provide education and spiritual support, and fill the gaps they found in TBI resources is what inspired Sierra and her parents, Amy and Steven, to create Unmask the Invisible Nonprofit.
Amy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Our mission is to assist the brain injured community through education, resources, and family support. We have a dedicated Board of Directors that has worked hard to develop programs and services for those we serve. We are proud of our programs which include This is Your Brain on Art, Paint it Forward, and Weighted Paint Brush program. We also have a financial assistance fund called The Halo Fund. Our support and advocate group, The Hope Cafe, helps build resilience while sharing resources. We also released a book on Amazon in December of 2023 called Unmask the Invisible which has led to speaking engagements and book signings.
We have created successful events such as an annual Softball Tournament and a comedy show called Chuckles for Charity which raises fund for our organization.
We also partner with other nonprofits when applicable to assist others who have invisible injuries.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
When our daughter’s accident happened, it took a devastating toll on our entire family. She was in a coma for almost 2 months and transferred to a rehab facility in a vegetative state. Relearning her entire life again, I became her 24/7 caregiver. There were times my husband and I had to wear many hats and be the strength for our other children. There were many hurdles we faced emotionally, financially, and spiritually. But we remained resilient through it all, relying on God’s promise.
Have you ever had to pivot?
This experience closed doors that we weren’t ready to close but opened so many doors we never knew existed. We have been able to help thousands of people and have made so many close connections that we would not have otherwise.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.unmasktheinvisible.org
- Instagram: @unmask_the_invisible
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unmasktheinvisible
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/company/unmask-the-invisible
- Twitter: @UnmasktheInv
- Other: Tiktok: @ui.illuminate.tbi
