Local Hero Starts Up Physical Trauma Support Group

By Ashton Edwards

Colleen Kelly Alexander: an incredible story with a life-producing moral starring a vibrant, dedicated performer who continues to maintain her lead in “the road race of life against physical trauma”   

Colleen is a resident of the CT Shoreline having moved here from Vermont to work with PeaceJam Northeast as Regional Program Manager.  From almost birth she’s always had a passion for cycling .…a direct influence of her father who owned a bike shop.  For instance, at four years old Colleen learned to ride a bike almost two days after just learning to walk.

Rolling the clock forward to adulthood, life took a violent turn for Colleen when on October 8th, 2011 while cycling home from work she was run over by a large freight truck that failed to stop at an intersection in Madison.  Her body was totally ripped apart, her head smacked and dragged on the pavement - and her lifeless body having to be resuscitated twice in the Yale Trauma Operating Room as she completely bled out.  Her recovery has been an involved set of operations including having her pelvis screwed back together, over 16 surgeries on her abdomen, back end, and leg, and dealing with endless circulatory issues.

Since the accident Colleen has received over 78 units of blood, and still requires additional surgeries once her remaining wounds have healed.   Having spent three months at Yale and Gaylord Rehabilitation Center, Colleen is now back home doing her rehabilitation by working on healing, strengthening, and cognitive functioning as she prepares for her remaining surgeries this fall. 

Throughout the years Colleen has also had to overcome brain surgery for a Chiari Malformation as well as having lived through Lupus and Cryoglobulenemia.  Her healing had always come from a combination of triathlon sports, the love of her husband, and belief in her Creator. Throughout all of her physical traumas, she used her love of life, exercise, nutrition, and faith to help her heal and transition into a new phase of life.  

The Physical Trauma Support Group

To help other athletes who fall to unfortunate circumstances, Colleen has developed a physical trauma support group focused on any level of athlete who experiences a physical setback, and understands and is willing to use exercise and nutrition as a way to heal and strengthen their bodies both emotionally and physically.

At the heart of this approach is the realization that everyone has come from varied levels of athleticism; simultaneously, everyone experiences varied levels of trauma.  This is not a "compare my trauma to your trauma" group, or a group where people come together just to talk of their emotional journeys.  Slandering of the group or person that may have hurt the participant is not welcomed.  This will not be a therapy or counseling session: Rather, it will be a time to share with one another, to encourage and hold one another accountable.

The group will establish its own group norms and rules.  What will be involved? Encouraging one another, meeting one another at the point where each suffering person currently exists, and promoting discussion of those healthy options and alternatives that help others deal with depression, anxiety, pain, and fear through exercise at varied individual levels and nutrition. 

The Support Group will encourage journaling, optional sharing, setting individual goals, and holding one another accountable.  For its formatting it will use weekly readings, guest speakers, and the opportunity for participants to share from their experience on selected dates.  The methods will be simple and practical, with the final determinant being that which best helps participants find their inspirations and generate true understanding and passions. 

Treating Physical Trauma

For whatever reason, athletes who have something traumatic happen to their body incur devastating problems in an entirely different way than non-athletes.  Colleen fully understands the incredible healing power of exercise and diet, and wants through this new Trauma Support Group to bring this formidable combination to athletes who’ve experienced similar types of physical trauma.

The basis for her new Trauma group will be to reach out to athletes who’ve experienced physical trauma through relying on advice, counsel and experiences held by her four Yale Trauma Surgeons…Dr. Baumgaertner, Dr. Kaplan, Dr. Reddy, and Dr. Persing.   The major results that are generated in the sessions will be publicized at area gyms, workout centers and through local news sources. 

The Physical Trauma Support Group will eventually set up optional 5k runs together at events where participants can attend regardless of their level (walking, walker, cane, wheel chair, jogging, or running). Colleen feels it’s critical “to focus on our NEW bodies, what they can and cannot do (at this time), and finding hope and inspiration through one another.  Said another way, focusing on change, adaptation, and moving forward.” 

The Trauma Support Sessions

This is a completely free group, and intended to be small and personal (15-20 people)  The Meetings will be twice each month on the 1st and third Tuesday at 6 pm - 7:30 pm, and will be held at soundRunner, 1088 Main Street in Branford starting March 5^th.

For more information, participants can contact Colleen at Colleenkalexander@gmail.com