About Lifeyana
Lifeyana helps people with post-concussion syndrome get the hope, tools and support they need to recover from their brain injury. We always communicate to inspire, spread light, and empower.
‘YANA’ in the name Lifeyana is an acronym for ‘You Are Not Alone‘. It is our intent, with everything we do and all resources we make, to make others feel that they are not alone – we are a safe haven that supports them in the way that they prefer.
The meaning of ‘Lifeyana’
Lifeyana has a double meaning. First and foremost, is has a Buddhist origin. ‘Yana’ is a Buddhist term that could be described in short as ‘a vehicle that helps one on a road’.
With Lifeyana, we aim to provide post-concussion survivors with actionable steps and tools – vehicles – that help them on their journeys of recovery. Since her recovery, our founder realized even more that her concussion had taught her lessons and tools for life. This is how ‘life’ and ‘yana’ came together in ‘Lifeyana’.
Shortly after the decision to name our organization ‘Lifeyana’, we found out that ‘YANA’ is slang for ‘You Are Not Alone‘. This is when we knew the name was meant to be.
Lifeyana’s founder
My name is Melanie Wienhoven, a patient expert who fully recovered from post-concussion syndrome by the end of 2018, 6,5 years after injury.
During my recovery, doctors didn’t know what to do with me. I was left to fend for myself, with a brain that felt broken. In the years that followed, I moved through periods of grief, depression, insight, empowerment, extensive learning, experimentation and eventually – full recovery.
At my lowest point in my recovery process, I vowed that once I had recovered, I would come back for all who are going through the same thing as I did. This is why I started building Lifeyana in 2020, with help from 2 family members – I will be forever grateful for their dedication to laying the groundwork of Lifeyana as it is today.
2023 The Lancet Neurology publication
A letter to mild traumatic brain injury practitioners, policy makers and researchers around the world
In our letter to The Lancet Neurology, fellow Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) survivor James Piercy and our founder, Melanie Wienhoven, urge practitioners, researchers and policy makers around the world to translate the newest research findings into protocols.
BEHIND LIFEYANA
LIFEYANA THRIVES ON SUPPORT OF THOSE WHO ARE PASSIONATE TO CHANGE THE WAY WE SEE AND TREAT CONCUSSIONS
We thank the traumatic brain injury researchers and practitioners who have helped Lifeyana by dedicating their time and knowledge.
Emeritus Professor Andrew Maas
Neurosurgeon (retired), University of Antwerp
Professor David Menon
Intensivist, University of Cambridge
Doctor Nathan Zasler
Medical Director of Concussion Care Centre of Virginia
…and many more
Lifeyana gets continued non-financial support and input from dedicated & passionate researchers around the world
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