ALBANY, NY (Erie News Now)--ON DECEMBER 2, 2021, CALEB BRUNICK WAS RETURNING HOME FROM A COMEDY SHOW WHEN A TRACTOR TRAILER HIT THE CAR HE WAS RIDING IN HEAD ON-- KILLING ONE OF HIS FRIENDS AND LEAVING HIM WITH SEVERE INJURIES.  

HE SAid IT TOOK HIM 4 MONTHS TO BECOME VERBAL AGAIN. HE ALSO HAD TO RE-LEARN HOW TO WALK.  

HE TRAVELED TO ALBANY Tuesday TO ADVOCATE FOR BRAIN INJURY SURVIVORS HOPING TO SHOW THEM RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE.  

“Having a brain injury yes is a terrible thing. But it’s not the end. Brain injuries are not a death sentence,” said Brunick. 

ADVOCATES ARE ASKING FOR $1 MILLION IN THE STATE BUDGET FOR CONTINUUM OF CARE, A PROGRAM TO HELP BRAIN INJURY SURVIVORS, THEIR FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS TO FIND RESOURCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES.  

Jessica Camprone, Brunick's MOM SAid AS A CAREGIVER IT CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE THE RECOVERY PROCESS AND THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE. 

“From the very beginning we were given no hope to a quality of life if he was to survive. He’s doing overall wonderfully but it was nothing short of very hard work,” she said. 

SOME LAWMAKERS SAid THEY PLAN TO PUSH FOR FUNDING FOR CONTINUUM OF CARE IN THE FINAL STATE BUDGET. 

“We need to support New Yorkers with traumatic brain injuries. It’s often a little known and hidden condition but it has such an enormous impact on their lives,” said Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal (D-47th Senate District).

THE FINAL STATE BUDGET IS DUE on APRIL 1.