JASON & MARJORIE CRIGLER
Defying the Odds: How One Man Recovered from a Stroke with the Help of His Family, Subject of the acclaimed documentary film Life.Support.Music

In August of 2004, guitarist Jason Crigler suffered an AVM brain hemorrhage while performing at a concert in Manhattan. He was rushed to the hospital where doctors gave Jason’s family a grim prognosis: “Even if he lives through the night, there won’t be much left of the man you know.”

Jason’s pregnant wife and the rest of his family refused to accept the dire prognosis. Convinced that Jason was “in there,” his family mounted an intensive and intimate course of rehabilitation that would force Jason’s doctors to reconsider the factors that inspire recovery.

Jason and his sister Marjorie have developed a powerful multimedia presentation that explains how and why Jason recovered. Using video footage of Jason’s rehabilitation taken by hospital staff and drawing on their unique, personal experience, they show how intense family involvement makes the difference in a positive recovery.

Who is Jason:
Jason Crigler has been playing music professionally for eleven years. He has worked with Marshall Crenshaw, John Cale, Linda Thompson, Erin Mckeown, Teddy Thompson, Ollabelle and many others. Jason has performed with Norah Jones, Suzanne Vega and Rufus Wainwright. Additionally, Jason has composed music for the feature-length documentary Ashtanga, NY and the film short, Grand Street. He has also composed the music for numerous Internet ad campaigns, including many for General Electric (GE).

Who is Marjorie:
Marjorie Crigler writes under the name Mojie Crigler. Her plays have been produced at Ensemble Studio Theatre, Magic Theatre, Carnegie Mellon University, and elsewhere. Her short stories have been published in several literary journals, including The Brooklyn Rail and The Gut. A graduate of Stanford University and Vermont College of Fine Arts, Marjorie also teaches writing; this fall, she will teach at The College of New Jersey.

Life.Support.Music.

Life.Support.Music. is a feature-length documentary about Jason’s recovery which will air on PBS’ POV series on July 7, 2009. The film, which ran at New York’s Cinema Village movie theatre, has screened at dozens of local and international film festivals, picking up several awards and earning rave reviews. “Heart-wrenching and inspiring,” says The Boston Globe. “Incredibly powerful,” says VOX Magazine. Click here to visit the film’s web site. Click here to find your local PBS station.

PROGRAMS:

Defying the Odds: How One Man Recovered from a Stroke with the Help of His Family
In this 45-60 minute multimedia presentation, Jason and Marjorie share their insight into the mindset that enabled Jason’s recovery from a devastating brain injury. Providing both survivor and caregiver points of view, Jason and Marjorie show the many ways in which their attitudes made the difference in surviving—and even benefiting from—an extreme crisis. This inspiring presentation includes a Q&A session and a brief musical performance by Jason.

Defying the Odds for Health Care Groups
Jason and Marjorie deliver a 45-60 minute multimedia presentation examining the various factors that helped Jason recover from a brain injury when most of his doctors said it couldn’t be done. Offering both survivor and caregiver points of view, Jason and Marjorie’s presentation is practical, educational and incredibly inspiring. The presentation is followed by a Q&A session and a brief musical performance by Jason.

Defying the Odds Screening & Speech
This presentation begins with a screening of the award-winning documentary Life.Support.Music., which chronicles guitarist Jason Crigler’s recovery from a brain injury with the help of his family. Following the screening, Jason and Marjorie deliver a 30-minute talk with a Q&A session. The presentation closes with a brief musical performance by Jason.

Testimonials

I am the attending physician in charge of Jason Crigler's rehabilitation from brain injury. His remarkable recovery has reshaped my own medical practice. His inspiring story caused me to give everyone a chance for multidisciplinary rehabilitation and reevaluate various factors that can influence the outcome. It is my sincere hope that every practitioner in post-acute care hear his story or watch the movie about his recovery.
Heechin Chae, MD, Medical Director, Brain Injury, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA

Life.Support.Music. should be required viewing for all who work with brain injury survivors and their families. Jason's remarkable story humbles those of us who try to predict recovery. It reminds us that we still have much to learn about the power of hope and the brain's ability to heal itself.
Christopher Carter, Pys.D, Director of Behavior Medicine, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA

I have decided to do my community rotation in an area that focuses on brain injury. I also want to work with TBIs [traumatic brain injuries] and rehabilitation when I graduate. I was having a hard time deciding where I wanted to focus my nursing practice, and your story was like a revelation. In short, I want to thank you for helping me find my path. I will continue to update you about my nursing practice so that, as time goes on, you can see how far the ripples of your story have spread.
Lee Anna, nursing student, Asheville, NC