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Lara Benjamin survived a high-voltage electrical accident that should have killed her. But what no one realized at the time… was that her brain had been permanently changed.

Years later, her symptoms began to surface. Vision loss. Daily migraines. Memory failure. And a growing sense that something was deeply wrong.

Doctors dismissed her. Tests came back “normal.” And she was left questioning her own reality.

In this episode, Lara shares her journey through:

• Delayed traumatic brain injury
• Being misdiagnosed and dismissed
• Losing her identity, career, and sense of self
• Navigating a broken healthcare system
• And ultimately… reclaiming her power

This is a conversation about rupture, survival, and what it takes to rebuild when your brain, your body, and your life no longer work the way they used to.

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Clinical trials are often seen as a last resort. But what if they’re actually one of the most important options available?

In this episode, Wendy talks with clinical trial expert Kelly McKee about how clinical trials really work, why they’re so misunderstood, and what makes TBI uniquely difficult to study.

They explore the gap between perception and reality, the barriers patients face, and how new models like decentralized trials could make participation more accessible.

This conversation reframes clinical trials not as a risk, but as a critical part of how medicine moves forward.

If this episode changed how you think about clinical trials, share it with someone who needs it.

And follow Rupture for more conversations about what happens when systems break.

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What happens when your brain injury doesn’t show up on a scan… but changes everything?

In this episode of Rupture: The World of BestGuessistan, Wendy speaks with neurologist and neuro-ophthalmologist Dr. Melody Merati about the hidden reality of traumatic brain injury.

We’re told concussions are temporary. That we’ll “bounce back.” That if imaging is clear, we’re fine.

But for 10–30% of people, that’s not what happens.

Dr. Merati breaks down what’s actually happening in the brain after injury. Why symptoms don’t always match severity. Why dizziness, vision issues, mood changes, and sensory overload can persist for years. And why so many patients feel invisible inside a system that can’t fully explain or treat what they’re experiencing.

This is a conversation about:

• The limits of diagnosis and imaging
• Brain hypersensitivity and “irritability”
• Why recovery timelines fail so many people
• The emotional and psychological impact of not getting better
• How treatment actually works (and where it falls short)
• And what it means to shift from fixing to living

This episode is also about something bigger. The moment when you realize your life may not go back to what it was. And how to move forward anyway.

Welcome to BestGuessistan.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BestGuessistan

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