Brain Injury Services of SWVA Board of Trustees,
Brain Injury Services of SWVA Staff,
Colleagues and Friends:

I am writing to you today to share some good news for persons living with brain injury, their families and those of us who work with and care deeply for individuals living with brain injury.  Lakeview, a provider of residential and neurobehavioral treatment facilities has agreed to purchase a former nursing home campus in Blacksburg, Virginia.

The campus is comprised of two buildings and the thinking at this point is to house 14 beds in one building for long term and short term brain injury residents and 8 beds in the other building specifically for the treatment of neurobehavioral issues arising from brain injury.   A therapy area will be constructed in the neurobehavioral treatment building to be used by all campus residents as prescribed.  The closing date for the transfer of property is tentatively scheduled for January 24, 2006, however, there is hope that a closing will occur sooner.  Specifics about renovation time line, opening date, admission and discharge criteria, payment options, pricing, etc. are not known to me at this time.  I am confident these specifics will be made available as soon as practically possible.

Please join me in a special thanks to Fran and Greg Rooker for their initiative and perseverance in enlightening Lakeview owners and staff to the possibilities of serving persons with brain injury in Southwest Virginia.  As you know, the Rookers are unique in their foresight and dedication to the service of those with brain injury.  In 1997, they formed The Jason Foundation to provide information, referral and monetary resources to brain injury survivors.  To further their desire to serve, they formed Brain Injury Services of SWVA whose staff provides specialized case management services, life skills training and volunteer public service placement for survivors.  The opening of this new and much needed avenue of service marks yet another chapter in the Rookers endeavors to help individuals with brain injury live as independently as possible in their community of choice.

M. Helen Butler, RN, CBIT
Executive Director
Brain Injury Services of SWVA
302 Second Street
Third Floor
Roanoke, VA  24011
(540) 344-1200
FAX:  (540) 344-9775
email:  helen@bisswva.org