Hidalgo County proclaims March as Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month; survivor and providers urge early recognition

The Hidalgo County Commissioners Court on March 17 proclaimed March 2026 as Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month and heard presentations from medical and regional trauma leaders about prevention, acute care, and rehabilitation.

Dr. Ivan Melendez described TBI as “much more common than you think,” stressing that many injuries are not obvious on imaging and are diagnosed by clinical presentation. He said early recognition and treatment improve outcomes and outlined the need for coordinated prehospital and hospital systems. “The earlier you seek treatment, the better you’re going to have,” he said.

A local survivor, Alisa, told the court she was injured in a crash caused by a drunk driver and spoke about the long recovery and the importance of awareness and services for survivors. “Raising awareness of traumatic brain injury is something I carry close to my heart,” she said, describing both her work as an EMT and her personal recovery.

Nathan Ramon, executive director of the region’s designated regional advisory council (TRACV), said the region is piloting prehospital communication platforms that send images and CT scans ahead to hospitals and experimenting with whole-blood programs in ambulances to improve early care. James Gonzalez, founder of the South Texas TBI Institute, said his new clinic will provide faster diagnostic scans locally, replacing waits he said previously required travel to Houston of eight to ten months for appointments.

The court approved the proclamation and heard staff note county funding and coordination with regional partners to strengthen trauma services. The presentations emphasized prevention (helmets, seat belts, fall avoidance), prehospital system improvements, and rehabilitation supports that can be lifelong for survivors.