"You're so stubborn."
Moving on.
The incredible story of Molly Cain
By: Madie Bruton
As Molly Cain lay in her hospital bed, she listened to the doctors tell her all of the things she would never be able to do again. She couldn’t move. She couldn’t speak.
Before the accident, Cain had a full life. But now she had to learn how to walk, talk, eat, and do every small task we do every day all over again. As far as anyone knew, her everyday life was gone.
Traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, are described as injuries to the head from an external force that damages and/or alters the brain. It's estimated that 2.5 million Americans sustain a TBI each year (Brain Trauma Foundation, 2014), and that 5.3 million Americans are living with a disability related to a TBI (Perelman School of Medicine at The University of Pennsylvania, n.d.). The residual side effects of TBIs vary greatly, and they can appear years or decades after the injury.
Cain, M. (2023). SHOUTOUT COLORADO. photograph. Retrieved from https://shoutoutcolorado.com/meet-molly-cain-endurance-athlete-tbi-survivor/.
Cain’s TBI was the result of a fall down the stairs. The accident left Cain in a coma, and even after she woke up, she had to push through temporary paralysis, only to be told that her recovery journey was just beginning.
Cain’s TBI left her in an almost impossible position. She was told repeatedly that she would never be able to live her life the same way she did before and that she had to live with that. “I was told in the hospital of what was impossible for me, my passions for snowboarding and coaching team gymnastics,” said Cain.
Cain, M. (2023). SHOUTOUT COLORADO. photograph. Retrieved from https://shoutoutcolorado.com/meet-molly-cain-endurance-athlete-tbi-survivor/.
Cain prayed that night to every higher power she could think of. The next morning, Smile#UWokeUp was born. Realizing that she could alter and change her life, and make things different from the way it was the day before. That day, Cain started moving on.
Today, Smile#UWokeUp has been helping TBI survivors recover for almost 10 years. Partnering with Poudre Valley Hospital’s trauma support network, they have helped countless survivors find resources like support groups and rediscover their movement.
Smile#UWokeUp also helped groups gather safely during quarantine, as some were having trouble looking at computer screens for long periods.
In recent years, Cain has brought new life to her organization through movement. Now they are helping TBI survivors reclaim their lives by finding their movement. They have been working to build communities and support systems that help survivors move their bodies and heal.
Working with Racing Underground, Nutri-Fit by Natalie, Breakaway Athletic Events, and more organizations, Smile#UWokeUp helps TBI survivors find local sporting events and gyms, all for them to heal their bodies and minds with support from people who truly understand.
Cain's first step to moving on were her first steps in physical therapy. From learning how to wiggle her fingers and brush her teeth, to competing in a triathlon this July, Cain moved on, and she will always keep moving.
Sit down with David Bolher
David Bolher is a TBI Survivor and a student at Colorado State University. David talks about his experience living with a TBI and how his emotional support animal helps him deal with daily stressors.
A little more about David
David Bolher, in lab for JTC 326, working on a transmedia project about the First Amendment on March 12th, 2025. Bolher is a nontraditional student studying journalism and law. (Photo/Madeline Bruton)
David Bolher and his service dog Sophie, walking around the CSU campus in Fort Collins, Colorado, on March 11th, 2025. Bolher is taking photos and video for a project on the First Amendment. (Photo/Madeline Bruton)
Sophie, David Bolher’s service animal, stops for a minute while walking with Bolher around the CSU campus in Fort Collins, Colorado, on March 11th, 2025. David and Sophie walk around campus almost every day while Bolher works on different projects. (Photo/Madeline Bruton)
Talking with John Bruton
In this very special podcast, John, a TBI survivor living with residual side effects 25 years after, talks about the hardest parts of the diagnosis and what got him through.
Also, a huge thank you to John, this creator's dad, for not only being a part of this project but also for inspiring this entire project, and of course, for inspiring me every day.