Illuminating Traumatic Brain Injury Through Art, Education, and Advocacy

Change often happens quickly and sometimes unexpectedly, and in an instant, life can get turned upside down. This is one notion that speaks to the story behind a Lebanon-based nonprofit organization, Unmask the Invisible, co-founded by Lebanon residents Amy and Steven Longmoore, that illuminates the invisibilities of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and brings hope and support to those who are affected by it.

The nonprofit was spurned from unthinkable tragedy, when Amy and Steven’s daughter, a then 17-year-old Sierra Longmoore, sustained a traumatic brain injury from a horrible car accident in the summer of 2020. Sierra spent many weeks fighting for her life and months recovering at Dartmouth Health Children’s in Lebanon with the support of her medical team and family.

Sierra Longmoore at a book signing for “Unmask the Invisible /
An Incredible Story of Faith, Family, and Miracles.”

Sierra’s accident was an unexpected and devastating event that changed the lives and routines of her whole family. Through it all, faith, resilience, and a dedication to helping others have sparked the passion and mission of Unmask the Invisible, which aims to provide inspiration and community surrounding TBI through art, education, and advocacy.

It is estimated that 5.3 million men, women, and children are living with a permanent brain injury-related disability in the United States today. Of those 5.3 million, there are countless more loved ones supporting these survivors who also experience trauma and need support. In light of this, Unmask the Invisible encourages and offers support not just for survivors, but also their friends, family, caretakers, or anyone who lives or works with a survivor. The stories and recovery journeys of TBI survivors are often both emotional and complex, which is why Unmask the Invisible works passionately to illuminate the full spectrum of aspects that impact each member of the TBI community. “One of the reasons we started the nonprofit was so we could meet people where they are at in their spiritual journey,” Amy says.

A strong sense of faith helped anchor Amy, Steven, and their loved ones as they weathered the proverbial storm through Sierra’s initial accident, her fight, and her recovery. Being presented with this challenge ultimately inspired the Longmoores to help other families who are experiencing similar difficult situations cope with and learn from their own storms.

Spiritual encouragement is one foundational support that Unmask the Invisible offers. The Hope Café, a web page dedicated to “feeding your spirit with little sips of hope” with artwork and inspirational quotes is one spiritual resource that the organization curates, along with links to a variety of other philosophical and spiritual resources, including music, poetry, movement, and reading.

The Longmoore family: (from left) Aspen (Sierra’s twin),
Tanner, Steven, Tristan, Amy, Sierra, and Lindsay.

Amy, Steven, and the team that surrounds them (which includes Sierra, who is the nonprofit’s ambassador) are diverse in their expertise and experiences, from military service to healthcare specialties.

Justin Putnam, the nonprofit’s vice president, served in the Army as an engineer all over the country and the world for two decades. Advisory board member of the organization, Beth Pastor, has also dedicated much of her life to service, seeing patients for 45 years as a pediatric physical therapist. Board member Alex Giesing brings her passion for inclusive and equitable care to the table as a registered nurse who cares for the babies who need extra support in the Intensive Care Nursery (ICN) at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon.

With backgrounds in care and service, the team members behind Unmask the Invisible are all strongly knit together by their passion to make a positive difference in the lives of TBI survivors and their families, which helps keep the freshly minted organization’s efforts chugging along smoothly.

The ways in which the 501c3, which according to their website “illuminates resources and support for families affected by TBIs,” approaches supporting the TBI community is unique and differs from other familiar organizations that are also centered around similar goals.

“[Some] organizations are more focused on incorporating physical activities such as yoga into recovery,” says Amy. “Some people cannot participate in activities like that, or it takes them a long time to get to a place where they can. Some people simply do not recover from traumatic brain injuries at all. We really try our best to meet people where they are at in their journey, as it looks so different for everyone.”

And ‘meet people where they are’ they will, as they are gearing up for an incredibly busy remainder of 2024 as the organization continues to grow and inspire others.

Thayer School of Engineering student working with a brain
injury survivor on Unmask the Invisible’s Weighted Paintbrush
Program.

One exciting development in the works is a revamped website for the nonprofit. “Our new and improved website will provide visitors with a clearer understanding and breakdown of our programs and services,” Amy explains. “The site will be anchored by Unmask the Invisible’s three main pillars – education, resources, and family support. In this sense, education encompasses speaking engagements, reintegration and events; resources refers to scholarships, therapies and art-based initiatives; and family support brings spirituality and inclusion into the mix.”

The team have also been continuing to further develop ongoing initiatives, like “Paint It Forward”, an art-based program that provides inspiration and builds relationships. With 50 percent of materials for the initiative donated by Blick and The Home Depot, Paint It Forward provides survivors and their families with free at-home art kits (that are packed by volunteers) that promote creativity, healing, and fun at any stage of their journey. “Unfortunately, there was no art involved in Sierra’s recovery process in the hospital,” remembers Amy. “But art is so conducive to expressing emotion, and we want other families to experience its benefits.”

For survivors and their loved ones who enjoy flexing their artistic muscle in the company of their peers, the free “This Is Your Brain On Art” event coming up on September 28 is for them. Seasoned instructor, Jennifer Dube, will help participants create an inspired masterpiece that they will want to hang where it can be admired. While “This Is Your Brain On Art” is Upper Valley-centric for now, Unmask The Invisible is hoping that this program will span state lines and perhaps make a positive impact on those outside of New England someday. “They still have that creative side,” Sierra says of survivors of TBI. “Anything they can achieve, to any degree, is incredible. No matter what, they are unstoppable and embody the fact that you can persevere.”

Of course, as a fledgling nonprofit that relies heavily on grants and donations for the important work they do in the community, fundraising is also top of mind as things grow and expand. “Since our inception, we have been really focused on opportunities to get our name out there in front of people that don’t cost us anything,” Amy says.

Recently, participating in Green Up Days around the Upper Valley wearing matching branded t-shirts to garner awareness for the organization and its cause was one such opportunity. And of course, encouraging people to follow and share Unmask the Invisible on social media, as well as give their time and talent by volunteering, helps greatly to spread awareness for the cause. “We were able to raise a few thousand dollars last year to fund our various programs, which has definitely been helpful,” Amy says. “But we need to raise more to be able to bring to life the big ideas we have for the future of the organization, like in-person retreats and scholarships for crucial medical equipment.”

The newest and biggest undertaking this year, which will see all proceeds going directly back to the nonprofit, is the first annual Unmask the Invisible Softball Tournament, which will take place on Sunday, July 21st at Civic Memorial Field in West Lebanon. Co-ed teams of up to 14 players can register to play for a fee of $350 per team.

Unmask the Invisible volunteers participating in Hanover, NH Green Up Day.

Participants and spectators alike can look forward to bat and 50/50 raffles, concessions, live entertainment (you’ll have to swing by the event to find out who!) and more over the span of the tournament. The enthusiasm surrounding the upcoming event is palpable, especially as far as Sierra is concerned. “Sierra was a three sport athlete who made it on her varsity softball team freshman year of high school,” Amy says. “Sports used to be a huge part of her life.”

“I am really excited and happy that we are having the softball tournament,” Sierra adds. “The fact that it will include people with TBIs and the people who love and support them is so important.”

How is Sierra doing close to four years post-accident, you may be wondering? She’s certainly busy these days juggling working part-time and being an ambassador for Unmask the Invisible. Not to mention, she and her mom have been making stops at local libraries recently for book signings of Unmask the Invisible, a book they wrote together about Sierra’s journey and overcoming the challenges of TBI through faith, family, and miracles.

Above all else? “I am excited to be a voice for others so we can shine a light on their experiences,” Sierra says.

For more details on all of Unmask the Invisible’s upcoming events around the Upper Valley, to register your team for the first annual softball tournament, grab your own copy of Unmask the Invisible, and learn how you can get involved, be sure to visit the nonprofit’s website, unmasktheinvisible.org.

Contributing to the community seems to come naturally to Aavarika Niroula, a senior at Lebanon High School and recipient of the 2023-2024 Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Good Citizens Award. But Niroula’s path to community service has been markedly different from the average American high school student.

Originally from the ancient city of Kathmandu in Nepal, Niroula and her family arrived for a visit to the U.S. in 2015, but a devastating earthquake in their home country would prevent them from returning. Reeling from the enormous loss of their home, livelihood, and Kathmandu family members, they were granted temporary protected status by the U.S. government, and they began to build a new life in America. As a result of this experience and being suddenly propelled into a strange new world, Niroula developed a passion for helping others.

Nepali New Year get-together with fellow Nepali youth. Left to
right: Suvana Rai, Deepasha Giri, Aavarika Niroula, Dina
Adhikari, Shreela Kadariya, and Nistha Prasai.

Niroula credits her parents for the inspiration to become involved in community service. “My parents have been social workers ever since I can remember,” she says. “My dad, along with his business, ran a nonprofit organization that supported 96 homeless kids. His organization, Better Life Social Organization, was able to build houses and build schools with paid teachers. Now through the Rotary Club of Lebanon, he still donates and is able to send money back to the organization.”

Niroula and other area award winners were celebrated at the holiday luncheon of the Reprisal Chapter of DAR, based in Newport, New Hampshire, and named after the USS Reprisal, the first ship of the Continental Navy to reach European waters during the Revolutionary War and the vessel that transported Benjamin Franklin to his diplomatic post in France. The students shared what being a good citizen means to them within their school and broader community. For Niroula, it’s about exploring a diverse slate of interests. “I came into high school with a mindset of ‘I want to try everything and if I don’t like it then I will try something else’.  I have carried this mindset into everything as I got involved in various clubs and sports such as soccer, theater, Model UN, and such,” she says.

Known as the largest women’s service organization in the world, DAR has more than 180,000 members with approximately 3,000 chapters in all 50 states and in 13 countries. One of many awards the organization bestows, the DAR Good Citizens award recognizes and rewards high school seniors who consistently display the qualities of dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism in their homes, schools, and communities. These students are selected by their teachers and peers because they demonstrate these qualities to an outstanding degree.

Aavarika is pictured with chapter regent Pamela Lee (in hat), chapter Good Citizens Chair Pat McCabe, Caroline McMahon from Sunapee, and Jennette Davis from Hanover.

The local Reprisal Chapter has members not only from Newport, but also Lebanon and West Lebanon, Claremont, Sunapee, Hancock, and some as far away as Florida, Maryland, and Montana, and is one of 25 chapters throughout New Hampshire. Chapter leaders are called “regents”. To be a member of the DAR, a woman must be at least 18 years of age and be able to prove direct descent from a man or woman who served in or aided in the American Revolution,  according to Pamela Lee, the current Reprisal Chapter regent. “One of my patriots, John Knight, fought in the battle of Bennington. After the war, John received a land grant in North Hero, Vermont, now the site of Knights Point State Park,” Lee says.

The DAR is committed to historic preservation, education, and patriotic service, and provides assistance to anyone interested in discovering if they have a Revolutionary War patriot in their family tree. Lee notes, “We have people who suspect that they have a patriot ancestor, but would like to know for sure. We have a wonderful registrar who can help people trace their ancestry.” The DAR is said to have one of the largest genealogical libraries in the world.

Aavariki as a young child

Nationally, the DAR is trying to identify as many female and African American patriots because they haven’t been historically recognized, Lee says. In November, the New Hampshire organization will be dedicating a new marker at the American Independence Museum and the Winter Street Cemetery in Exeter to honor the brave black soldiers from New Hampshire who fought for our nation’s independence.

Kim Chandler, honorary Chapter regent and current historian, started tracing her genealogy in 2002. “My patriot is John Caverly from Strafford. John was a farmer and one of the early settlers in Dover and then Barrington,” she says, citing the overwhelming recognition of how important the revolution was to the formation of our country. “When I moved back home and joined the chapter in Newport, I was pleased to see the chapter supporting Veterans groups, patriot grave restorations, and schools with scholarships and service projects.”

American colonial history is in its infancy compared to the rich history of Kathmandu, which dates to between 167 BC and 1 AD according to archaeologists. For Niroula, maintaining a connection to her home country is important, and is reflected in her commitment to raising funds for earthquake relief among other activities. In her DAR essay, Niroula cites her motivation: “Living in a predominantly white community, I ached for youths with similar backgrounds as me. I sought out the NH Nepali Community based around Manchester and Nashua. Following that, I joined the Diversity and Inclusivity club at my own school where I was able to fully embrace my identity.” Over the past three years, Niroula has also been teaching English as a second language to students all over the world via Zoom. “I love doing this so much because I once was an English learner myself, and for me to be on the other side as an educator is so fulfilling to me,” she says. “Volunteering grounds me and is a very big part of my life.”

John Caverly gravesite, marked with a bronze marker
for his Revolutionary War service.

In addition to teaching English as part of the Global Language Learning Club, being a member of the Diversity and Inclusivity Club at Lebanon High School, and raising funds for Kathmandu earthquake survivors, Niroula’s many activities include participating as a Dartmouth Health summer intern, Rotary Youth Leadership member,  Student Council secretary, and model UN delegate. She has researched microplastics and curcumin to earn a 1st place award in chemistry at NH Science and Engineering Exposition, joined the NH Nepali Community and became a senior coordinator, served as a student representative on the Lebanon School District superintendent search committee, is currently participating as a thrower on the Lebanon High School track and field team, and is a member of Students for a Sustainable Future.

In her essay, Niroula also shares deeper insights into why community service is so important to her. “Instead of being consumed by our pending status, I decided to contribute, to give back to this community that had adopted me,” she says. “Starting off small with volunteering at community events, I familiarized myself with the people around me, their stories, and their values. I shared the lessons of my own journey, using my struggles to bridge others.”

Niroula’s diverse life experiences have shaped her decision about which career path to pursue after high school. She has been accepted at St. Anselm College and is on the waiting list at two others, planning to pursue a degree in child psychology as part of a pre-med course of study. Niroula’s youthful wisdom is evident in her DAR essay, suggesting she will be an excellent contributor and leader in whatever field she chooses.

“My journey of constantly adapting to changing environments pointed toward one direction: child psychiatry. I realized that I wanted to dive into understanding the young minds that face upheavals, to provide them the support and guidance I once sought, and, in many ways, still do,” she writes. “Today, as I stand at the edge of my next academic chapter, I carry with me the echoes of Kathmandu’s streets, the lessons from the halls of Lebanon High School, and the hopes of every child I wish to support. The uncertainty, once my opponent, has become my ally, urging me to embrace whatever life throws at me, to be the aid for many navigating their disruption, just as I navigated mine.”

Caverly House that John built in Strafford

For more information, visit the national organization website at dar.org.