Resilience in
Every Breath:
The Story of
Dr. Victoria Ford
Dr. Victoria Newman Ford is a dedicated advocate, mother, and survivor whose journey is defined by a profound commitment to human dignity. Based in the Valley region, she helps by sharing her lived experience of navigating life after a traumatic brain injury, including loss of identity, thoughts on motherhood, lessons learned and connecting survivors and families with essential information.
Driven by the gaps she found in accessible care, Victoria came up with the idea for Valley Disability Support Group. In the process, she was appointed as a member of the Virginia Brain Injury Council, representing Northern Virginia's Northwestern and Valley regions. Followed by an ADA compliance victory against a local chain restaurant blocking access for disabled parking.
Her mission is simple yet vital: ensure no survivor of TBI or their family ever has to navigate the stigma of TBI and the complex road to recovery alone.
THE JOURNEY
17 Weeks Pregnant & A New Beginning
At 17 weeks pregnant, a sudden crash changed the course of my life forever. I sustained a traumatic brain injury, facing a future filled with uncertainty for both myself and my unborn daughter. But against the odds, we both survived. Today, that tiny spark of hope is a resilient 16-year-old, a constant reminder of the strength we carry within us. My journey as a survivor and a mother has taught me how blessed I am to be surrounded by love and that while brain injury alters the path, it does not define the destination. We move forward with grace, adapting to a new rhythm of life together.
Turning Pain into Purpose
The vision for Valley Disability Support Group was born from a place of radical empathy. After surviving a TBI herself, Dr. Victoria Ford recognized the profound isolation that often follows the initial medical crisis along with the stigma associated with a TBI diagnosis. Due to a complicated set of serious medical challenges, she learned that what wasn't a clinical gap was communal—a need for a space where survivors didn't have to explain the invisible weight they were carrying.
Dr. Ford’s dedication is rooted in the belief that shared stories are the strongest medicine. Her lived experience combines a breast cancer diagnosis 8 years after her TBI. A survivor twice over, first through TBI followed by breast cancer, with a renewed sense of purpose, the survivor's commitment to community action was solidified. Every encounter we host is shaped by her trauma-informed approach, ensuring that our support is not just practical but hopeful. We are here to bridge the gap between surviving and thriving, one connection at a time.
Adapting to Motherhood
As a mother of two young children, navigating the daily realities of a traumatic brain injury as a chronic disease has been my greatest challenge and most profound teacher. Every morning requires a new strategy for pacing, patience, and presence. Through this journey, I’ve learned that adaptation isn’t about returning to who I was before the crash—it’s about discovering the depth of my strength as a mother today. We are never alone. Openness to help from family, friends, and neighbors coming together heals. My daughter, who survived that day with me 16 years ago, and her 5-year-older brother are the heartbeat of my motivation for advocacy. They remind me that even when cognitive energy is low, love remains infinite.
Our Collective Voice
Peer Support
Through peer-led meetings, Dr. Ford fosters a space where survivors and families find hope and shared resilience in their recovery journey.
Legislative Advocacy
Her story shapes our advocacy efforts, driving legislative change to improve disability support and TBI awareness across the Valley region.
Survivor Resources
Dedicated to bridging gaps, we provide bite-sized, accessible information and trauma-informed tools for survivors to rebuild with dignity.