"In Our Own Words" Virtual Poetry Event featuring Brain Injury Survivors & Caregivers Video
I am so excited to share the inaugural “In Our Own Words” virtual poetry event held last month featuring the voices of brain injury survivors and caregivers, hosted by Resilient Roots. You can watch the video here, and make sure to join us in April for the next “In Our Own Words” event on Zoom!
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©2025 Cazoshay Marie. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Cazoshay Marie with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
D.I.D. with Cazoshay and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. All material on this blog is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health related program.
The opinions expressed on this site are that of my own and not reflective of, nor supported by, any of the organizations that I am affiliated with.
Headed to Washington, D.C.!
Hair is done (by the AMAZING @trumane_hair_studio, seriously, you should have seen how crunchy it looked when I went in there 😆) so now I’m ready to head to D.C. with @bia_usa to advocate for the brain injury community by speaking with our legislators about some important initiatives we need their support on.
I’ve made my (packing) list, checked it twice, traveling while disabled is more naughty than nice! 😂 But regardless, Cazzy Claus is comin’, to toooowwwwn! Okay, obviously Christmas is my favorite holiday and bad jokes are my jam, but I’m taking this opportunity very seriously. It’s not often that you to get to be amongst this many individuals in the brain injury community, particularly while being able to speak directly to your representatives about the issues that affect us most.
I’m thinking about making a video sharing some of my trips for how I prepared for this trip in terms of packing-which is such a difficult thing to do when traveling (“What do I wear for this event?”, “What if we go out to eat afterwards?”, “What happens if it starts raining?”….“My silk press!!!”) but it’s even more difficult when you’re dealing with a brain injury or other disabilty. The cognitive load, not to mention the physical practicalities of packing and travel can be more than a challenge, so I think it would be helpful to share some of the things that make it more accessible for me.
You can head to biausa.org for more info about how you can support, even if you don’t have a brain injury yourself!💪🏽🧠
See you soon, D.C.!🎉
SEE WHAT’S NEW ON INSTAGRAM
©2025 Cazoshay Marie. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Cazoshay Marie with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
D.I.D. with Cazoshay and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. All material on this blog is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health related program.
The opinions expressed on this site are that of my own and not reflective of, nor supported by, any of the organizations that I am affiliated with.
Join Me at The Brain Injury Association of America's National Brain Injury Conference and Awareness Day!
From the Brain Injury Association of America:
“The National Brain Injury Conference and Awareness Day is less than two months away, and we’re excited to see familiar faces as well as newcomers to the event, like Cazoshay Marie.
Cazoshay is joining us this year because she recognizes how important it is for legislators to hear directly from brain injury survivors about the issues that matter to the brain injury community.
In addition to our annual trip to Capitol Hill, where attendees will have the opportunity to meet with their congressional representatives and advocate for brain injury causes, this year’s event will include a conference for brain injury survivors and caregivers, featuring educational breakouts, social events, and more. You can view the full conference agenda here.
Whether you’re an Awareness Day veteran, or a first-time attendee like Cazoshay, we can’t wait to see you on March 3-5 in Washington, D.C.”
©2025 Cazoshay Marie. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Cazoshay Marie with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
D.I.D. with Cazoshay and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. All material on this blog is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health related program.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: UPCOMING EVENTS & FEATURES
Greetings Darlings!
I have several events coming up within the next few weeks, as well as some features!
I was interviewed for a segment on PBS NewsHour that aired on 9/7. It’s about why Americans may be hesitant to start or grow their families. You can view it here.
On 9/9 I will be on the Hope Survives podcast with Cristabelle Braden, I’ll share the information on where you can listen and watch as soon as it becomes available.
September 15th I will be presenting at a private event for Gilead Ministries Christian Education Center. It will be an interactive & educational session to help raise awareness about concussions.
September 19th at 5:30pm MST is the next meeting for Resilient Roots Virtual Support Group for Parents Living with Brain Injury. We have the amazing Stacia Bissell as our guest speaker this month. Here is the link with more information and how to join the meeting.
On September 30th, I have the pleasure of speaking at the American College of Emergency Physicians’ Annual Conference (ACEP) at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada. I’ll be sharing my journey with brain injury with the Brain Injury Association of America.
As you can see I have many exciting events & features coming up in the near future. Please keep me in your thoughts & prayers as I am attempting to do all of this advocacy while dealing with the symptoms of my disabilities & conditions. I am passionate about raising awareness & championing the issues that are important to the disability community. I know that God will give me the strength to do it!
See the latest on Instagram:
©2024 Cazoshay Marie. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Cazoshay Marie with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
D.I.D. with Cazoshay and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. All material on this blog is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health related program.
Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona Rays of Hope Conference: “When Recovery Is A Family Affair
More Coming Soon…
©Cazoshay Marie, 2023. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Cazoshay Marie with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
D.I.D. with Cazoshay and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. All material on this blog is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health related program.
National Distracted Drivers Month
Trigger Warning: Photos of facial trauma and injury after pedestrian-auto accident are shown in this post.
April is National Distracted Drivers Month, with the last week (April 23-29) being National Victims of Crimes Week. I couldn’t let this month end without sharing my personal experience with both of those traumatic subjects.
On May 19th, 2017 I was struck by a car traveling 48mph by a distracted driver who claimed to not have seen me as I crossed the street in a pedestrian crosswalk in downtown Phoenix.
The above photo shows what I looked like in the hospital after one of the top plastic surgeons in the state of Arizona spent two hours sewing my face back together. I sustained numerous injuries from the accident which have also resulted in several disabilities, including a traumatic brain injury, nerve damage and chronic pain-the effects of these conditions I deal with every single day.
Fast forward to 2023. Although my “invisible disabilities” still severely limit my activity, God has truly blessed me. I am grateful that I survived the accident at all, even though I must live with the negative effects of it every single day. The same night that I was hit, a man on a bicycle was also struck by a car but unfortunately he did not survive. So even though it’s difficult, I count myself blessed. Especially as a single mother, living with disabilities is not easy, but through my faith, family and friends I am able to endure.
Although I am unable to work due to my disabilities, when I am able to, I do speaking engagements and disability advocacy with the goals of not only educating the world about what the disability community faces (and how to make the world more accessible for us), but also about overcoming any kinds of adversities someone may be dealing with. The advice applies even to able-bodied persons. And I show you how to move forward with elegance and sparkle of course because that’s what makes all the difference, right? 😉
You can see the Events page for my upcoming speaking engagements, including the Rays of Hope Conference in Phoenix, Arizona and the International Space Development Conference in Frisco, Texas. Feel free to reach out to me and be sure to join me on my social media outlets where I share more lifestyle and disability content. Keep growing and glowing, friends!✨
©Cazoshay Marie, 2023. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Cazoshay Marie with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
D.I.D. with Cazoshay and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. All material on this blog is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health related program.
ANNOUNCEMENT: Speaking at the 2023 National Space Society’s International Space Development Conference
I’m honored to announce that I will be heading to Frisco, Texas to speak at the National Space Society’s International Space Development Conference (ISDC) this summer to keynote on the topic “Disabled in Space: Accessibility Considerations on Space Settlements”. It's truly an honor to participate with visionaries & top personalities from NASA and newspace. The Society is doing incredible work by being dedicated to the creation of an all-encompassing spacefaring civilization. It is my privilege & blessing to continue to advocate for the disability community, even on the final frontier. See you soon, Texas!
©Cazoshay Marie, 2023. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Cazoshay Marie with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
D.I.D. with Cazoshay and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. All material on this blog is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health related program.
Benefits of Yoga for Men at the Arizona Men's Health+Wellness Expo
#DIDyouKnow that many of your favorite sports teams and athletes do yoga? From Ray Lewis (football) and LeBron James (basketball) to Evan Longoria (baseball) and the New Zealand All Blacks (rugby), more and more men are realizing the benefits of this diverse practice. From military deployments to the boardroom, more and more men are taking to heart (literally!) the advantages yoga can provide.
This weekend I had the privilege of being a part of the Arizona Men's Health+Wellness Expo where I got to share about the benefits of yoga for men and did a little chair yoga at the breakout session in addition to demo'ing my Community Hip Hop Yoga. Check out some pics from the event below as well as some information on the benefits of yoga for men. Want more details? Leave a comment below with your questions or ask them on my Instagram post about the Expo (Instagram.com/cazoshay_marie). And don't forget to check out the events page to see what's coming up!
Budget+Earth Friendly Kids' Parties!
Yep. You're a hip, conscious mama...
But the thought of throwing a sustainable, eco-friendly kids birthday party that won't break the budget may have you quaking in your vegan leather boots. But it doesn't have to! I'm going to share some tips with you for throwing your precious little one a fun, Earth-friendly party your guests won't soon forget!
Step 1: Invitations
This is the first step in choosing sustainability for your party...and you have options! You can get creative and print your own using recycled paper. In the past I've also used a picture of my little guy with the party info printed on the back (still made by myself on my home printer, which equals...cheaper) that gave guests a keepsake which could be framed and kept rather than thrown away after the party. Etsy and other sources also have some cute options for plantable invitations that are great for another sustainable option. Try to use seeds that are non-invasive and are native to your area. The invitations are also your opportunity to ask your guests to let you know about any allergies or food restrictions they may have. It's also your first chance to let them know that this is going to be an eco-friendly party. Which leads me to the next step: PRESENTS!
Step 2: Presents
On your invitation, don't be shy about outlining specific requests for gifts and presents. Requesting clothes, experiences (i.e. movie tickets, tickets to a theme park, etc.) or gift cards are all good gift options because they are far less likely to be thrown away and are much more likely to be used. Books are also a great gift option because they are good for their growing minds, thoughtfully chosen and can also be passed on later down the line. It's also a good idea to request that any gifts be wrapped either in reusable bags or fabric that can be reused. All that being said, make sure there are some fun gifts (read:toys!!!) because kids do obviously enjoy toys-they can come from sustainable sources if you really wanna go that deep with it-and after all, it is about them having a good time on their special day!
Step 3: fOoD!
One thing that guests always look forward to is of course the food. At least I know I do! You obviously want to try to stick to healthy options, but that doesn't mean that you have to sacrifice flavor! (Or fun!) One option that I did for my little man's party which was a huge hit was individual pizzas. It's an easy and budget-friendly way for everyone to get something they like that's in line with their individual food preferences and choices. Make sure you do have vegan, gluten-free and kosher options for your guests. This also doubles as a fun activity for the kids (and parents!) to partake in.
Although it takes some time to clean them when you're done, reusable plates and utensils are the most eco-friendly option to go with; but there are also lots of biodegradeable, recyclable single use options should you choose to go that route. Homemade popsicles for those summer parties are also a yummy and inexpensive option and watermelon or other fruits feed a lot of people and are totally synonymous with summertime fun!
Step 4: Activities
Here is another opportunity to really kick that eco-consciousness up a notch! One activity that was a major hit at our party was tie-dying shirts with natural vegetable dyes. A quick Google search will give you instructions on herbs, vegetables and flowers that can be boiled to make dye. The kiddos get a reusable keepsake and memories of a fun time being creative with their friends. The plant material that's left over from making the dye can be composted! #MommyForTheWin!
Other options for fun, sustainable activities that connect your guests with the nature around them include: A nature scavenger hunt, playing games at the park, making crafts they can keep and reuse (think: birdhouses or planting seeds/plants in recycled containers-they can even decorate them!)
Step 5: Gifts for Guests
There's no need to break the bank (or your sustainable aspirations) when creating gift bags for your guests. First decide on what you will use to give the gifts, one thing I have used before that was great is bandanas. They come in a million colors to coordinate with your party theme and can be purchased in bulk for super cheap from your local dollar store or even eBay, then reused by your guests!
The small, reusable shopping bags are also an option. As far as the actual gifts go, reusable and/or keepable is the name of the game. Bubbles are always a fun and enjoyable gift and can be refilled once they're empty. You know grown-ups love 'em too, it's okay to admit it, I won't tell...
Homemade fruit leather or natural candy are healthier options than your typical pinata grab bag candies. Seeds are also a fun and eco-friendly option or gift cards in a small amount...as parents we know and apprecite that every bit counts! And finally...
Step 6: Just Do Your Best!
Seriously, don't take it too seriously! Don't drive yourself (and your guests) crazy with trying to make every.single.aspect of your party eco-friendly and sustainable. Just do the best you can and remember it's about celebrating the life of your amazing little one, so the most important thing is to just have fun! Every small choice makes a big impact and any one of the things you choose to do to make your party more sustainable will make a difference!
P.S. These tips work great for grown-up parties as well. If you try any of my tips, tag me @cazoshay_marie so I can see what you did!
The Launch of Community Hip Hop Yoga
Last week I had the privilege of launching my very special Community Hip Hop Yoga classes. Launched in conjunction with my 30th birthday, this class is one that's near and dear to my heart. I offer this class at a discounted rate so that cost won't be a hindrance for those without a ton of disposable income to devote to health and wellness. I'm a single mom so trust me, I get it. My goal is to make health and wellness accessible to our communities and help alleviate some of the issues that we face in the process.
Yoga is a safe space. Besides the obvious physical benefits, so many of our issues (physical and otherwise) relate back to stress and the internal pain that so many carry with them on a daily basis. Through my classes, students have an opportunity to take time for self care and to mentally and emotionally let go of things that are not serving them.
This class is fun! I'm not your typical yoga instructor and the soundtrack for the class makes that very obvious from the beginning. Everything from Yasiin Bey to Erykah Badu; Common, Snoop Dogg and of course, A Tribe Called Quest; I encourage my students to laugh, dance and sing their way through class. Hey, it's about having a good time, and if you're singing (or rapping!), you're breathing!
This class is just the beginning. Soon I'll also be offering raw vegan food workshops and other community wellness events, some in partnership with other amazing wellness professionals and groups. I'm also taking my classes on the road and will be posting details soon about bringing DID with Cazoshay to your city!
