Holly Kostrzewski

Reaching over 200,000 people with her message of
hope, humor, and inspiration.
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Hope | Humor | Inspiration

To date, Holly has reached over 200,000 people with her message of hope, humor, and inspiration.
Best Presenter Brain Injury Association of Minnesota Conference, 2003
Best Presenter Brain Injury Association of Ohio’s Conference, 2003
Best Presenter Brain Injury Association MN Discharge Conference, 2004
Best Presenter Brain Injury Association MN Annual Conference, 2006

Book Holly for Your Event!

Holly has consistently been named one of the top presenters at brain injury conferences in the United States and Canada, medical professional conferences, correctional institutions, colleges, and high schools.

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Speaking Topics

Holly has consistently been named one of the top presenters at brain injury conferences in the United States and Canada,
​medical professional conferences, correctional institutions, colleges, and high schools.

​HOLLY'S SPEAKING TOPICS

  • ​Faith through it All! "Every flower has to go through a lot of dirt!"
  • Positively Positive! Your Attitude Your Choice!
  • I Am What I Am - Dating after a Brain Injury
  • Living with a Seizure Disorder after Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Homeopathic Healing with a Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Gut / Brain Health Connection - What to eat and drink with a TBI?
  • Grief after a Traumatic Brain Injury 
  • How to Succeed in College and Graduate School with a Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Hiking to the Top of Mt. TBI! 18 years without a TBI and 18 years with a TBI
  • You Look Normal! Understanding and Living with the Fractured Sense of Self after a Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Bereavement Overload my Dad is now a paraplegic. How our family coped with brain and spinal cord injuries.   ​​

DIANA KOSTRZEWSKI

ABOUT DIANA

​In a nursing career spanning four decades, Diana has served as a staff nurse, supervisor, nurse administrator, and nurse educator. She has served in acute care, long term care, home care, hospice, public health, and nursing education. For the past eighteen years, Diana has been teaching in or leading nursing programs at graduate, baccalaureate, and associate degree levels. While career continues to be rewarding, Diana’s most valued roles are that of wife, mother, and grandmother. 

“You Got Me on my Feet Layla,” 18 years negotiating a TBI:  A Mother and Daughter’s Journey. 

Holly and Diana will share how, as a team, they negotiated life after Holly’s brain injury. Diana will offer frank advice gained from her experience as a parent of a teenager/young adult with a TBI. Holly will describe her experience living with a seizure disorder, embracing a positive attitude, and managing life with a TBI.  
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Holly and Diana may be booked separately or together.

About

​HOLLY'S STORY

Holly Kostrzewski says with a smile, “I did not choose my career, my career chose me!”

Holly’s path forever changed, when at the age of 18 she sustained a life-changing traumatic brain injury, as a result of a motor vehicle crash. Significant challenges followed, during her ongoing recovery.

Through faith, determination, tenacity, a positive attitude, and a great sense of humor, Kostrzewski graduated college with honors, went on to earn a Master’s degree in Public Health, and is currently writing her dissertation to complete a PhD in Public Health/Community Health. Ironically, Holly works in traffic safety for the State of Minnesota.

In 2014, Holly’s family faced a new challenge. Holly’s father sustained a paralyzing spinal cord injury in 2014 and is cared for at home by family.

Holly has been consistently named one of the top presenters at brain injury conferences in the United States and Canada, medical professional conferences, correctional institutions, colleges, and high schools. Holly is the founder of HUGS: Helmet Use and Grab your Seatbelt; a brain injury education and prevention program for children.
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After taking a break of nearly a decade from public speaking to concentrate on her career and graduate school, Holly is back with a new perspective based on living with a brain injury over time. Through her frank and entertaining presentations, Holly will explain the challenges she has encountered in living with a brain injury including challenges related to working, dating, seizures, and how grief and trauma have affected her life. Holly will also review how she faced the issues and helped herself succeed. In addition, Holly will share the journey she and her family have traveled through her traumatic brain injury and resulting fractured self, and her father’s spinal cord injury, hospitalization, rehab, and associated every day challenges for her father and her family.

To date, Holly has reached over 200,000 people with her message of hope, humor, and inspiration.

  • Outstanding individual and a wonderful speaker. Holly was the opening keynote speaker at two of my international conferences on vocational outcomes of traumatic brain injury and did a superb job. She was a pleasure to work with."

    DENNIS J. MAGREGA, PH.D.,R.PSYCH

  • I met Holly after hearing her speak at the 22nd Annual Brain Injury Association Conference in Columbus, Ohio. Her story was an inspiration to many individuals who suffer from Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Epilepsy -- and to the families and medical community who dedicate their lives to them. Her positive attitude, faith, determination, and kind spirit (not to mention the sparkle in her eyes) brought the audience to tears, as well as made everyone laugh and find renewed hope. I was so moved that I invited her to come to my community to speak to area youth, parents, educators, medical professionals, and other survivors of TBI and their families. During a long weekend, Holly spoke at area high schools – the kids were mesmerized. I thought “If she could just save one life, it would be worth it!” I think she saved many young lives that weekend. She also presented “Brain Injury from a Personal Perspective – With Both Hands: Succeeding in College and Life with Traumatic Brain Injury” for the medical, professional, and general community. After these engagements, she spent time with TBI residents and their families in our Bridges Unit at our Scenic View Nursing Home, inspiring the residents to “never give up.” “With both hands,” Holly embraced Holmes and Wayne Counties. We will forever be changed for knowing her."

    DEBRA DEHASS LEHR MSN, CNM, FNP-BC

  • I have had the privilege or working with Holly Kostrzewski for the past 14 years. Since the beginning of our collaboration I have known Holly as an energetic and goal-oriented person. She is a passionate and dynamic speaker and wants her story to affect others in a positive way. Whether Holly’s story will get you to look at others or yourself in a different light or change the way you do something, her story will challenge you to produce positive change."

    ALLISON NICOLSON, BSc, CTS Injury Prevention Coordinator Essentia Health

  • Holly’s ability to make you laugh, then cry, then laugh again as she shares with you her determined battle to regain her life after her accident is incredible! She gives such amazing insight as to what it truly can be like to fight your way back after suffering a traumatic brain injury. Even as a professional in the field of rehabilitation, I learned much more that the medical definition – I learned the human one. Holly is an inspiring and gifted speaker and I would encourage anyone who has the chance, to experience her presentation!"

    KATIE HARTL Minnesota Rehabilitation Association President

  • Holly has an important message for students in the rehabilitation fields that is filled with examples of her experiences as patient. Holly's presentation is heartfelt, humorous, professional, and inspiring. Recommended for all healthcare students."

    STEVE COPE, ScD, OT/L The College of St. Scholastica, Professor and Char, Department of Occupational Therapy

Contact

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HOLLY IS AVAILABLE TO SPEAK TO THE FOLLOWING GROUPS:

  • Service Groups
  • Corporations
  • Churches
  • Women's Groups
  • Health Care Professionals
  • Educators
  • ... and more!


[email protected]