When he was 26, Evan Folan’s life changed in an instant. A traumatic brain injury and a long recovery reshaped how he saw himself and his future. Through years of rehabilitation, Evan discovered the power of connection, storytelling, and community. Therapy evolved into purpose, leading him to advocate for individuals living with brain injury and elevate voices that are often unseen and unheard.

Evan’s life was driven by ambition and momentum before his injury. He attended Texas Christian University, where he was an athlete on the dive team and graduated with a degree in broadcasting. He landed his dream job as a weekend news anchor and reporter for ABC in El Paso before moving to Los Angeles in 2018.

On July 23, 2019, everything changed. While driving on the freeway, a tire detached from a semi‑truck and came through his windshield. Evan suffered broken bones in his neck, a skull fracture, and significant brain bleeding. He spent two days in a coma before waking up at LA County Hospital, where he started a long and complex rehabilitation.

When he returned to Texas, Evan struggled to accept his injuries. He continued to deal with persistent neck and hand pain, cognitive fatigue, and daily headaches. A Centre for Neuro Skills (CNS) evaluator visited him and quickly recognized the need for continued, structured therapy.

Evan was admitted to CNS’ neurorehabilitation program, attending outpatient therapy at the Fort Worth clinic before entering the inpatient program at CNS Los Angeles in December 2020. The residential inpatient experience allowed him to fully focus on his recovery.

Drawing on his background in broadcasting, Evan’s therapy team integrated simulated journalism work into his cognitive rehabilitation. One therapist encouraged him to interview fellow patients to strengthen short‑term memory and processing skills. Evan named the project Brain to Brain, a concept that would later evolve into the podcast he hosts to this day.

“That’s what I loved about CNS,” Evan shared. “They personalized my rehab. The therapists listened to me and created a plan that fit my needs.”

He transitioned to outpatient therapy and learned to navigate real‑world environments that often felt overwhelming, such as grocery stores and other high‑stimulation settings.

Evan moved to Puerto Rico in December 2024, in search of a fresh start and a new identity beyond his brain injury. He felt drawn to advocacy. Evan launched Toro & Tides, a clothing brand designed to make invisible disabilities more visible, and revived the Brain to Brain podcast to create a space for individuals with brain injuries, caregivers, and professionals to share their experiences. He also published a book, Forgetting to Remember: A Story of Survival, Identity, and Starting Over, based on journals he kept throughout his recovery.

Evan recently attended the Brain Injury Association of America National Conference and Awareness Day in Washington, D.C., where he met with fellow survivors, shared his story, and advocated on Capitol Hill.

Today, Evan lives with his girlfriend, brother, and sister‑in‑law. He continues to experience short‑term memory loss, migraines, and severe headaches, but remains deeply driven. Evan hopes to keep expanding advocacy efforts and elevating brain injury awareness.

“Everything I was before was stripped away,” Evan said. “Now, I’m learning how to build something new.”