About | Our Story | Hug Your Head Foundation

Lukas Karlsson

In October 2016, a motorcycle accident changed Lukas Karlsson's life forever. He was left in a coma, fighting for his life with a traumatic brain injury. At his bedside, his mother Mary Riordan-Karlsson sat and watched her son fight — and in those quiet, desperate moments, the seed of Hug Your Head Foundation was planted.

Lukas survived. What followed was an intensive rehabilitation journey at Barrow Neurological Institute's Center for Transitional Neuro-Rehabilitation (CTN) at St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona — rebuilding his strength, his memory, and his sense of self one day at a time. Through sheer determination, he recovered and returned to school at ASU W.P. Carey School of Business.

Then came COVID-19. While the world stood still, Lukas got to work. He officially built Hug Your Head Foundation into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit — transforming the most painful chapter of his life into a mission to ensure no TBI survivor ever has to face their journey alone.

Today, Hug Your Head Foundation serves hundreds of survivors and families through wellness programs, support groups, education initiatives, and research funding. Lukas's mantra echoes through every program: "Hug Your Head… Love Your Helmet."

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A Mother's Love

When Lukas was lying in a hospital bed, fighting for his life, Mary Riordan-Karlsson was there. Day after day she sat at his bedside, advocating fiercely for her son, holding his hand through every painful moment of rehabilitation, and refusing to accept anything less than his full recovery. Her unwavering love and determination is the reason Hug Your Head Foundation exists today — and it's why the foundation places such deep emphasis on supporting not just survivors, but the families who walk beside them.

Today, Mary serves as a key advisor to the foundation, bringing her lived experience and passion for advocacy to guide programs that make a real difference for families navigating the TBI journey.

Our Advisory Team

Our foundation is guided by dedicated professionals who bring educational, advocacy, and lived experience to everything we do.

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Dr. Mary Riordan-Karlsson

ASU · McGraw Hill

Founder's mother and foundation advisor. Dr. Mary Riordan-Karlsson holds a doctorate in English and brings her passion for education, advocacy, and family support to the foundation's mission.

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Rebecca Bocian, M.Ed.

Special Education Teacher · CT

Experienced special education teacher bringing expertise in learning accommodations, cognitive challenges, and educational advocacy for TBI survivors.

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Mary McLoughlin, RN MSN

AccentCare · Pennsylvania

Advanced practice nurse with deep expertise in neurological rehabilitation, home health care, and family-centered recovery support.

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Cmdr. John R. Olson, USN Ret.

TBI Survivor · New Jersey

Retired U.S. Navy Commander and TBI survivor whose firsthand experience and leadership perspective inform the foundation's survivor-first approach.

Our Core Values

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Community

We believe that no survivor should face their journey alone. Building authentic, supportive community is at the heart of everything we do.

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Resilience

Every survivor carries an incredible strength within them. We exist to help unlock that resilience and provide the tools to build a meaningful life after TBI.

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Hope

Recovery is possible. Life after TBI can be full and joyful. We carry hope as our compass, guiding survivors toward their best possible futures.

Join Our Community

Whether you're a survivor, family member, or advocate — there's a place for you in the Hug Your Head family.

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