Members’ Stories
- Daren Read my story
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Before I had my head injury I was working in a team as a Content Manager at Marks & Spencers. I was helping to keep the products up-to-date, both visually and in text content. I was happy as the team was tight, with a few exceptions. I lived with my girlfriend Helen, who I still live with actually, in Hackney. I'd go out semi-regularly to see artists play at various venues across London. I enjoy expressions of art in near enough every format: music, paint, text etc. I also enjoyed messing around with records and was looking to get into the strange world of production.
On 7th July 2005, the day of the London bombings, I was at work watching the day's events unfold. I left early that day and was forced to walk home. The tubes were working erratically for the rest of that week so I decided to go on foot to work. I soon realised that walking to and fro between Baker Street and Hackney was not the best thing to do. In light of this I bought a push bike from ebay. I had the bike for 4 days before I was hit by the cab of an articulated lorry travelling over the speed limit in rush hour on Grosvenor Place.
I don't remember much of what happened next; however I've since learnt that I was taken to the Royal Free hospital from the 20th July until mid September and was in an induced coma for 2 weeks. When I woke up, I was diagnosed with whooping cough, though luckily for me I don't remember that. I then had speech and language rehab as I found words hard to find. I even had to learn to use a knife and fork again! I found Rehab good, but not nearly as helpful as I would have hoped but then it's my only option and I have no basis for comparison.
When I came home from hospital a lady came round from social services to check to see if I was still alive and then she left, which seemed pointless. I haven't really had any contact with social services since. A year on from my accident and it still feels like every bone in my upper body is jarred, my right ear is ok but my left is slightly impaired. I have got twisted double vision in both eyes. However if I close one eye I don't get double vision.
I was advised to pursue compensation from the driver's insurance company. The process has been very slow, though not as slow as it could have been. Luckily for me the insurance company was happy to settle out-of-court. This means that I could have possibly received a hefty payout, but the journey through the courts would have been a real battle for me, so I settled out-of-court.
I am now at Rehab UK for vocational rehabilitation four days a week and at Headway East London on the Tuesday of each week. I feel that I need to exercise my thoughts, feelings and emotions before I can consider 'work'. Headway has proven to be my closest ally in that it provides mental and spiritual support plus it gives the missing ingredients that my vocational studies fails to deliver. In the future I am hoping to create music, and when my settlement arrives, further experiment and exorcise my demons. This is, I believe, is my way forward.
My life since my brain injury is even more twisted that I can't see the woods for the trees. Though to be fair, I can see twice as many trees - which is nice.
- Ade Read my story
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My life came to an abrupt standstill in 1995 when for no detected reason I suffered a massive brain haemorrhage.
I spent a month at the Neuro then three months at King George's, then I moved on to Homerton Rehab unit, where they spent the next 8 months re-teaching me how to walk, talk, eat, drink and control my toilet functions, preparing me for returning to family life. When I left The Homerton I married Karen, my girlfriend of 11 years.
Eight years later I walk with a stick, have a speech impairment and epilepsy; I am also partially sighted, and my memory is crap. Karen constantly reminds me what a catch I was but I'm bobbing along with my wife and our two daughters. I have been attending Headway East London every Wednesday for about five years, where I have met some interesting people, both attendees and volunteers. The Staff help in many ways and are particularly supportive in my studies with the Open University as I aim for a degree in English Literature. Now Headway have moved into wonderful new premises with more room for specialised services such as physio and cranio therapy. There are more attendees and loads of volunteers. More chiefs than Indians somedays. The days are structured; we spend the first hour in discussion groups,which is right up my street, I do love a chat! But seriously, I look forward to Wednesdays especially now that they have put me on the communications team where my ideas will hopefully be of some use in a fundraising capacity.
Life is very different to what I imagined, but we still have a laugh both at home and Headway and unfortunately for Karen, apart from the physical problems I'm the same person that I ever was.
- Adrian Read my story
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Adrian is a 36-year-old accountant who lives in Enfield. He was injured in a motorbike accident in Eastbourne in April 2001. He was negotiating a badly signposted bend when his bike skidded on some mud and he was thrown into a brick wall. His helmet saved his life.
He was airlifted to Eastbourne Hospital and was in a coma for several days. He had broken two vertebrae but luckily, they were still in alignment. He had a metal cage around his head and a metal plate in his arm.
He was transferred between a number of hospitals before reaching Northwick Park Rehabilitation Unit. He remembers nothing of his accident and was completely disorientated when he woke up in Northwick Park — he thought he was in a hotel. He then spent 15 months under the care of the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust's specialist unit in Milton Keynes. He lived in nearby sheltered accommodation learning to cook, shop and hold down a job.
His progress over the last four years has been amazing. He now works as a volunteer for 4 days a week at Headway East London, processing invoices and making sure the accounts are up to date. His previous employer, Goldman Sachs, has been very supportive.
His short-term memory is very poor and he tires easily but has developed strategies to cope. He remembers exactly how to use accounting software but has to be reminded each morning where he got up to the day before. He uses a personal organiser religiously.
- Susan Read my story
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In 2002 Susan was having a routine eye test related to her diabetes when the optician suspected something was seriously wrong. She was immediately admitted to hospital and had a series of operations to remove a brain tumour. Since then she has suffered from weakness on her left side, severe headaches, irritability, blurred vision and memory problems, and has not been able to return to her job as a translator in a solicitor's office. Her husband has given up his studies to take care of Susan and their young son. The family has no friends or relatives in the UK.
Her Goals
Susan would like to regain her independence and eventually get back to work.Outcomes So Far
Susan has regained a lot of mobility on her left side and uses the gym at Headway every week to build up her strength. She loves using the computers and reads the news sites on the internet to keep up with the political situation in her native Iran. She has gained a lot of support from sharing life stories with other attendees and enjoys going on outings with her Headway friends. She has been working on GCSE Business Studies papers and improving her English reading skills. - Ben Read my story
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Ben is 37 years old. A skydiving accident in 2002 left him in a coma for several months. Before his injury he led an action-packed life as a stuntman, DJ, yoga teacher and a music journalist. After discharge from hospital, he returned home to live with his mother. He is physically weak, tires easily, has restricted vision and lacks confidence.
His Goals
His main goal at Headway is to improve his confidence and insight into his situation. He has decided not to work on his physical health whilst at the centre because he has access to a lot of physical therapy on other days of the week. Ben likes to talk about his life so he has been encouraged to bring in old photos and to use the computer to write down his life story in detail. Staff use visualization techniques to help him set goals for himself and simple behavioural techniques to help him to stop repeating certain phrases. A volunteer piano teacher is encouraging him to play again and he has been on visits to riding stables to be around the horses he loves. Staff have built up a rapport with Ben's family and have discussed progress and issues throughout.Outcomes So Far
As a result, his confidence is noticeably improved. He sits on his own much less and actively engages people in conversation, sometimes laughing off his difficulties rather than dwelling on them."My favourite thing about Headway is the people - they are lovely. I talk a lot to everyone and enjoy my music lessons. My brain is definitely improving". - Ben
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