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On this page you will find some of the very personal experiences of people who are supported by Headway Dorset. I would like to tell you about the affects my brain injury has had on my life and how Headway Dorset have worked extremely hard and with patience to help me rebuild a life. People in my position will relate to some of the damage l have been left with, to others it may help them understand how fragile the brain is.
Three years ago l came home from work, it was dark. l vaguely remember locking the car. After which l have no recollection of anything other than what has been told by friends, Doctors and relatives. I was discovered at the design studio which I ran, apparently I was sat behind the desk, the phone was ringing I said hello.
He said I had two swollen black eyes my shirt, tie and raincoat where covered with blood. l actually asked him if he wanted a coffee!. Apparently this was post traumatic amnesia or what
the doctor told my daughter was a waking coma. l had actually driven to work unconscious.
My friend closed the showroom and took me to hospital. I had an orbital fracture, haemorrhages over
my eyes and a blood clot at back of my skull.
This has left me with 1. Severe memory loss 2. Loss of concentration 3. Impairment to vision in right eye 4. Intolerance to noise 5. Tinitus 6. Balance problems 7. Muscle spasm in right hand
and arm 8. Insomnia and 9. seizures ( the latter controlled by medication) not to mention a great
deal of pain.
All this has had a profound effect on my working and social life. l miss The small things which were taken for granted, bike riding, swimming, going to the cinema, going into large stores and avoiding other noisy places such as shopping centres is out of the question as it causes me to panic and become confused. Using public transport is difficult, this limits my movements and the ability to Socialise. Whatever l am planning no matter how small l use a Dictaphone or make a note for example:- even going from living room to the kitchen, by the time l'm there l have forgotten what l want to do.
Paul, Headway Dorset(Poole)
Headway Dorset, informal, no uniforms, just hard working staff, that appreciate the impact a brain injury has had on a person's life. Without them l don’t know where l would be today. Over the last few years they have patiently helped me through my self denial, accepted my mood swings caused by the injury, because of Headway my self esteem and confidence are slowly returning.
At the moment l am with a small group relearning my computer skills. There are no pressures put upon me, l can go at my own pace, and painting and drawing are back into my life.
At the moment also one of the rehab staff calls at my home then we go for a coffee. We have decided to set goals to build up my confidence of using public transport by going on a small train journey, big step but it will give me a lot more freedom.
Weekend breaks. Evening classes.
The list could go on. Headway staff, they are always there.
'With the combination of working at the shop and doing the course I more confident and have more belief in myself. I wasn't sure before the course started if I would be able to do it, but it did get easier as the weeks went by. By the end of the course I felt I had enjoyed it and got a lot out of it'
'Headway's comaraderie is special to me. Going to Conservation, building paths for wheelchair users, makes me feel that I am giving something back to the community'
'The main thing about Headway is the company. Even though I live with others, they have not had a brain injury. Everyone at Headway has so they know what you are going through'
'1999 wasn't the best of years for me as I found myself wrapped around a tree whilst still sat in a car !! I was lucky that I survived but suffered memory loss due to a head injury. Headway Dorset came to visit and to offer their support but I initially declined their generous offer until I found myself struggling to cope with seemingly mediocre everyday tasks. I contacted Headway ( Dorset) a couple of years after the accident to ask if their offer of help was still on the table and , of course, it was. I attended a couple of group sessions and found myself able to 'grow' in confidence enough to offer help as opposed to receiving it. My offer of help turned into an offer of employment from Poole College who had forged a partnership with Headway (Dorset). And now I find myself 'teaching' the very same group I used to attend and am on the brink of a completely new career. I don't mind the memory loss as I have developed strategies to cope with this and Headway (Dorset) have helped me relaunch myself as a contributor to society , for which I am extremely grateful'
'It is a good meeting place. Everyone is trying to achieve something new'
“ Being able to sometimes help others, makes me really happy.”
'The step by step support at Headway is fantastic, just fantastic'
'What does Headway me to us?
It means we are not alone when things get to much as they are always there with support.They are very informative with knowledge that only one who has been through the same situation can give.At the carers meeting one can share and unload the day-to-day stresses that a head injury can create.In times of desperation, they are always only a phone call away.Pointing one in the right direction, with their wealth information through the minefield of medical and legal jargon and the use of other services.In short, the Headway team gives one a sense, that all is not lost, and there is life after a head injury'
'I never thought anything like this would happen to me. It has been hard work to get to where I am today'
'For me, I never thought I would get married after my heamorrhage, let alone have two wonderful kids. I was a camera man but now I am in a wheel chair. If it wasn't for Headway and the specialised staff, moving to Dorset would have been impossible for me and my family'
'Since my brain tumor, I have taken up painting and using the computor to play games on. I come to Headway twice a week'
'I just take one day at a time, that's all I can do. I was a chef in the Navy for 27 years'
'It's living, but not as we know it!!!'
'Before my stroke, things were different. I can see now why some people with disabilities feel they have to put in double the effort.'
'I used to work.Life is very different now. Headway is great to come and just be me'
'Headway is one of my focal points. I use it to structure the rest of my week'
' At Headway I am treated as an adult, a person, not just some-one who has had an accident'
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