CHESTER health chiefs are working to raise awareness of people with brain injuries.
Action for Brain Injury Week, which runs until May 15, aims to highlight that every year in Cheshire, one family in every 300 copes with the hidden effects of a brain injury.
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s (CWP) acquired brain injury team treat people across Cheshire who have suffered a brain injury as an adult.
Some injuries happen at home by people falling and hitting their head and some due to illnesses such as meningitis.
Men are two or three times more likely to suffer a brain injury than women.
Gary Baker, a 43-year-old underwriter from Malpas, is still living with the effects of the brain injury he sustained just over a year ago.
He said: “I was rushing to make an appointment when I tripped and fell, hitting my head on the pavement as I landed.
“It is the sound that I remember most vividly; a horrific cracking noise followed by an overwhelming sense of confusion.
“I picked myself up quickly, hoping that no-one had seen me fall, and carried on to my appointment.
“I had no real sense of what had happened to me.”
Gary was approached by two people who came over to Gary’s aid, when one of them told him he was bleeding.
Gary said: “I didn’t believe him until he convinced me to put my hand to the place on my head that hurt the most.
“If it hadn’t been for them I wouldn’t have gone straight to hospital.”
Following the hospital visit Gary began to experience severe drowsiness.
Examinations showed that the impact had caused bruising to the brain and Gary was referred to Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s (CWP) Acquired Brain Injury service.
“I was visited by a consultant neuropsychologist and a specialist vocational occupational therapist from CWP’s Acquired Brain Injury team,” he said.
“I had been getting really scared by things that were happening to me, things like crying uncontrollably for no apparent reason.
“The staff were great, explained everything about my condition to me and reassured me that I was experiencing normal symptoms.
“I suffered some real low points throughout my recovery and sometimes felt like I didn’t want to carry on anymore.
“The team would always pick me back up.”
Bernie Walsh, a clinical specialist on CWP’s acquired brain injury team, said: “The Acquired Brain Injury service is responsive to the client’s and family’s needs.
“Having a brain injury can impact on all aspects of your life including relationships at home, in public and at work.
“Gary’s partner was invited to some of his therapy sessions to discuss how the injury might affect behaviour and moods and how other people might act towards him and why.”
Bernie continued: “An acquired brain injury is a hidden disability that affects not only the client but family and friends as well.
“Although Gary’s injury did not require hospital admission, the impact of his injury on his daily life, his relationships and his work required timely, positive, practical and psychological support from our service.”
Gary said: “People were not sure how to treat me because there were no obvious signs of anything being wrong with me.
“It was important for me that they understood that I could suffer sudden bouts of tiredness, and that I wasn’t just being difficult or lazy.”
While most of the symptoms and effects of Gary’s brain injury have now subsided, he said that he may never be the same person he was before.
“My energy levels still aren’t what they were.
“I suffer from tiredness more chronically and frequently than I did before the accident and I find it very difficult to keep my emotions in check.
“I am one of the lucky ones though.”
Gary has now returned back to work and is able to live a relatively normal life.
He added: “I seem to be more organised now than I was – that’s probably not a bad thing given what happened the last time I was in a rush.”
source: chesterfirst.co.uk
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