We all think 'it will never happen to me', but every year around 350,000 people are admitted to hospital with an acquired brain injury. That's one every 90 seconds.
I know that acquired brain injury can have a devastating impact on an individual, with its impact felt across many aspects of their life. As well as the health impact, it affects family life, it can disrupt close relationships, it can make employment difficult and it can severely damage an individual’s personal finances.
Even minor head injuries can cause short-term impairment and repeated minor injuries can do long-lasting harm. Those living with more severe ABI are likely to have complex long-term problems affecting their cognitive and functional abilities, personality, close relationships and ability to return to an independent life.
Growing up, I witnessed first-hand the impact that an acquired brain injury can have on somebody’s life and the lives of their family members.
Attending today’s event not only afforded me the opportunity to catch up with campaigners to discuss the future direction of the government’s Acquired Brain Injury strategy, but also meet some truly inspirational constituents are who are determined to live their lives to the full, despite their complex injuries.
Today’s reception was especially poignant for me because I also caught up with campaigners from Headway, a fantastic charity who supported my Dad after his brain injury and I look forward to visiting their Sussex support group again in the near future.
In addition to support groups, a network of Headway groups and branches across the UK and Channel Islands provides a wide range of services including rehabilitation programmes, carer support, social re-integration, community outreach and respite care to survivors and families in their own communities.
Headway's local groups and branches work hard to raise funds at a local level to continue to provide and develop the services they offer.
To find your nearest group or branch, or to support their work locally, enter your postcode into the search box on: https://www.headway.org.uk
Growing up I witnessed first-hand the impact that an acquired brain injury can have on somebody’s life and the lives of their family members. Headway UK is a truly brilliant charity, having been there to support my Dad after brain injury as they have supported so many others, and I was delighted to run the Brighton Marathon to raise funds for them in 2013.
