Today we have chosen to highlight the crucial work the Child Brain Injury Trust’s Northern Ireland team have been doing during Action for Brain Injury Week.
Our Northern Ireland office has joined forces during this week with other voluntary sector organisations who work with children, young people and adults with a brain injury and their carers. The group have produced a video to help people understand ‘there is life after brain injury’.
Teresa’s Story
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| Teresa with her son's Conor and Jamie |
The freak accident had been no-one’s fault– there was no speed, drink or drugs involved and the driver was only doing 25mph. Jamie had suffered from multiple injuries.
Both of his lungs had been punctured and there was evidence of brain damage. Hooked up to the life-support machine, the next few days played out in slow motion in the confines of the intensive care unit at the hospital, as Teresa watched for the rise and fall of Jamie’s little chest.
Whilst she waited for her son’s condition to improve, Teresa came across a poster for the Child Brain Injury Trust and she decided to contact the trust.
“The Child Brain Injury Trust was a lifeline. They set up counselling for both the boys. Jamie is different to how he was before the accident and both of them needed to understand that. They also helped me deal with his schooling because the accident means he needs educational support. Thanks to the Child Brain Injury Trust, Jamie was moved into a special unit in a mainstream school. If I hadn’t seen the poster that day, we’d have been left totally isolated. They have been alongside me every step of the way and are always at the end of the phone with practical and emotional support. I am so thankful for all they have done for us and I do what I can to give a little something back”.*
‘There is life after brain injury’
Today “Jamie has almost finished his first year at high school, although this change was a huge issue for Jamie at the time he has coped really well with the change. His self-confidence and independence are improving greatly, Jamie is very determined to succeed and not let his disability hold him back from anything. He continues to improve and still gets weekly physio and occupational therapy input, but has now started taking charge of his own therapies and doing his exercises daily at home.”We would also like to congratulate Jamie’s brother Conor who recently won the ‘Young Carer of the Year’ award at the Credit Union Awards in Belfast.
Taking Action
Tomorrow Teresa and other supporters will be taking action and raising money for the Child Brain Injury Trust. They have chosen to abseil down one of Belfast’s tallest buildings, the Europa Hotel.If you would like to show your support and help others text CBIT18 followed by the amount you would like to donate to 70070. Or if you happen to be in the area come and cheer everyone on.
Thank you to Teresa, Conor and Jamie McKee.
*Quote from article in the Big Lottery Fund magazine.
For more information on Action for Brain Injury Week, please contact Emily Honey.
