Risky Business - success

Andrew Curran - Alderhay

Rachel, Theresa and Claire show off the cake at the Child Brain Injury Trust stand

A delegate deep in thought

We had a fabulous conference on 29th February and thoroughly enjoyed the day.  Over 230 delegates attended our 2012 conference, held at the Hilton Hotel in Birmingham.  The day focused on the topic of infant and primary school aged children who acquire a brain injury, and their families.  The programme was full of emotion and some humour thanks to our brilliant speakers.

Andrew Curran (top photo) opened the day with the science behind the developing brain and as always made the most complex subject, simple and easy to digest.  Andrew, you are our champion and we are humbled by your commitment to our charity.

Dave Stones (father of William, aged 3) was an inspirational and moving speaker - you are brave and 'real' and we are honoured to support you.

The exhibition hall was full to bursting with stands full of great information and 'give-aways' - Compass Costs cuddly dragons definitely won the best 'give-away' of the day.

As you can see in the photo above, our stand was very colourful and full of lovely cakes made by Child Brain Injury staff Anne-Marie and Lisa - the samples proved very popular! They used the recipes from our new fundraising cook book, '21 treats for 21 years' which has a foreword and recipes supplied by the queen of cakes Mary Berry as well as Raymond Blanc and some of the young people we support. These are available to purchase, email Anne-Marie for more information: anne-mariemacmillian@cbituk.org.

We also signed lots of wannabe challengers up for a Challenge 21 - see our main site for more information on what's happening or contact anne-mariemacmillian@cbituk.org for further details.

All in all it was a super day and I am so proud of everyone who played a part.

See you next year,

Lisa Turan
CEO

Welcome to Holland by Emily Perl Kingsley

Welcome To Holland
by
Emily Perl Kingsley


I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel.  It's like this......

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy.  You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum.  The Michelangelo David.  The gondolas in Venice.  You may learn some handy phrases in Italian.  It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives.  You pack your bags and off you go.  Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy!  I'm supposed to be in Italy.  All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan.  They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease.  It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language.  And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It’s just a different place.  It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy.  But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips.  Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there.  And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever  go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.

But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

*     *     *
©1987 by Emily Perl Kingsley. All rights reserved.  Reprinted by permission of the author.

Galashiels school kids get a head for cycle safety

Following the launch of Cycle Law Scotland’s national Cycle Safety Roadshow last month (see story below), Langlee Primary School in Galashiels hosted the second event on 24th February. Child and Family Support Officer Mary Dryburgh and the specialist cycling lawyers from Cycle Law Scotland were accompanied by Claudia Beamis, MSP for South of Scotland and Shadow Environment Minister.

Pupils at Langlee Primary with their new helmets!

Each child taking part in the events receives a free cycling helmet, donated by Cycle Law Scotland and Halfords, as part of the initiative’s “Great Cycle Helmet Giveaway”.  This was welcomed by Depute Headteacher at Langlee Primary School, Amanda Findlay, who said: “Events like this are brilliant ways to get the message that cycle safety is important across and to enrich our pupils’ understanding of the world around them.  I’m sure they’ll make great use of the cycle helmets and come away knowing just how important bike safety is.”  

Brenda Mitchell, Scottish Borders-based solicitor with Cycle Law Scotland, felt that improving safety is all about changing attitudes: “At Cycle Law Scotland we see first-hand the damage that cycling accidents can have on people.  As cyclists, we know only too well the dangers of the road and the importance of promoting safe cycling as early as possible. With these road shows we want to change attitudes.  This is the key way to improve cycle safety.  We want to make sure that children are aware of just how important wearing a helmet is.  

“Some children might not want to because of pressure from their friends or they might not think it’s that important.  We want to make clear to them that the best kind of cycling is safe cycling with a helmet.” 
 
Claudia Beamish MSP added: “I am delighted to get behind this initiative as it arrives in the Borders. Cycling is a great way for young people to get exercise but they need to be encouraged to do so safely.  Wearing a cycle helmet can help to save lives; these road shows are helping to get that message across.”

The road show has two more stops over the next two months: Edinburgh and Aberdeen.  

For more details about Cycle Law Scotland or to arrange an interview contact Rod Mitchell on 07812 366138 or visit www.cyclelawscotland.co.uk.

Our Chairman joins in the fun

Judith Begins her Challenge

To walk over 21 Bridges along the Thames

Our super Chairman Judith Middleton began her walk on a 10th February 2012.  So far she has rasied well over £1,000 and is looking to achieve her fundraising target of £2,100.  You can donate via  www.virginmoneygiving.com/JudithMiddleton 

 

Judith is ready for the off.....

Teddington to Kew (about 6.25 miles)

 Judith says

Despite the cold and a little snow the walk was lovely.  Crossed Teddington Footbridge, Richmond Bridge and Richmond Lock Footbridge (left to right below), with break for lunch on wrong side of Richmond Bridge. I can recommend a very good Italian place.

School Kids Get a Head for Cycle Safety

NATIONWIDE INITIATIVE TO GIVE FREE CYCLE HELMETS TO KIDS 

Left to Right: Alastair White, Nicola Sturgeon MSP, Miranda Barty-Taylor, Mary Dryburgh, Victoria Aquino; Richard Simpson MSP

Specialist cycling lawyers, Cycle Law Scotland (www.cyclelawscotland.co.uk), have joined forces with brain injury charities, The Child Brain Injury Trust and Headway to launch an initiative to improve cycle safety among children. 

The Cycle Safety Roadshow, launched today at Govan’s Lorne Street Primary School, will be touring a number of schools across Scotland delivering workshops to improve awareness of the dangers of not wearing a helmet and raising awareness of acquired brain injury among children. 

At the event attended by Deputy First Minister, Health Secretary, and MSP for Glasgow Southside, Nicola Sturgeon and Shadow Health Minister, Dr Richard Simpson, each child taking part will receive a free cycling helmet, donated by Cycle Law Scotland and Halfords, as part of the initiative’s “Great Cycle Helmet Giveaway”.

According to the latest Scottish Government statistics, there were 149 child cycling casualties in 2009.

For solicitor with Cycle Law Scotland, Victoria Aquino, improving safety is all about changing attitudes:

"At Cycle Law Scotland we see first hand the damage that cycling accidents can have on people.  As cyclists we know only too well the dangers of the road and the importance of promoting safe cycling as early as possible. The key to making people safer on their bikes is by changing attitudes.  This is what these road-shows are all about.

We’re here to tell children that it is vitally important when you’re out on your bike to wear a helmet.  Some children may think that they don’t want to because it’s not what their friends do, but hopefully today we’ll get the message across that a helmet and safe cycling is the only way to cycle.

We’re all delighted that Ms Sturgeon and Dr Simpson have come along today to show their support for this initiative.”

Mary Dryburgh, of the Child Brain Injury Trust, said:

“Brain injury is the biggest cause of death and disability in young people in the UK. Events such as these get children thinking about staying safe when cycling as well as the effects a brain injury can have."

Headway, have a total of 13 branches helping teenagers and adults with brain injuries across Scotland get support and helping them return to community living.  Gaille McCann works with Headway in Glasgow.  She said:

“This is a great opportunity to get the message across about the challenges people with brain injuries face in a way that interests the kids.  At Headway we aim to prevent brain injuries, educate people about the challenges and support those affected continue a happy and active life. Hopefully they’ll take away the message that it’s important to be safe cyclists and caring to those with brain injuries.” 

Speaking of the event Head-teacher at Lorne Street Primary School, Ms Marjori Thompson, added:

“I and the staff at Lorne Street Primary School are delighted to welcome everyone involved in the Cycle Safety Roadshow and both Ms Sturgeon and Dr Simpson. Events like this really enrich our pupils’ education and understanding of the world around them.  I’m sure they’ll make great use of the cycle helmets and come away knowing just how important bike safety is.”  

Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy and MSP for Glasgow Southside, Nicola Sturgeon attended the event and presented the children with their helmets along with Shadow Health Minister Dr Richard Simpson.    

Nicola Sturgeon MSP said:

“I’m delighted to support this initiative and welcome the fact that it’s being launched here in Govan. Cycling is a great way to get exercise and promote healthier lifestyles in communities across Scotland, but it’s important that it’s done safely.  To see the Child Brain Injury Trust, Headway and Cycle Law Scotland all come together to promote cycle safety in our schools shows how important this issue is.
We need to encourage a new generation of safety conscious cyclists and better awareness of the needs of people with brain injuries.  I have no doubt that this initiative will do just that.”   

Dr Richard Simpson MSP, said:

“Safety is vitally important when cycling.  People might think wearing a helmet or safety wear is an optional extra.  It should never be seen that way. Educating children about the benefits of wearing safety gear and giving them helmets is a great way to get that message across.  I welcome the fact that Cycle Law Scotland, the Child Brain Injury Trust and Headway have come together to offer these road-shows.  It’s a great initiative and I’m delighted to get behind it.”  

Warning from woman left brain damaged after binge accident - Health - Scotsman.com

Warning from woman left brain damaged after binge accident - Health - Scotsman.com

Kids' brain injuries can cause lingering problems for years, study finds

By Linda Carroll

Courtesy of the Napadano family

  

Mark Napadano watched in horror as his 13-year-old son slammed head first into the hard ground after a motocross accident.  In seconds he was at the side of his son, Sam, terrified by the sight of the junior high athlete so full of life just moments before lying limp in front of him - and not breathing. “It was like a nightmare,” Mark remembers.

At the hospital doctors examined Sam and gave Mark the frightening news: Sam had a large pocket of blood pooling near the top of his head and two smaller bleeds in the front and two in the back. “They didn’t say he was going to die, but they didn’t say he was going to live,” recalls the 45-year-old car dealer.

Sam was in a coma for days and in critical care for almost a month. By the time he was released to a rehab facility the 5-foot-4-inch teen had dropped from a trim and muscular 114 pounds to just 84. For months Mark and his wife, Sue, watched as their son learned to talk and walk for a second time.  

Now, three years after the wreck Sam is almost back to where he was before, Mark says. Sam returned to school three months after the accident and kept up his rehab for two years. He still has some short term memory problems and though his working memory has improved, it can be a challenge if too many commands are thrown his way at the same time.

While conventional wisdom is that children have a great capacity to overcome damage from a severe traumatic brain injury, or TBI, because their brains are still developing and “plastic,” a new study shows that many may actually end up with some lasting deficits. The study followed 56 children for 10 years after they’d sustained a TBI between the ages of 2 and 7.

During the study, the Australian researchers repeatedly examined the children’s intellectual abilities, as well as social and behavioral skills, according to the report published in Pediatrics. 

The report confirmed earlier research showing that most kids with mild TBIs recover completely, but the prognosis for children with more severe injuries is less predictable.

These new data suggest that “the majority of these kids will have long-term problems,” says the study’s lead author Vicki Anderson, a researcher at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne. “And while there was some ‘spontaneous’ recovery, those who had access to rehab did better.”

 

 

Office Move

An exciting piece of news from our Scotland office is that they will be moving in February to great, new premises in the East of Edinburgh city centre. They will be based at Norton Park in the Leith area which is a converted school occupied by non-profit, community organisations in Edinburgh run by Albion Trust. It is our hope that this move will allow us to further build on our relationships with other, related organisations that are also based there such as ‘Into work’, ‘The Action Group’, ‘Edinburgh Young Carers Project’, ‘Venture Scotland’ to name but a few!


The new address will be:Child Brain Injury Trust - Scotland
Norton Park
57 Albion Road
Edinburgh
EH7 5QY

Although all email addresses will remain the same; marydryburgh@cbituk.org bethwales@cbituk.org clairemurray@cbituk.org our phone number will be changing on the 1^st of February to: 0131 475 2598

Digby Brown support us at the 9th World Congress on Brain Injury - Edinburgh 21 - 25 March 2012

Digby Brown Solicitors has kindly donated £700 towards the cost of the Child Brain Injury Trust attending the International Brain Injury World Congress in March 2012 in Edinburgh.

Without their support we would not be able to present the two posters that have been selected for us to present.  The first  will highlight the work we are doing across the UK to raise awareness of the link between offending behaviour and childhood acquired brain injury.

The second will showcase the pioneering Peer Support work that the Child and Family Support Project in Scotland has delivered and the impact it has had on young people.

We look forward to seeing you there too http://www.internationalbrain.org


Our thanks and gratitude to Robert Swanney Partner at Digby Brown

still smiling

14 lengths done - 7 to go

Thank you to all sponsors so far - I have raised nearly £1,800 .  I desperately want to achieve the target of £2,100 for the charity to give it a really kick start

please sponsor me at www.virginmoneygiving.com/lisaturan

thanks

Lisa