Be Seen, Not Hurt Blog Series - Day 7

On the 2nd April 2008, Naomi’s life changed forever. She ran out and was hit by a skip truck. At the time Naomi was only three and a half years old.

It was not just Naomi life’s that changed that day; it affected her whole family. For our final campaign week blog, we want to highlight the effects of brain injury on the whole family. You often see parents’ cycling with their children – the child is wearing a helmet but the parent is not. The effects of brain injury are life long and can have a devastating impact on the whole family.

Following Naomi’s accident she was immediately taken by air ambulance to Great Ormond Street Hospital; Naomi was only in hospital for a couple of months and was discharged following rehabilitation in June 2008. Naomi had made a good physical recovery. But, as many parents will tell you, being discharged from the Hospital is just the start.

The biggest hurdle facing Naomi’s family was finding a way to manage Naomi’s behavioural problems that were a result of her accident. To start with Naomi could barely concentrate for over a minute. Naomi’s mother, Marylene, gave up her job and dedicated her time to focusing on her daughter.

Marylene was in contact with the Child Brain Injury Trust from a very early stage and we were able to offer the whole family support. One of the key areas the Charity helped with was training and education. Our Training Manager attended Naomi’s school and helped educate the staff on brain injury and ways to accommodate Naomi’s additional needs.

This week marked the start of the Child Brain Injury Trust’s first ever prevention campaign; this is a new form of education for us. Similar to the help offered to Naomi’s school following her accident, staff were able to go into schools this week raising awareness and spreading a preventative message about road safety.

Naomi is now 9 years old and her family are learning to live with the effects of brain injury. Marylene had these words to share with other families affected by ABI: “I want other families to know there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Turn obstacles in to opportunity to make things better and more manageable. Pain is overcome through progress as every achievement is celebrated. Children with an acquired brain injury do have the ability to excel in life. Be open-minded through open doors. Parents we are much bigger than our circumstances.”

All our blog posts this week have highlighted that life changing moments can happen in the blink of an eye and we can never fully prepare for them. The Child Brain Injury Trust is here to support the whole family following a childhood acquired brain injury, but we also hope that by sharing stories like Naomi’s people will ‘Be Seen, Not Hurt’.

The Child Brain Injury Trust is a registered charity; if you would like to pledge your support then please text CBIT13 £5 to 70070.