A normal day at work on 1^st April 2021 with no previous indication of headaches or high blood pressure ended up in me being rushed into A&E where I was diagnosed with a Brain Haemorrhage.  

Following a number of scans, I was diagnosed with an AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation) bleed within the temporal left side lobe of my brain.  With the need to reduce the risk of further Haemorrhages I had surgery, and underwent a craniotomy procedure for the removal of the AVM on 21^st April in Southmead Hospital, Bristol. 

Initial recovery for the first few weeks was challenging with my communication and loss of words, and also my engagement with people.  I returned home on 28^th April 2021 to rest and recover however this was short lived as the wound site following the procedure began to discharge. I was later diagnosed with an infection around the Craniotomy area which had spread down into the skull bone, and I was operated on 27^th May 2021 with washout and bone flap removal.   

I subsequently recovered well from the wound infection and underwent a third procedure where they carried out Cranioplasty surgery on 16^thAugust 2021 where they inserted a metal plate.

My return to an active life and PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) started through parts of the summer and my passion of running later in 2021.  Running allows me to be free of my thoughts and feel well as I continue my recovery. I have Mild Aphasia with intermittent wording at times and this is impacted when I become tired, and therefore my Cognitive Fatigue needs to be managed.  

Having only ever raced as far as a 10K I wanted to join the Headway team for the challenge of the London Marathon, to highlight PMA that anything can be achieved and to promote the awareness of living with Brain Traumas. 

Brain injury can challenge every aspect of your life; walking, talking, thinking and feeling, and the losses can be severe and permanent. It can mean losing both the life you once lived and the person you once were.

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.

A brain injury can happen to anyone, at any time. When it does, Headway is there to help.

Join Team Headway in the 2023 London Marathon to help us continue improving life after brain injury.

Thanks in advance for supporting this life recovering charity - Headway