While enjoying the incredible Olympic performances and cheering for their favourite athletes, our members continued to face the daily challenges of living with a brain injury, from limited mobility and fatigue to memory loss. When you live with a brain injury, everyday activities like going to the market, remembering an appointment or using public transport can require a heroic effort, so we decided to celebrate the small and big achievements of our members’ daily lives in our Headway Olympics.
These stories were collected in our Day Centre in August 2024. Enjoy!
Jackie
On Sunday I went to Walthamstow market, and it was really busy. I said to my partner: “I am going to meet you here in 20 minutes.” I walked around on my own in a completely new area and bought two M&S T-shirts for £10! Then I came back to the meeting point. It felt like being able to put together a jigsaw puzzle. I felt great!
Ibrahim
Coming to Headway twice a week is a big achievement for me, since I never know what day of the week it is. Headway is my second home, and I can communicate with my fellow members even if English is not my first language.
Kim
Swimming every week is a big achievement! I love it. I cannot go on my own because of my brain injury, I need help from a friend to get dressed. Headway staff also take me there. I broke my arm recently, but I will return to the swimming pool as soon as possible.
Dave
Last week I put together a barbeque with the help of my support worker. It took us 5 hours. I wouldn’t have been able to do it on my own. I would struggle to understand the instructions and get very frustrated and give up. Now it’s all set in my garden and my family and I can have a BBQ whenever we want.
Pam
A car hit me when I was 10 years old. I only re-learnt how to read about 10 years ago. Now I can read the papers, and my writing has improved too.
Martin
When I had my brain injury, I could not walk, speak or do anything. After seven years of rehab, I learnt to walk and speak again.
Sajid
After the brain injury, I could not move my arm. Then I started to come to Headway and did lots of exercises with Fiona (our physiotherapist) in the gym. I received advice from professionals and met people with similar issues. Now my mobility has improved, I can do a lot more with my arm.
Sevin
I try to keep my mind alert. I had two brain injuries and sometimes it feels like my mind is switching off, even if it’s not true. Doing mindfulness and meditation makes me feel better.
James
I was brushing my teeth and then collapsed. My family called an ambulance. I was in a coma for a month. When I woke up, I had a big cut on my head and I could not walk. Now I can walk. I love watching sports and listening to music.
Keith
The other day I managed to do two things that were happening on the same day. Because of my brain injury I forget what I have to do or arrive very late. I must write everything down, like appointments, so I don’t miss them. I keep a written diary of my day-to-day life and I also have important information on display. Before the brain injury I was always on time and remembered everyone’s birthdays.
Sandra
Before my brain injury, I used to travel a lot for work: Spain, Portugal, New York… I was very busy. Then suddenly one day 10 years ago I collapsed while having tea with a friend. For many years I was too unwell to travel, but last year I was well enough to go to Cornwall with my husband and this year we are going to Italy.
Dolores
Recently I have been looking at the projects I have been involved in in the past, and thinking about how to support people who want to run their own project. I support charities for young people, and work with adults alongside children in my book club. My daughters help me to do to this. I have an eye condition so reading is very difficult for me but I can do it with a magnifying glass. I want to encourage people of all ages to keep reading.
Lewis
I run my own business! Work is tough sometimes and I get fatigued, so I cannot work as much as I want – I have limitations. But I am a personal trainer and level 3 qualified for programming and supervising people with disabilities. I also specialise in hypertrophy.
Carol
Coming to Headway is very important for me. I had to stop coming for a few months when I wasn’t well and I missed it. I love being here, singing and playing with other members.
*News Flash: Carol Zeniou was an athlete! In 1982 she jumped a record breaking 6 metres and 45cm and represented Great Britain internationally.
Freddy
I do outdoor activities with my support worker. He helps me to plan and evaluate the pros and cons. When we used a Segway, we had to plan the route, think about the weather, decide how to get there and where to meet. It can be very frustrating to do this on my own.
Velma
I used to work before the brain injury, but I had to stop. Then I found an opportunity at The Body Shop and now I work there twice a week for two hours. I have been working there for 25 years! It’s great that I am still there. It keeps me busy and out of the house. I feel tired afterwards. When I finish, I have to go home and rest.
Hari
The other day I walked unassisted with only one hand on the rail. I had a brain injury when I was 17. Before I could walk, play football and dance. Now I cannot walk and use a wheelchair, but’s it’s great to see I am making progress. I do exercises at home every week.
Adrian
I am a volunteer and come to Headway twice a week. In the morning I am worried about being tired and I think “If I am too tired, I will leave Headway early.” But that never happens! When I come here, I am suddenly not tired anymore. I went to Gran Canaria with a friend for 10 days and I was fine, but I missed Headway in the same way one misses home.
Mike
When I am home, I always try to go for a walk around the block. It’s very difficult for me to walk because the stroke I had affected my left side and I cannot feel my leg. At the end I am exhausted but satisfied. It’s very good to do exercise.
Billy
A bus journey can feel like a marathon: from getting to the stop (checking you have keys and money before leaving), boarding the bus, finding no Priority Seat Available, plus a bus driver who drives ahead before you have sat down. Then remembering your stop and negotiating an exit crowded by standing passengers. On and on it goes…
Marie-Claire
I took my granddaughter out by myself for the first time, and it was great! I forget things and easily get lost, but I am learning to manage this. Before the brain injury I was raising my kids and managing a business, now everything is difficult. When you have a brain injury your life feels “small”, you are always contained in what you can do, often you cannot leave your room. For me, this feeling stopped when I started to come to Headway.
So as you tune into the incredible Paralympics coverage, we encourage you to remember the heroic ways in which people living with brain injury overcome huge obstacles every single day.
If you live with a brain injury and would like to add your story to the Headway Olympics, you can send it to elisa.braglia@headwayeastlondon.org.
