Lisa Russell

Lisa's doctors told her parents that they had to make a decision whether or not to turn off her life support machine, as it was unlikely she would survive the brain injuries she had incurred as a result of her horrific car crash in 2005. Her mother and father refused point-blank. "She'll survive," they said. "She's a fighter". Three years later, Lisa has amazed her doctors and is living proof her parents were right. She is now confidently looking forward to life ahead.

"I don't remember anything about the car accident I had in 2005," said Lisa. "What I do know is that I was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery and transferred to a life support unit.

"My parents were told it was most unlikely I would survive and, if I ever did, that my brain injuries were so extreme I would probably never walk or talk again. But three months after leaving hospital and having to have physiotherapy and speech therapy, I was walking and talking.

"I have improved vastly over time and have been given lots of help from doctors, therapists and the people at Headway, who have boosted my confidence and self esteem, improving my life no end.

"I am now back working as a volunteer and even driving again. I live a 'normal' life and there are no physical signs that I have a brain injury, which is why it's often called the invisible disability.

"But I face prejudice everyday of my life because of my brain injury. My speech can sometimes be a little slow and I often need people to speak slowly to me so I can take it all in, leading to some people thinking that I'm stupid. I may also need simple things explaining to me, such as basic mathematics, as I can't remember certain things from before the accident.

"Whenever this happens, people treat me as if I'm inferior. They speak to me like I'm a child - or worse still talk over me to whoever I'm with as they think I can't understand. This makes me feel hideously embarrassed and hits my self confidence hard.

"I want to say whenever you meet someone who appears a little different, take a moment to think and please do not judge them!"

Lisa's story has appeared in the Daily Mirror and BBC News Wales. Click the links below to read more.