‘Our 25 years of living with brain injury'

The effects of brain injury can last a lifetime. This summer saw the 25th anniversary of Albert Dawson's brain injury. Here, Albert's wife Margaret shares her emotions and experiences of living with brain injury.

Each August, following that shattering one of 1986, as the blackberries ripen and the quality of daylight changes, my memories are sharpened of the unexpected knock at the door we received that fateful day. A policeman was offering to drive my daughter and me to the hospital in Derby where apparently Albert had been taken following a cycling accident.

Back then, helmets were only considered necessary for racing and, as Albert set off on that fine August morning, there was no suggestion of preparing for a lifethreatening injury. Albert was 43 and an experienced cyclist, having cycled for pleasure and competitively since his school days. We all think it will never happen to us, but accidents can happen to anyone at any time.

Albert was transferred to the intensive care unit in Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre before once again being moved back to the hospital in Derby. He then spent an additional four months in the King's Lodge Rehabilitation Unit. It was thanks to the care and attention he received in these places that he eventually came home to his family.

The day before Albert's accident, we had celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary. Our son was 18 and our daughter 15.

Suddenly, in one day, I had lost the husband I knew and our children had lost their familiar father figure. The effect on them, at such an important stage in their transition from teenage years towards career choices and education milestones, was devastating; the repercussions were felt for many years.

Back in 1987, with Albert home, but with no possibility of returning to work, driving a car or taking responsibility for his own wellbeing, we wondered what the future would hold. Even Headway was still in its infancy. Then, a friend suggested Albert attend the Greenaway Workshop for the Disabled. This proved to be the best thing that could have possibly happened in the circumstances.

I would drive him there a couple of mornings each week, before gradually teaching him to use the local bus service. Slowly, he extended the length of his sessions, learned new skills and even began to work in a sheltered environment restoring furniture.

His motivation for life increased, he became an active member of a social group again and regained some independence. As a family back home, we would also benefit from a few hours of respite. As I reflect on the past 25 years, what is difficult for me is the diminishing number of people we interact with who knew Albert before his accident.

I feel sad that many of the people we see today only know the man they now meet and never spent time with him as his former self; only then would they fully understand him as a whole person.