Lisa, Headway South Staffs

Following a stroke two years ago Lisa came across Headway by chance.  She now attributes much of her recovery to the support she has received from the South Staffordshire group and offers support back to the group using her creative skills in video and graphic design. 

This is Lisa’s Headway story.

“If by doing my little bit, I can reach just one person, I don’t want the same thing happening to them as it did for me.

“Sat in a chair, no voice, confused with people talking about me even though I was there.

“I just want to spread awareness, so people know where to find help.

“I don’t want anyone having silent tears.

“Before my ABI I was just a normal, independent, average person, working full time and bringing up my teenage daughter. I had a good social life and was very active.

“My brain injury happened in June 2020 when I was 49 years old, I don’t remember much about it, but I had a stroke which left me with absent seizures and weakness to the left side.

“At first, I couldn’t speak and because I had lost the use of my left side I could not walk and needed a wheelchair. I suffered with incontinence and the absent seizures, I didn’t know what day or even time it was, my body clock was a mess.

“Doctors and medical staff were talking to my partner and daughter but not to me, I felt invisible. I was so tired and couldn’t even communicate with anyone. I needed help to do everything, personal care, cooking and domestic tasks, everything was beyond me, my independence had gone.

“One day a gentleman delivering a parcel told us about a charity called Headway who helped people with brain injury. We found the telephone number and contacted them. They told us about our local group Headway South Staffs, who I was then referred to.

“I started to attend Headway South Staffs just before Christmas 2021, and I still have some of my problems, but I have also improved much more than I ever thought.

“Headway South Staffs has given me hope. My speech, walking and confidence has come on in leaps and bounds, and I enjoy socialising and learning new skills. Headway also helps me with day-to-day things like finances and appointments.  The other members at Headway are always there for you and we share our experiences.

“My advice to anyone who ends up in the same situation as myself would be to seek help, you are not alone, and I now have a purpose in my life. I could not have made such a good recovery without the support of Headway South Staffs.

“Before my ABI I was just a normal, independent, average person, working full time and bringing up my teenage daughter. I had a good social life and was very active.

“My brain injury happened in June 2020 when I was 49 years old, I don’t remember much about it, but I had a stroke which left me with absent seizures and weakness to the left side.

“At first, I couldn’t speak and because I had lost the use of my left side I could not walk and needed a wheelchair. I suffered with incontinence and the absent seizures, I didn’t know what day or even time it was, my body clock was a mess.

“Doctors and medical staff were talking to my partner and daughter but not to me, I felt invisible. I was so tired and couldn’t even communicate with anyone. I needed help to do everything, personal care, cooking and domestic tasks, everything was beyond me, my independence had gone.

“One day a gentleman delivering a parcel told us about a charity called Headway who helped people with brain injury. We found the telephone number and contacted them. They told us about our local group Headway South Staffs, who I was then referred to.

“I started to attend Headway South Staffs just before Christmas 2021, and I still have some of my problems, but I have also improved much more than I ever thought.

“Headway South Staffs has given me hope. My speech, walking and confidence has come on in leaps and bounds, and I enjoy socialising and learning new skills. Headway also helps me with day-to-day things like finances and appointments.  The other members at Headway are always there for you and we share our experiences.

“My advice to anyone who ends up in the same situation as myself would be to seek help, you are not alone, and I now have a purpose in my life. I could not have made such a good recovery without the support of Headway South Staffs.

Our staff and our members, we are Headway South Staffs, we are a team, we are a family

www.headwaysouthstaffs.com

Email:headway@headwaysouthstaffs.com