Action for Brain Injury Week 2026 | We see you, Warren
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I don't want anyone to live a day like I have had to live. It's the loneliest, scariest place to be. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Brain injury can leave you feeling isolated and alone. Friends can feel like strangers and the work, hobbies and routines you once relied on are no longer possible. Hi, I'm Warren. I've suffered two brain injuries. The first was when I was, I think, 29 and then the second one was in 2012 when I was unfortunately hit by a lorry in a hit-and-run. >> >> It's it's hard to
you know, get that over but you're just trying to get through every day. That's all you're doing is just trying to survive and get through the day. And then when you see other people, you know, on certain days like Christmas and New Years or anniversaries and you see families enjoying just normal life and you're just like that that was all taken away. It's just a very, very lonely place. Really don't know how I I survived that and it was only my doctor he actually found Headway and um and I remember coming here for the first time and I broke down outside. I couldn't even come in. I was so scared. I didn't know what to expect. I didn't know and then I came in to this place and uh that day saved my life.
You're just like welcomed with open arms. I felt no one was judging me and that it was a safe place. When you haven't had that when you've lived scared and, you know, on your own I don't even I can't even explain what that feeling is like. For the first time I I didn't feel alone. For the first time you actually make friends. you're suddenly in the company of just you know, the most amazing people and uh then you realize I'm not alone. They've been through what I have and suddenly, I don't know, it just changes something in you. And then the more you get to know people, they're the most incredible, courageous, bravest people I've ever met in my life. I wouldn't have met them if it wasn't for Headway. They're so inspiring. Like you you you leave here and you say, "What am I moaning about?" When all you see is loneliness, we see you.
Brain injury can leave you feeling lonely and invisible, but at Headway, we see you. We understand. Headway support services throughout the UK, on the phone, online, or in your community, are here for you. Help us ensure no one faces brain injury alone. Learn more at headway.org.uk.
Thank you.
“Imagine for one moment waking up tomorrow and realising from the minute you open your eyes that no one speaks to you. Not a solitary word. No messages. No phone calls. No emails. Not a single conversation.”
This is the reality for many brain injury survivors like Warren.
The work, hobbies and routines that once held friendships together can fall away. Plans get cancelled, messages go unanswered and, slowly, isolation settles in. Often unnoticed. Often unseen.
But Headway sees you- we understand you and we are here to support you.
Warren is bravely sharing his story as part of this year’s Action for Brain Injury (ABI) Week campaign We See You, which highlights the impact isolation and loneliness have on survivors and their loves ones.
Warren has sustained two brain injuries in his lifetime; the first when he was 29-years-old and the second in 2012 when he was hit by a lorry in a hit and run.
Describing his experience as “the loneliest, scariest place to be”, Warren said he was simply trying to survive each day as they came.
But that was before Headway- and before taking the courageous step to meet with fellow survivors; a day which, he says, saved his life.
Warren said: “When you see families enjoying normal life on days like Christmas, New Year or anniversaries, you think to yourself ‘that was all taken away from me’.
“You’re just trying to get through every day; you’re just trying to survive. It was a very lonely place.
“I remember coming to Headway West London for the first time and I broke down outside. I couldn’t even come inside I was so scared, I didn’t know what to expect. “And then I went inside and that day saved my life.”
“You’re just welcomed with open arms. I felt no-one was judging me and that it was a safe place. For the first time I didn’t feel alone, and I felt like I would actually make friends.
“They’re the most incredible, courageous, bravest people I’ve ever met in my life. And I wouldn’t have met them if it weren’t for Headway. They’re all so inspiring.”
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