Oldbury family

We felt like we were getting our old Mark back

Assault | Family member/carer |

The CEO of a Headway charity in the South of England

Headway called the local mental health crisis team, who said they had no capacity to deal with him, and to call an ambulance. They then called an ambulance, which never arrived.

Other | Family member/carer |

The CEO of a Headway charity in the West Midlands

The charity used its reserves to fund the survivor’s hours with them, so that he could continue to attend.

Other | Family member/carer |

Eli's story

I looked forward to a long weekend skiing with my brothers. Little did I know how life-changing that trip would turn out to be.

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Deborah Johnston

Bonzo the bear has been my constant in life, but Headway was there for me when I needed support most.

Aneurysm | Survivor |

Amarachi Nwaneri

I'm a Trainee Clinical Psychologist and researcher studying experiences of social connection and isolation among minority ethnic carers in the UK

Other | Family member/carer |

Being seen and accepted after brain injury

What can help to improve quality of life after brain injury?

Other | Survivor |

Concussion, head impacts and brain blood vessel function Q&A

I am a Senior Lecturer in Public Health and Sport Sciences, at the University of Exeter – where I lead the Vascular Research Group.

Other | Survivor |

Ataxia after brain injury

Ataxia is a group of disorders in which the brain’s ability to control muscles becomes disrupted.

Other | Survivor |

Martin's journey: Overcoming intracranial subdural empyema

We may be different, but we are super normal!

Other | Survivor |

Caolan McCormick

Caolan’s time with us was too short but his impact was immeasurable. His presence was a blessing to the world.

Road traffic incident | Family member/carer |

Don't ignore the warning signs

I was in total shock this happens to others, not me!

Brain tumour | Survivor |

Amnesia and identity

Just because you don’t recognise something immediately, doesn’t mean hope is lost.

Other | Survivor |

A craniotomy – ‘the last resort’

It sounded like another huge obstacle that we needed to overcome.

Road traffic incident | Family member/carer |

The impact of brain injury on a family

This has been the hardest challenge we have ever faced as a family.

Road traffic incident | Family member/carer |

I’ve worked in the charitable sector for virtually my whole career.

Other | Family member/carer |

Alan's story

Within a week, Alan's headache got worse, and he went back to the doctor

Fall | Survivor |

Coping with winter blues

Sharing some tips for coping with winter blues

Other | Family member/carer |

It’s a privilege to celebrate the dedication, growth and outstanding achievements of brain injury survivors and others in the Headway community.

Other | Family member/carer |

The devastating consequences of one punch

One punch can kill, and if it doesn't it can have serious and devastating consequences.

Other | Family member/carer |

World Mental Health Day

If I can, so can anyone. There is hope; you just need to find it.

Fall | Survivor |

Mark Winterbourne

“Nobody had ever heard of brain tumours”

Brain tumour | Survivor |

James Heather

I vaulted over, oblivious to the 18ft drop onto a marble floor.

Fall | Survivor |

Errol

The accident has changed the way I think, the way I talk to people, the way I do things I have never done before.

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Mother’s Diary

Be in the world of the injured person.

Road traffic incident | Family member/carer |

Lynn Boyle

So now it's looking forward, keeping busy, thinking of the next ‘thing’.

Aneurysm | Survivor |

Nicola Bird Blunt

This really is a hidden disability!

Fall | Survivor |

Helen Davies

I try my best to be thankful every day

Stroke | Survivor |

Laura Bailey

I won’t let it stop me!

Brain tumour | Survivor |

Sandi's story

I am starting to rebuild my life again

Other | Survivor |

Stevie Ward

I want people to see concussion for what it is.

Concussion | Survivor |

Bryce Bell

Jumping from a moving train wasn’t quite like the Bond movies

Fall | Survivor |

Marco Gambi: A passion for food

Take small steps and build up slowly

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

The Brain Injury Cookbook

It makes me confident and braver to try new things

Other | Survivor |

The Sound of Recovery

To do some good music...it's a fantastic thing!

Road traffic incident | Survivor | 10:15

Helen and Liz

We have a lot of challenges in common

Other | Survivor |

Zoe Rainaki

The biggest thing to recognise is it needs patience and time.

Stroke | Family member/carer |

Kristin McIlquham

From a child's mind to centre stage

Aneurysm | Family member/carer |

Dee Gall

I hope this shows my children, you can do anything you put your mind to

Fall | Survivor |

Tisha's story

Executive difficulties can be really tough

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Our relationship reality: Love after brain injury

We’ve found ways in which we can work better together

Other | Survivor |

Barry Cusack: My body and mind

The biggest thing to deal with is the acceptance side of your trauma

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Eleanor May Blackburn

My play is called ‘Subdural Hematoma’...I hope it proves that there can be life after brain injury

Stroke | Survivor |

Mindfulness after brain injury

I had my mindfulness practice and that helped me settle when my head was noisy and painful

Stroke | Survivor |

Helen Bray

I accept the 'new me' and I'm working to rebuild my life

Assault | Survivor |

Catherine Jessop

And at that exact moment, the earth tips and we all slide into a parallel universe.

Encephalitis | Family member/carer |

Sally Smith*

It’s all about pacing yourself and managing energy levels

Other | Survivor |

Emma Doherty

The service provided by Headway was a constant

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Thomas Leeds

She sees me for what I can do, not what I can't

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Julie Mueller

The support was crucial

Fall | Family member/carer |

Tracy Dickson

One less thing to worry about

Hypoxic/anoxic brain injury | Family member/carer |

Ceara's story

It’s very important to know you’re not alone

Stroke | Survivor |

Sue Williams

Some of my friends have drifted away, but others have become closer and valued more than I can say.

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Helena Breslin

Focus on what you can still do and find something you are passionate about.

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

A life of lockdown? Elizabeth's story

Having a brain injury can leave you feeling like this a lot of the time

Stroke | Survivor |

A life of lockdown? Melanie's story

You never know what someone is going through

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

A life of lockdown? Derek's story

Partners, friends, people who have been close and known me for years – simply walked away.

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

A life of lockdown? Belinda's story

Talk to family and friends and explain why it is you feel isolated

Stroke | Survivor |

Alex Richardson

Hearing memories of Alex has brought us comfort and given us strength

Fall | Family member/carer |

Elizabeth Wilkins

I hope people will take the time to understand how easily and quickly your life can change following a brain injury

Stroke | Survivor |

Back behind the wheel: Paula Barlow

I decided after five months that I wanted to drive again.

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Josh Rawson

I am extremely grateful and thankful for friends and family who have contributed to my donations page

Aneurysm | Family member/carer |

Monica Petrosino

I want concussion awareness to become an absolute staple in sports.

Concussion | Survivor |

In her own words: Jodie Bacon

Those who have stayed for the party have shown me love and friendship I’d never understood before.

Other | Survivor |

Jelly Brain documentary: A gift to mum

I was desperate to help her raise awareness and to give her a voice.

Fall | Family member/carer |

Gill and Terry Oliver

I wanted people to know that however awful it is at the beginning, it’s really worth working at it.

Stroke | Survivor |

Duncan Boak

Smell creates an incredibly important and emotionally evocative connection with other people.

Fall | Survivor |

Pauline O'Connor

A brain injury can be terrifying and frustrating and invisible all at the same time.

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Nicola Cross

It was a lovely sunny day in the early Spring of 2019 in the Peak District. No day for any sort of accident.

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Claire Bullimore

From the moment I heard the words ‘brain tumour’ I thought ‘this will not beat me; I will pull through’.

Brain tumour | Survivor |

Eleanor Furneaux

You’ve got a life to live after sports.

Concussion | Survivor |

Haydn Garrod

Trust me, a hole in your head is a lot less fashionable than a cycle helmet.

Road traffic incident | Family member/carer |

Imogen Cauthery

Memory loss affects me more than anything else.

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Q&A: Alison Rockall

I know there will be more proud moments to come.

Fall | Survivor |

Phillip Cragg

My brain injury affects me now more than ever.

Other | Survivor |

Emma Lindsay

If it wasn’t for my past, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Brain tumour | Survivor |

Q&A: Emma Linnell

The bond of our family is stronger than ever after everything thrown our way this year.

Other | Survivor |

Q&A: Terence Berritt

My wife has been through a lot after my brain injury.

Other | Survivor |

Q&A: Rosemary Shaw

Headway has helped answer some of the questions that l kept asking.

Other | Survivor |

Cara's story

It has been the biggest roller coaster of my life.

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Lucy Hunter

I was very worried I wouldn't be able to paint again.

Fall | Survivor |

Q&A: Alan Heal

Viv has been beside me through the good times and the worst of times.

Other | Survivor |

Michelle Hay

Life is different now, but I am very fortunate to be alive.

Hypoxic/anoxic brain injury | Survivor |

Q&A: George Mitchell

You feel like you’ve lost part of who you are.

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Karl Hargreaves

I didn’t have any other choice but to start again from scratch.

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Max Bongard

The hardest thing is coming to terms with how invisible and disabling a brain injury can be.

Hypoxic/anoxic brain injury | Survivor |

Wendy Joss

Hiring an e-scooter should not be a quick transaction.

Concussion | Survivor |

Karen Whitehead

I now have coping tools for this terrible mental health condition.

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Emma Davey

There is a silence that wasn’t there before, I retreat into that silence a lot.

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Dan Goldstraw

Headway is always there to help me when I need it.

Fall | Survivor |

Sarah McGrath

Wearing a helmet definitely saved me from a much worse fate.

Sports | Survivor |

Andrew Brown

I wasn’t going to let anything get in the way of marrying the woman I love.

Other | Survivor |

Daniel Sutherland

“I'm living proof that wearing a helmet can save your life!”

Sports | Survivor |

Angela Lewis

Without his helmet my husband wouldn’t be here today.

Sports | Family member/carer |

Donna Harris

I remember asking ‘Am I going to die?’

Aneurysm | Survivor |

David Baker

My helmet saved my life and it’s given me a chance to carry on living

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

The price of a punch

The most precious person in our lives was lying in front of us and there was nothing that we could do to help him.

Assault | Family member/carer |

Rebekah Nesbitt

It makes me so sad that I can't remember my wedding proposal.

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Michael Perry

The online sessions with Headway Hertfordshire have been really beneficial for my recovery.

Hypoxic/anoxic brain injury | Survivor |

Tom Harris

I fear for my future if I lose Headway’s support.

Stroke | Survivor |

Jean Parker

Headway Wirral have done a great job of bringing people together and making us feel less alone.

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Jane Hallard

I can’t bear to imagine a world without Headway

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Sandra Liddell

Be proud of who you are and how far you have come.

Other | Survivor |

More than my brain injury: Danielle Grant

I believe that if I can get through this, then I can overcome anything that life throws at me.

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Phil Birch

My family had to watch me go from being the head of the household to someone who had to be hoisted out of bed.

Brain tumour | Survivor |

Donna Davies

Ever since the brain injury she hasn’t been the same person. I’ve had to mourn the daughter I once had.

Other | Family member/carer |

Lyndsey Anderson

Alex would tell me he didn’t recognise me and didn’t know if he was dreaming or not.

Hydrocephalus | Family member/carer |

Catherine Erdal

I was filled with complete and utter joy that I had survived.

Stroke | Survivor |

John Beaumont

I felt as though I was a child again, having to relearn such basic life skills.

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Life in lockdown: Alison's story

I feel as though I’ve gone back in time to eight years ago when I only left the house once a day.

Encephalitis | Survivor |

Gary Younge

Before my injury I hadn’t had an ‘accident’ since I was about six. Now, I’m a fully-grown adult who can’t control when he needs to go to the toilet.

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Lucie Bell

I was so determined to graduate and start my career that I was too stubborn to ask for help.

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Mikey Smithson

From that moment my life changed completely for me, I had woken up from my coma a different person.

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Belinda’s story: Isolation after brain injury

I’ve had to self-isolate a lot over the years to try to manage the effects of my injury.

Stroke | Survivor |

Leah Moore

I think the staff assumed I had taken drugs.

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Sarah Allwood

There have no doubt been difficulties in the relationship, but Doug has a great understanding of my injury.

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

David Wozny

My first ten months after hospital discharge were spent doing little more than getting through every day.

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Bryony Wilshaw

Despite his ongoing war in his head he managed to make people smile every day.

Other | Family member/carer |

Lucy Rogoff

Yoga was my medicine. It was my focus. My determination to succeed.

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Liz Wilson

In a strange way, I feel I've lost ‘me'.

Brain tumour | Survivor |

Carwyn Wooldridge

I get angry quicker and wound up about things that before my injury I would've laughed at or ignored

Fall | Survivor |

Ryan Goodenough

I am a firm believer in not just speaking of the change, but actively searching to be part of it.

Assault | Survivor |

Sarah Lane

I believe that my son saved my life. He gave me a reason to keep on going

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Q&A: Steven Kelly

Take every day as it comes and believe it will get better.

Haematoma | Survivor |

Spencer Senior

I will go back to work and be successful in whatever I decide to do next. My brain injury is not going to hold me back.

Stroke | Survivor |

Cindy Hollingsworth

I am unable to remember lyrics to songs I have performed for many years

Fall | Survivor |

Charlotte Warhurst

My goal is to be able to walk down the aisle on my wedding day.

Aneurysm | Survivor |

Yvette Lumley

He later described it as he felt like his brain was falling through a hole and he was scrabbling to grasp the sides.

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

David Macdonald

Memory loss is one of the most negative aspects of my brain injury.

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Louis McGuire

I recognise my limitations and allow people around me to help.

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Lauren Gilligan

The grief never goes away. You still sob. You still ache. But you learn to live with it. You learn to manage it, most days

Brain haemorrhage | Family member/carer |

Tracey Newman

I hate feeling reliant on my family and friends

Stroke | Survivor |

Veronica Woods

I could understand what my patients had been going through and how they were feeling.

Stroke | Survivor |

Beccy Young

I wish I could tell people ‘I’ve had a brain injury, please accept that my brain doesn’t work like yours all the time'

Stroke | Survivor |

Eleanor Brander

I was amazed by how people just expected me to return to ‘normal’ life. I struggled and still do.

Hydrocephalus | Survivor |

Q&A: Julian Earl

Do not underestimate how important your support is to someone with a brain injury.

Fall | Survivor |

Anthony Hewson

It was like my brain had been rebooted and had been started again in safe mode.

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Rik Waddon

To be part of a Games that is based in your home country is something to savour and is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Cecilia Danielsson

The injury put my son in the unenviable position of having to grow-up overnight.

Fall | Survivor |

Ryan Goodenough

I have the charity's best interests at the forefront of my thought process because I sincerely want the best for the place

Assault | Survivor |

Fiona Baker-Holden

I feel I have been given a second chance and I have to grab it with both hands

Sports | Survivor |

John Wrathall

Little by little the blog turned into a book

Stroke | Survivor |

Scottie Elliott

I was unable to walk but dreamed of dancing again

Other | Survivor |

Emma Martins

I decided to create a podcast because I wanted to help other people

Other | Survivor |

Sarah Scott

I never expected to have a stroke at such a young age.

Stroke | Survivor |

Rebecca Jones

It can be really challenging being a parent with a brain injury.

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Ron Gains

Dirty Dancing is the perfect example of my memory failure.

Aneurysm | Survivor |

William Windle

I found myself coming round on our settee seeing Apollo 11 landing back on Earth

Stroke | Survivor |

Shane Booth

The journey of learning to speak again has been one of my proudest moments.

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Chloé Briffa

I live every single day with a smile on my face

Fall | Survivor |

Katherine McKinstry

I've learnt there truly is life after stroke!

Stroke | Survivor |

Sam Hulse

It's the scariest thing in the world - opening up to someone and showing your most vulnerable side

Fall | Survivor |

Ruth Berkoff

My exact words were 'I feel like I'm having a brain haemorrhage'.

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

A picture speaks a thousand words

The photo reminds me that great things can come out of your worst experiences.

Other | Survivor |

Stefan Leader

It was only whisper, a tiny sound, but it meant so much.

Assault | Survivor |

Donna Siggers

I can't remember parts of my children's childhood

Assault | Survivor |

Maria Munn

Get stuck in - the ocean needs you now!

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Matt Rhodes

I thought I was in a dream.

Other | Survivor |

Nicola Evans

I felt as though my dream of becoming a nail technician was over.

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Carol Smith

It wasn't until my daughter had her brain injury that my husband realised he had one too.

Hydrocephalus | Family member/carer |

Victoria Wicks

I thought I'd lost my mum forever.

Fall | Family member/carer |

Hannah O'Dowd

I want the show to highlight the beauty which can be found in even the most tragic situations

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Mary's Story

The key to becoming a carer was playing Who Wants To Be A Millionaire

Stroke | Family member/carer |

Stewart Gray

Volunteering has helped to get my life back on track.

Assault | Survivor |

Hipatia Preis

I knew I was in a critical condition, and as a person who loves stats, I knew the stats weren’t great.

Aneurysm | Survivor |

Robert Courtnell

Volunteering for St John's is an excellent step to achieving my ambition

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Unravelling the mystery of fatigue

Why does fatigue occur? And what can we do about it?

Other | Family member/carer |

Belinda Medlock

I used to feel like I should be able to push through it but that doesn’t work.

Stroke | Survivor |

Lottie Butler

Fatigue makes studying for my exams near-impossible.

Fall | Survivor |

Julie Sadler

The fatigue has put pressure on our relationship because we have very different body clocks now.

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

David Yabbacome

My identity has changed but I’m still me, and the fatigue is part of that change.

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Alphabet Brains

Blogging is about you and what you enjoy

Fall | Survivor |

Matt Masson

I know it’s easier said than done, but try to look on the bright side of stuff!

Fall | Survivor |

Alex Murphy

Dancing on Ice has played a huge role in my recovery

Stroke | Survivor |

Daniel Parslow

I shouldn't have returned to play

Sports | Survivor |

Lauren Walkington Q&A

Blogging helped me better understand myself

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Growing Together

Find a place where you feel welcome and get growing!

Other | Survivor |

Jake Elliott

My brain injury brought me and my girlfriend closer together

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Paws for Thought

How my dogs changed my life!

Meningitis | Survivor |

Joanne Wood

I can't speak, but I have so much to say

Brain tumour | Survivor |

London Marathon

It's an absolute honour to run the London Marathon for Headway

Other | Family member/carer |

Hitting the High Street

The volunteers are so grateful for the opportunity to give something back

Other | Family member/carer |

Adam Nicke

People sometimes assume we're going to behave as though we're an unpredictable child.

Brain tumour | Survivor |

Louise Lane

It wasn't us who she responded to, it was Peter Andre and his song Mysterious Girl!

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Max Munro

I had to learn how to walk and talk again, but yoga was still second nature to me.

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Q&A Kieran Broadfield

My brain injury has made me more determined to make something of myself in the future.

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Claire Withnall

For me, normality is being a mum and wife

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Q&A: Roger Merriman

I began to use blogging as a way to express what I was feeling

Haematoma | Survivor |

Max Mteliso

It's a daunting feeling for anyone to travel the world solo

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Tracey Cox

I have a chance to live my life despite all the odds

Aneurysm | Survivor |

Steve Borland

For some people returning to work is possible after brain injury, but without doubt it will be a real struggle.

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Andrew Plowright

Fatigue changed everything, it impacted on every aspect of my life and forced me to change many things that I thought made me who I was.

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Jessica Stevens

The most positive aspect of my brain injury was finding out how much my partner, my friends and my family love me.

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

David Wheeler

I ended up telling her what I’d dreamt. What she said next, will stay with me forever.

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Deborah Johnston

Learning to live again. My story.

Aneurysm | Survivor |

Nigel Limb

After seeing the racing, I knew what I needed to do. I had to slay that demon and get back on a bike.

Sports | Survivor |

Kavita Basi

As I've slowly recovered, they've had to adjust to this new person I've become

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Tamara Bond

One of my early panic attacks occurred while eating a Sunday roast at home.

Other | Survivor |

Terry Slade

The company's reaction to what happened was just astonishing. They fully supported me during my recovery and return to work.

Aneurysm | Survivor |

Joanna Darmody

I’m determined to open up the conversation about mental health and brain injury

Hypoxic/anoxic brain injury | Survivor |

Keith Poultney

Things will get better but it takes time and unfortunately no one can tell you how long that will be.

Encephalitis | Survivor |

Hannah Brandon

I did it for my brother, for Headway, but also for myself.

Other | Family member/carer |

James Quinn

I swear, he knew he was helping me

Assault | Survivor |

Chris Bryant

I became more disorientated and confused. I didn’t know where I was when I should have.

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Philippa-Anne Dewhirst

I contacted the number on my Headway ID Card and spoke to a solicitor about what had happened.

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Zalehka Price-Davies

My fatigue changes so much. I can be OK one minute and the next I can barely talk.

Fall | Survivor |

Pamela Ashcroft

I want to share these top tips that helped me manage anxiety.

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Eileen (Cat) Poole

Last time I flew, the plane was hit by lightning!

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Anne Johnston

How long can I expect my partner to put up with me while I have a brain injury?

Other | Survivor |

Danielle

Being back home forced me to realise how fragile I was

Aneurysm | Survivor |

Clair Bennett

My diary is more helpful than I ever could have imagined

Encephalitis | Survivor |

Lynne O'Grady

She was obviously very pleased to see me. But I had no idea who she was.

Aneurysm | Survivor |

David Greer

I was never happier than when at the helm, steering the yacht through all conditions.

Fall | Survivor |

Q&A: Debra Jones

“I would be the Happiness Fairy, I’ve sprinkled Happy Dust on you, now smile.”

Fall | Survivor |

Q&A: Harriet Barnsley

‘Be in the moment. This is all you have.’

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Giles Hudson

I don't want anyone to have to face the challenges of brain injury alone

Other | Survivor |

Noelle Robinson

I use my own experience to help me have even more empathy with people

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Danielle

The sad truth about relationships post-aneurysm

Aneurysm | Survivor |

Heather Pollard

It wasn’t healthy, and to be honest, I was close to a breakdown

Haematoma | Family member/carer |

Matthew Nichols

Things would have been very different if it wasn't for the HATS nurse

Hypoxic/anoxic brain injury | Family member/carer |

Noelle Robinson

The card is invaluable in helping them understand

Aneurysm | Survivor |

Joe Sandford

Having the support of family and friends helped to motivate me

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Lynne Moran

I didn’t choose to be a carer, caring chose me

Hypoxic/anoxic brain injury | Family member/carer |

Doing it the Head way

I want to portray the fact that there can be life after brain injury.

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Grace Vobe

Volunteering made me feel whole again

Assault | Survivor |

Joy Webb

The assessment needs to be fair, clear and most importantly accurate

Other | Family member/carer |

Rod Maxwell

Volunteering has been the best therapy I can think of

Other | Survivor |

Nicola Brown

Volunteering has changed my life

Other | Survivor |

Tara Moore

She has been mum and dad, as well as my best friend, all the way through my recovery and life.

Brain tumour | Survivor |

Jules Pring

I felt I had lost my dad even though he hadn’t died

Stroke | Survivor |

Imogen Cauthery

They didn’t know how to react to this sudden change in my personality

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Paula Stanford

Things are going to be different, but they'll still be good.

Stroke | Family member/carer |

Keely McGhee

The accident has certainly affected my relationships

Sports | Survivor |

Daniel Mole

I’m so grateful for what I have now

Aneurysm | Survivor |

Sue McIntyre

If Alex the HATS nurse hadn't been there, I don't know what I would have done

Road traffic incident | Family member/carer |

Will Perringwood

Being a parent with a brain injury is challenging in a number of ways

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Jean Parker

The assessor told me that she hadn't looked at my previous claim. That threw me straight away.

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Nick Gibbs

The brain injury has taken my beloved career, but I am alive.

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

John Dougan

The questions need to be more sophisticated and asked by people who understand brain injury

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Debra Jones

It feels like I am continually being held hostage by pain, fatigue and a strange brain fog

Fall | Survivor |

Philippa Taylor

I felt I was being judged and viewed as lazy, or 'faking it'

Hydrocephalus | Survivor |

Jenny Joppa

I felt like she put words in my mouth and did not really take the time to listen to or want to understand me

Sports | Survivor |

Shona Green

If I had not been operated on, I would have been dead within 24 hours.

Aneurysm | Survivor |

Jeff Clare

I didn't get the impression the assessor had read Jeff's reports or had an understanding of brain injury

Encephalitis | Survivor |

Amanda Horton

The assessment just doesn’t work, it doesn’t get to the truth.

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Samantha Johns

I don't want anyone to feel as alone as I did

Brain tumour | Survivor |

Harriet Barnsley

It’s hard to work out when it’s my brain injury, and when it’s just the fact that I basically came back from the dead.

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Mandy Donaldson

Don't struggle alone

Fall | Survivor |

Victoria Hoban

Kerry the HATS nurse made all the difference

Assault | Family member/carer |

Janet Malcolm

I didn’t know where to turn

Stroke | Family member/carer |

Polly Williamson

Where did I go?

Sports | Survivor |

Paul Pugh

The laugh doesn't last long, but it can cause a lot of problems

Assault | Survivor |

Mourning lost relationships

They’ve given me hope that in time I will once again be happy

Fall | Survivor |

Anna Khan

Keep on fighting!

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Syreeta Challinger

Play the cards you’ve been dealt, as best you can

Brain haemorrhage | Family member/carer |

Matt Brammeier

Concussion never crossed my mind

Road traffic incident | Family member/carer |

Rebecca Grant

Jetting off alone with a brain injury

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Kiran Higgins

We were left to get on with it

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Callum Maclean

With the card, I don't have to explain myself

Brain tumour | Survivor |

Brenda Floyd

Through a mother's eyes

Assault | Family member/carer |

Marco Gambi

I was put on this planet to help people

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Rachel Atkinson

A helmet saved my life

Sports | Survivor |

Rebecca Grant

There's light at the end of the tunnel

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Irvine Phair

Volunteering has been key to my rehabilitation

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Jackie Alton

The volunteers were there whenever I needed them

Other | Family member/carer |

Tom Wright

I'll probably never work again.

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

John Holbrook

The sneeze was very memorable for me

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Naomi

Now I help other brain injury survivors

Fall | Survivor |

Melanie Whittaker

I try to be more positive about everything

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Lorraine and Kevin Pratt

Kevin was my life before, and he is now

Encephalitis | Family member/carer |

Bernie Bambury

My mother's brain injury is hidden

Stroke | Family member/carer |

Daniel Lingard

My son lives on through his gift to Headway

Other | Family member/carer |

Jan Luxton

I've forgotten two birthdays and a Christmas

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Eleanor Simcox

It meant I could breathe

Fall | Family member/carer |

Kieran Wallis

Liberation through acceptance

Meningitis | Survivor |

Adrian Ellis

Stuck in the present tense

Fall | Survivor |

Jackie and John Mills

A different dad with a ten-minute memory

Hypoxic/anoxic brain injury | Family member/carer |

Warwick Jarvis

A cold sponge was no good for a fractured skull

Sports | Survivor |

Tina Young

I wanted to drink myself to death

Fall | Survivor |

Paul Leyland

Homesickness for my old sense of self

Stroke | Survivor |

Sarah Tomlinson

Fighting fatigue

Brain tumour | Survivor |

Mike Palmer

Brain injury does not discriminate

Brain tumour | Survivor |

Arthur Moore

I could walk into a room full of gas and not know.

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

David Horner

WCA set back my recovery

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Sarah McKinlay

Facing pregnancy alone was tough

Road traffic incident | Family member/carer |

Lauren and Claire Cowlishaw

Finding Headway superheroes was a stroke of luck

Aneurysm | Family member/carer |

Warren McKinlay

Motorsports passion gave me back my life

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Andy Nicholson

Speak up; never be ashamed

Fall | Survivor |

Bruno Moratori

Determination played a vital role in my recovery

Encephalitis | Survivor |

Charlie and Jake Korving

Charlie is Jake's rock

Road traffic incident | Family member/carer |

Kathryn Edgington

She is one in a million and I simply love her

Road traffic incident | Family member/carer |

Gary Winters

We cried with pride when we read Gary's will

Other | Family member/carer |

Kate and John Bosley

ReCycling Me

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Jamie Gailer

Brain injury needs to be spotted quickly

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Nell Gregory

I do feel more confident carrying my card

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Phil Broxton

I am now very aware of the difficulties

Fall | Survivor |

Samuel Bishop

Having a card has given me a lot more confidence and reassurance.

Other | Survivor |

Angus Swanson

It’s taken a lot of determination

Sports | Survivor |

Lindsay Lapham

I always knew something was wrong

Brain tumour | Survivor |

Luke Flavell

Don't give up

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Peter Holmes

What we fail to understand, we tend to fear

Sports | Survivor |

Jane Clarke

Celebration almost cost me my life!

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Amy Perring

The road to recovery is not a linear process

Brain haemorrhage | Family member/carer |

Joanne Davis

Headway has taught me how to live again

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Maria Knights

We simply refused to give up

Road traffic incident | Family member/carer |

Terisha Burge

I fought to regain control of life

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Gwen and Natalie Milham

We couldn't have managed without Headway

Road traffic incident | Family member/carer |

Lizzie Smart

Smart by name...

Hypoxic/anoxic brain injury | Survivor |

Keith Emmanuel

From struggling to hold a fork to cooking for hundreds

Brain haemorrhage | Survivor |

Codey Sharp

I won't let memory loss stop me getting a top job

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Denise Johnson

I want to be his reason to get better

Brain haemorrhage | Family member/carer |

Annette Henry

Daughter pays touching tribute to her father

Haematoma | Family member/carer |

Mel Lightfoot

Brain injury is often invisible

Fall | Survivor |

Alison Winterburn

I effectively had to relearn who I was

Encephalitis | Survivor |

Debi Pullen

I wouldn't know what to do without Headway Swindon

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Ian Litchfield

Brain injury can be a very lonely experience.

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Michaela

My riding helmet saved my life

Fall | Survivor |

Laura Bailey

I retreated into myself

Brain tumour | Survivor |

Robert Ashton

There's no doubt that cycle helmets are important

Road traffic incident | Survivor |

Shana Lewis

People with hydrocephalus feel left in the dark

Hydrocephalus | Survivor |