Mark Ewart, 64, had been a painter and decorator for almost 40 years. Work was his mainstay, often working well beyond his usual hours to get the job done. But following a tragic accident in 2020, Mark hasn’t been able to return to the job he loved so much.
In October 2020, Mark was at work when he fell from a ladder. He had multiple fractures in his upper torso and spine, but most worryingly, a traumatic brain injury.
He said: “I can’t really remember anything about the accident; I don’t want to. A colleague who was working with me at the time said he would tell me what happened, but I didn’t want to know. I just wanted to forget about it.”
Mark was rushed to hospital and put on a life support machine.
“The doctors decided to turn off the life support machine,” said Mark. “They thought I would be brain dead and paralysed. All anyone could do was wait to see whether I would ever recover.”
Somehow, Mark pulled through, but the effects of his brain injury, such as fatigue and memory loss, meant that he couldn’t return to work.
He said: “Slowly, over time, I realised that I probably wouldn’t be able to go back to work. There was no denying how ill I was.”
But Mark still has dreams of returning to his former career and has put every effort into his rehabilitation in the hopes of doing so.
“My goal is to get a paintbrush back in my hand,” said Mark. “I have put everything into my rehab so that I can make improvements and hopefully return to the life I had before my brain injury one day.”
Mark also set himself the goal of getting back behind the wheel of a car and has recently been reissued with his driving licence, which he is “thrilled” about.
It is this determination and perseverance which has earned him his nomination as Alex Richardson Achiever of the Year, sponsored by law firm Slater & Gordon.
In the hopes of aiding his recovery, Mark sought support from Headway, a brain injury charity where he now participates in group activities such as aerobics, yoga and art.
“I really enjoy going to Headway,” said Mark. “Everyone is so friendly, and I enjoy the company of others who also know what it’s like living with a brain injury.”
Physical exercise has also formed a big part of Mark’s recovery, and this year he completed a fundraising challenge in aid of Headway, walking between 10,000 and 15,000 steps each day, come rain or shine.
Mark was nominated for the award by Hannah Knox, Service Co-ordinator at Headway in Northern Ireland. She said: “Mark is determined to continue to get better and puts all his energy into this. He is always the first in the group to give things a go, to push himself to be stronger and to encourage others in the group to make the effort as well.
“Mark would be so reassured by receiving this award. It would prove to him that everything he has achieved since his accident is remarkable. Most of this is down to his grit and determination to follow the advice of the health professionals, even if it is tiring, repetitive and frustrating at times.”
Mark added: “I’m really pleased to be nominated. I’ve worked so hard to get to where I am now, so it feels like a big pat on the back.”
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