In 2017, just a month after the birth of their second child, Chris Case’s wife Alex suffered a subarachnoid brain haemorrhage, also known as a bleed on the brain.
“All I could think about was how I might lose Alex and have to bring up a two-year old child and four-week old baby alone,” said Chris. “My wife and my children are my whole world so I was completely terrified.”
Alex was told that she required clipping or coiling surgery within 24 hours otherwise she was at risk of serious damage to her brain, or even worse, death.
“The hospital we were at didn’t have any radiologists so they couldn’t do the surgery,” recalled Chris. “We were told we’d need to be transferred to another hospital but they wouldn’t accept Alex until she’d had further scans and the scanning machine was broken where we were.
“I remember thinking ‘Are you kidding me?’ We sat for hours, waiting and pulling our hair out. Every hour that passed was more frightening. I remember looking around me at patients who had serious brain injuries, thinking this would be Alex’s fate too.”
Eventually Alex was taken by air ambulance to a different hospital where she had the life-saving surgery.
“After the surgery Alex started struggling with her short term memory,” said Chris. “Every 30 minutes she would forget where she was and what had happened so I had to keep reminding her. It was scary but I was just glad she was alive, it felt like a miracle.”
Alex’s issues with her memory soon passed and aside from fatigue and occasional headaches, she made a remarkable recovery and was able to return to normal life, unlike many other brain injury survivors.
But this got Chris thinking. What if Alex hadn’t been so lucky? While spending time in hospital, the pair came across information about a local brain injury charity, Headway Cardiff and South East Wales.
Chris said: “We went to visit Headway and as soon as we saw the incredible work the charity does and the people it supports, we knew we wanted to do everything we could to help. I knew that had Alex not been so lucky, she would’ve been one of the people accessing Headway’s services.”
Chris set himself a mission to do everything he could to improve the lives of brain injury survivors who had not been as fortunate as Alex, and it is because of these efforts that he has now been shortlisted for a prestigious award.
When asked how it feels to be nominated, Chris said: “I was in shock. It’s such a pleasure to support Headway and if anything it’s the staff and members at the charity who deserve an award for all their hard work.
“I’ve been aware of this award for quite some time and I’m familiar with the achievements of former nominees and winners, so to be named amongst them is very humbling.”
He will join just two other finalists in the running for the Stephen McAleese Outstanding Contribution to Headway Award. The accolade, sponsored by No5 Barristers Chambers, will be presented at a glittering ceremony organised by Headway – the brain injury association on 9 December at The Landmark London.
Chris said: “During the aftermath of Alex’s brain injury, we received incredible support from my local rugby club and it really demonstrated how the rugby community looks out for each other on and off the pitch.
“I wanted to do something that brought my love for rugby and passion to support people with brain injuries together, and so the Headway Cardiff Select XV charity rugby team was born.”
The team is made up of players from various Cardiff clubs, with the mission of raising awareness of concussion in sport.
Chris said: “Rugby players are aware of the consequences of the game every time they step onto the pitch but there needs to be more emphasis on concussion awareness. Rugby is a high adrenaline game and I know I’ve been guilty in the past of wanting to carry on after a knock, but it’s just not worth it.
“There’s a real risk that if players don’t take concussion seriously, they could end up with serious health issues, relying on charities like Headway for support.”
Matches have taken place at renowned venues such as Cardiff Arms Park and the London Welsh Rugby grounds and the squad, with Chris as captain, have raised more than £60,000 to date.
Chris has also organised charity balls, drawn on his friends and contacts to donate, helped to coordinate a curry night with rugby legend Mike Phillips and been an inspirational speaker, always prepared to champion Headway’s cause.
Chris was nominated by Headway Cardiff and South East Wales’ CEO, Rebecca Pearce, as a way of recognising his steadfast efforts in supporting the local brain injury community. She said: “Chris doesn't do what he does for accolades but is driven by altruism and the satisfaction of knowing he's made a difference and helped to improve the lives of people with acquired brain injury.
“We find it difficult to thank Chris appropriately for all he has done, but I think this award would mean a lot to him and his family and go some way to recognising all he has done for our charity.”
Chris will find out whether he will win the Stephen McAleese Outstanding Contribution to Headway Award, sponsored by No5 Barristers Chambers, on Friday 9 December.
Awards for Carer, Volunteer and Achiever of the Year will also be presented.
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