Carrie Jenkinson, from Sutton Benger, Cotswolds, sustained two brain haemorrhages after she fell and hit her head off the pavement while attending the theatre in 2023.
The 50-year-old mum-of-three woke up in hospital with an eight-and-a-half-centimetre fracture in her skull, and spent months at home in recovery, dealing with symptoms including severe fatigue, speech and cognitive issues, and the loss of her sense of smell and taste.
Celebrating Hats for Headway
Carrie is sharing her story and beautiful hat creations as part of Hats for Headway- an annual fundraiser by charity Headway- the brain injury association, who provide support to those affected by brain injury.
This year’s Hats for Headway is celebrated on Friday, May 16, and encourages participants to don a funky hat, texting HATS to 70580 to donate £3, take photos, and share them on social media, using the hashtag #HatsForHeadway.
Recalling the ‘early days’ of recovery, Carrie said:
“When I came home from the hospital, I kept thinking everything would get better. But it got harder and harder to function.
“I couldn’t make a cup of tea or cook anymore.
“I went through a period of feeling suicidal because I couldn’t get dressed properly.
“I put my pants on the wrong way, and it became a bit of a joke- because you have to find some fun in it all.”
Hats for famous heads
Hatmaker Carrie, who trained at London School of Fashion, was determined to continue her craft and, with the encouragement from nurses, she retaught herself how to make her incredible headwear.
Her creations have been featured in prestigious fashion magazines such as Vogue, Grazia, and Harper's Bazaar.
And they have adorned the heads of members of the British royal family and celebs including Beyonce, Lauryn Hill and most recently Lady Gaga.
Superstar Lady Gaga commissioned Carrie to make eight hats for her ‘Jazz & Piano’ 2024 summer residency at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Carrie said: “When Lady Gaga contacted me, I was thinking ‘Do I have the bandwidth for this?’ because it’s a lot of work and at the time I was still finding it difficult to cook meals.
“But it gave me a boost. Plus, I’m a huge fan of Lady Gaga! She’s the perfect client for me because I make quite outlandish designs.”
Carrie says she feels imposter syndrome “all the time" with her celebrity clientele and career achievements, including sending hats out around the world for renowned racing events like the Australian Cup and Kentucky Derby.
She added: “This year I’ve been invited to be part of the Royal Ascot Millinery Collective, which is a massive deal. It's the biggest honour you can get as a hat designer.”
Support from Headway
During her recovery, Carrie found Headway, who helped her access support for her mental health, link up with a support group for fellow survivors, and obtain a Brain Injury Identity Card, which helps survivors explain the effects of their condition and request any support they may need.
Carrie said: “Headway have been brilliant- they really supported me in the early days when I felt very lost and like it was never going to get any better.
“My Brain Injury Identity Card has come in really handy. I’ve used it if I’m having a moment and can’t speak, and it lets others know that I sometimes struggle with my words.”
Carrie is keen to let other survivors know that there is hope and a filled life to be lived after brain injury.
“This time last year I didn’t even want to be here to be honest,” she said.
“I thought I was completely useless. But give it time and rest. Learn to listen to your body and it will mend itself- not in the same way but it mends itself.”
Jen Murgatroyd at Headway said: “We can’t thank Carrie enough for sharing her story and supporting fundraisers like Hats for Headway.
“Hats for Headway is a fun and creative way to raise money to power our services.
“We encourage participants to get creative with their hats, ranging from funny and quirky to stylish and elegant!
“Every pound raised will help brain injury survivors, their families and carers access support.”
Find out more about Hats for Headway
For more information about Hats for Headway, visit: www.headway.org.uk/about-headway/our-organisation/events-and-conferences/hats-for-headway-day/
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