My family were my life savers – my Mom and Dad, sister, brother and my wife, who was pregnant at the time, whilst caring for our two-year-old at home. I think my rehabilitation started when I came off the tracheostomy tube. It was slow but steady, from Royal Perth Hospital to Shenton Park Hospital, and many amazing staff were part of that journey. From being told I was going to be a vegetable, to my brain surgeon who predicted that I was going to walk with a limp and write things down to help with my short-term memory loss. He was proven correct, and unbelievably I walked.
In 2016 I was under Brightwater where I continued my rehabilitation by learning to live and cook on my own. After about eight months there I found that the loneliness got to me and my parents agreed that I move back home where I was surrounded by my family. From there I continued to get to a better place in my mind and body.
Unfortunately, my marriage did not survive this. I tried a second marriage in 2018 but it also failed after a year. I lost my dad at the same time – he was my rock. I am now living with my Mum who is 74 and we support each other.
“I am in a good place now. I see my children regularly and I can take care of them (7 and 9 years old). I love going to gym, and go every day. I continue to face some challenges but now I feel I can cope with my limitations if one calls it that”
Samier, a 29 year old ceiling fixer, dad of a toddler and another on the way, had a severe TBI from a motorbike accident
I was in a horrific motorcycle accident on 2 February 2014. My injuries were many. The worst was a head injury which resulted in me being diagnosed with an ABI. I also had a fractured skull at base of my head and had to wear a neck brace for 2–3 months. I had a blood clot in my brain at my frontal lobe, which was removed within a few days of the accident. Part of my right frontal lobe was removed which resulted in my left arm and leg being affected. I think I was in an induced coma lasting several weeks.
I also had fractures in two places in my spine which meant I had to wear full back brace for three months. I had a collapsed lung and was fitted with a tracheostomy tube. Other injuries were a wrist fracture and bad wounds on my left leg. I had to lie flat on my back for a very long time, unable to speak, and there were many challenges. I was unable to eat so was fed through a tube in my stomach. I hated that and sometimes it was infected.