I then learned that I had had a 10 hour operation on my brain and a 24 hour one to rebuild my face, I had a steel cage fitted to keep all this in place. As a result of all this I am now blind in my right eye, I have tunnel vision in my left eye, no sense of smell and controlled epilepsy. After getting out of hospital and a long recovery I now had to readapt to my new life as a brain Injury Survivor, It was a very daunting time for me, but with the support of my family I was able to begin dealing with it.
Jeanie Wilson
Jeanie Wilson
My name is Jeanie Wilson, at the age of 27 in 1992 I was involved in a very serious Road Traffic Accident, in which it took the Emergency services 2 hours to cut me out of the car. The only memory I have after getting into the car that evening is waking up in The Royal Victoria Hospital after waking out of a coma.
Although I live on my own, for a long time I didn’t have the confidence or inclination to socialise. I then heard of a support group called the Brain Injury Foundation for people just like me, and so I took the opportunity to join this group. This has been a lifeline for me and I now have a reason for getting up in the morning. At BIF I attend Open Houses on Friday nights when I am responsible for the tea and coffee. I also take part in all the activities. I attend on a Tuesday also at what is called the Triple T Club where I am learning to cook. Most of all I love the outings which BIF organises. I now volunteer with a few charities in Newry also. But if it weren’t for the Brain Injury Foundation I would have nothing. BIF is like my family.