High speed, windy roads and a late night all conspired against Cork man Alan Quinn who sustained a serious brain injury at the age of 27. This is his story as told to Fiona Tyrrell
IT ALL STARTED in 1997. I was late for work and was doing 60mph on a windy country road. I had had a big night the night before with more than a few drinks and very little sleep. I took a sharp bend and hit a pillar. I was 27 years old.
I woke up in Cork University Hospital (CUH) four months later. I hadn't a clue what had happened. I was told I had sustained a serious brain injury and broken lots of bones in my body.
I had spent the first three weeks after the accident on a life-support machine. I was a very lucky man to be alive.
I moved from CUH up to the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) in Dún Laoghaire where I stayed for five months. They did wonders for me there.
I learned all the basic things in life all over again - eating, dressing myself, reading and writing. I also learned how to walk again. While I use a wheelchair most of the time because my legs get very tired, I am able to get around the house with the help of a frame.
After my time in the NRH, adjusting back to life at home with my wife and children was very difficult. My marriage broke down. I now live on my own in a four-bed corporation house in Glanworth. I see my two children on school holidays.
My life was very boring until I heard about Headway six years ago from a district nurse. Headway gives community support to people with acquired brain injuries. I go to its day centre three days a week. I have learned lots at Headway - communication skills, money management, computers, arts and crafts and gardening.
My sister Mary comes down to me every morning and then I go into Headway in Ballincollig for 9.30am. The Health Service Executive (HSE) provides me with home help five days a week. A nice lady comes in and fixes my dinner and does some housework. I have five brothers and two sisters and they all, along with my parents, help out.
Every Friday I go to the gym and swimming pool. A guy called Paul O'Callaghan from Headway came down with me every Friday for 10 months until I felt confident enough to do it on my own. Now my sister gives me a lift down and I head in myself. I really enjoy it.
I also do two hours supported employment in Fermoy every week. I am the local litter warden and help clean up the streets. I have a picker and a bucket attached to the wheelchair. I love it. I am outdoors, I meet lots of people, there is no pressure and I get lots of mugs of coffee.
Sometimes I give a talk to transition year students in the local school about my accident and my rehabilitation. I know what it is like to be young and I remember being warned about speeding when I was in school. I get a good reception from them and I hope they learn lessons from my experience.
I used to get angry, but I have learned to control it. I attended counselling with Accord for two years to deal with emotional issues from my accident and my marriage break-up. I found it useful.
My social life is good. I go to my local pub, Matt's Bar, every Friday and go to as many concerts as I can. Music concerts have always been a big hobby of mine. I went to see Eric Clapton this year. He was excellent.
Headway is a big part of my life. Before I started using its services I found lots of things hard. Talking on the phone, even communicating was difficult. I was a bit of a recluse.
I never give up trying. I am always trying to improve myself and I can see the changes in me. That is a great feeling. Last night, for example, I walked from the back kitchen to my sitting room with a cup of coffee on my rollator and I didn't spill a drop. It might not sound like much but it was a big improvement for me. I believe there is always room for improvement.
• If you have a health story of a health experience - good or bad - that you would like to share, e-mail healthsupplement@irish-times.ie
Head injuries: the facts and figures
• Head injury accounts for about 30 per cent of traumatic deaths, according to international research. The main causes of traum- atic brain injury are road traffic accidents and falls.
• The World Health Organisation predicts that by 2020 road traffic accidents, which are a major cause of traumatic brain injury, will rank third as a leading cause of the global burden of disease and injury after heart disease and depression.
• Young men are at greatest risk of traumatic brain injury. This is thought to be related to greater risk-taking behaviour.
• The effects of a brain injury are not always physical. An acquired brain injury can lead to memory, planning, emotional and behavioural problems.
• People often have difficulty living independently, working or returning to education, participating in social and leisure activities and maintaining family roles or personal relationships.
• There are only two hospitals in Ireland, Beaumont Hospital in Dublin and Cork University Hospital, which have specialists in neurosurgery. The National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) in Dún Laoghaire is the only centre in the State providing inpatient and outpatient specialist rehabilitation services for those with acquired brain injury, along with rehabilitative training.
• It costs the HSE €1 million to care for 24 heavily dependent patients for three months - the average length of stay in hospital.
• Information from Headway which provides community- based support for people affected by acquired brain injury. Contact the Headway helpline on 1890 200 278 or see www.headway.ie