Nine years ago our son, Ian who was then 15, was hit by a car as he was crossing the road. Following the accident, he was unconscious for about 10 weeks and as he slowly woke up, we agonisingly realised that he was unable to do anything except smile at us and hold on to us with his left hand.
After 15 weeks in Beaumont Hospital, he was moved to the National Rehabilitation Hospital.
Like a baby, he couldn't even hold his head steady. He couldn't feed, speak or even turn over in the bed.
Amazingly I was always hopeful, sure that the future would be okay. And so was Ian. As his brain gradually began to heal we knew that he was understanding everything we said. Even before he could communicate in any other way, he would indicate with his fingers that all he wanted was to walk and talk and go home.
He stayed at the National Rehabilitation Hospital for 13 months. Over that time, he re-learned how to walk, to talk, to dress and feed himself - but not as before. Now he walks unsteadily with a support. He speaks unclearly and slowly, making communication difficult for him and for others. He has no vision in his right eye and jerky movements in his left eye so he can read only very large print. He has little use of his right hand and his left hand shakes so writing isn't possible. His balance is poor and he falls often. He can no longer learn easily.
Ian has lost so much but we found he had gained qualities he never had before - persistence and determination to make it back into the world. About a year and a half after the accident, he began attending a special needs school. He found learning a struggle and also found it difficult to adapt to being in a school for people with disabilities. Nine months later, he began attending a mainstream school part-time while still attending the special needs school. For four years he attended both schools and did some Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate subjects with the support of a classroom assistant. In 2002, he applied and was accepted for a course in animal care at a third-level college which he is still attending.
Learning is still difficult for him - he has to put in about 10 times as much time and energy as other students - but he is so determined to succeed. During all this time, Ian has also been attending the Rehabilitative Training Unit at the National Rehabilitation Hospital. Overall he is amazingly optimistic, independent and good humoured.
He lives part-time in supported living accommodation. The question remains what is out there for him. I can only hope and believe that his courage, optimism and determination will help him make good choices for his future.
The name of the young man with an acquired brain injury has been changed in this article.