Sir, - I wonder if your readers appreciate the connection between two recent stories that were covered by several newspapers, including your own. By one of life's strange coincidences, both were about a young girl named Laura.
The story that ran longer concerned Laura Seward from Waterford, who suffered a serious head injury when she was knocked down by a cyclist in the Tour de France. Happily, Laura made an exceptional recovery after being in a coma for almost two weeks and is now back at home with her family.
The story of the second Laura received less coverage because it was a sudden and instantaneous event. Tragically, it did not have a happy ending. Laura Roberts was on holiday with her family when a stone statue fell without warning and struck her on the head, killing her instantly.
Together these stories illustrate the two extremes of the possible outcomes when someone sustains a serious head injury. The factors they share, which are common to all cases of head injury, are the suddenness and randomness with which they occurred. It is clearly impossible to anticipate every situation in which a head injury might occur. However, there are two preventive measures that are simple, effective and universally known. Seat belts and crash helmets, especially for child cyclists, are enormously effective in reducing the incidence of head injuries and their severity.
Laura Seward's recovery has been quite astonishing. Unfortunately, it is far from typical. The vast majority of people who recover from such a long period of coma suffer severe and permanent disabilities. With continuing help and support they can overcome many of them and recover their lives to a significant degree. Official statistics show that at least 12,000 people a year are admitted to hospital in Ireland suffering from a head injury of some degree. Through your paper I would like to inform the public that Headway Ireland, the National Head Injuries Association, provides information and services to people who have suffered a head injury and to their carers. It has centres in Dublin and Cork and support groups throughout the country. The Information Service can be contacted at 01-8729222.
My colleagues and I add our good wishes to those already received by Laura Seward and her family. We hope her recovery continues at its current speed. We also express our condolences to the family of Laura Roberts. - Yours, etc. Willie Henderson, Communications Officer, Headway Ireland,
Baggot Street Hospital, Dublin 4.