I don’t remember anything from when I first came to Cygnet Brunel, or the hospital I was sent to after my injury. All I know is what the staff and my family have told me, which is that I was in a coma for three weeks and the doctors all said I would never walk again, and that I probably wouldn’t recover at all.
My family and friends didn’t give up. They came to see me as much as they could and believed I would get better. I came to Cygnet Brunel onto Clipper Ward and needed a wheelchair to be moved.
People have told me that I was very aggressive at the beginning. I don’t have any memory of it, but I hit lots of staff and didn’t listen to them. I spent 15 hours a day in my bedroom, refusing to eat or shower, I was very underweight.
I remember at first it would take me over an hour just to get out of bed and stand up, then I would stumble and spend another hour getting back into bed. It was very hard. I remember trying to lift my foot to put my shoes on and it felt so heavy.
My family would visit me but I couldn’t remember anyone’s names, they would always have to remind me. I used to try to practise and put people’s names and numbers in my phone.
After 3 months I could remember names again, and things just started coming back to me. I practised a lot and I would do physio as much as I could. The staff surprised my mum on one visit, she had seen me in a wheelchair every time, and then one day she came and I was walking again – she was so surprised!
I had some psychology sessions too, but now I am feeling good, I don’t have so many of them anymore. I moved to Ketch Ward where I was given my own key to move around freely.
I am starting to feel back to normal now, I wash my own clothes and make sure to shower. I cook a lot, and have always done – I don’t need too much help. I have a support worker, Chris, who knows my hometown well and I really enjoy talking to him because we have a lot In common. He often joins me when I ask to go out to the supermarket or to the barbers, which I walk to whenever I want to.
I am a healthy weight again now and really like eating – I like trying different takeaways when I can – Indian food, Chinese food and pizza! I also go to the on-site gym twice a week and the staff help me. I’m on a lot less medication and I know exactly what I take, I make sure that I go and get it each day.
Every day I speak to my family or friends on the phone, I love speaking to my daughter. One day I would love to take her on holiday – I am looking forward to being able to be in her life more.
If I had to say anything to others in hospital I would say be patient, don’t try to rush and just take your time. For anyone coming to Cygnet Brunel I can say that the staff are so good here, they are just here to help you and they have been so good to me. Even now I am doing much better they still always stop and ask how I am doing.
I am so proud of everything that I have achieved. I have surprised so many people – they said I would never walk again and just 3 months later I was walking. I feel like I recovered much quicker than people thought. The journey wasn’t easy, but I am so happy now.
*Name has been changed to protect his identity