Spread some holiday cheer during SameYou's gift appeal
Brain injury happens in an instant. It doesn’t just happen to the brain but to the whole person - and everyone around them.
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Whether it's a one-time or recurring gift, your contribution through SameYou's Gift Appeal supports our vision to transform the way brain injury survivors and their loved ones are helped through emotional, mental health and cognitive recovery services.
line_escaped : <p>Whether it's a one-time or recurring gift, your contribution through SameYou's Gift Appeal supports our vision to transform the way brain injury survivors and their loved ones are helped through emotional, mental health and cognitive recovery services.</p> line_encoded : %3Cp%3EWhether+it%27s+a+one-time+or+recurring+gift%2C+your+contribution+through+SameYou%27s+Gift+Appeal+supports+our+vision+to+transform+the+way+brain+injury+survivors+and+their+loved+ones+are+helped+through+emotional%2C+mental+health+and+cognitive+recovery+services.%3C%2Fp%3EWhether it's a one-time or recurring gift, your contribution through SameYou's Gift Appeal supports our vision to transform the way brain injury survivors and their loved ones are helped through emotional, mental health and cognitive recovery services.
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In The News
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Raising awareness of young survivors in an ITV interview
Raising awareness of young survivors in an ITV interview
SameYou co-founder Jenny Clarke MBE, raises awareness for young stroke survivors in an ITV interview.
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World Stroke Day: Why we are failing young stroke survivors
World Stroke Day: Why we are failing young stroke survivors
Chris Moon was just 29, fit and healthy, when he suffered a stroke.
But despite being upbeat at the start of his battle back to full health, he quickly found the aftercare is seriously
inadequate for young stroke survivors – which is often seen as a disease of the elderly. -
Right to rehab: an immersive digital experience to voice the need for change
Right to rehab: an immersive digital experience to voice the need for change
It’s hard to imagine just what a difference having the right support when you leave hospital can make to your recovery.
The Right To Rehab campaign, which calls for everyone in the UK to have access to effective rehabilitation, has launched a new immersive digital experience that allows you to find out. Let your MP know about this important campaign.
Survivor Stories
Many of you have written to SameYou about your experience of brain injury and told us how you identified with Emilia's story. There was a common feeling of relief about hearing a familiar story from someone young, and speaking out to normalise the injury. People were comforted that Emilia had gone through something similar to them or to a family member or loved one.
The overwhelming emotion was of gratitude that Emilia was breaking her silence and that enabled and emboldened so many others to tell their brain injury story - some for the first time. It was as if people now have permission to speak out about their story.
I get days when I just want to give up. But after hearing your story it has made me realise, I'm not on my own!
You have told us that by sharing your stories, and reading other people's, offers hope, comfort and much needed peer-to-peer support that is often hard to find.
SameYou have created this support resource called Portraits to tell the untold story of brain injury. If you would like to share your story, you can submit your story via our Share your story page.
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Portrait: Kelly
Portrait: Kelly
I am Kelly, a brain injury survivor and caregiver to a daughter who sustained a traumatic brain injury at age three as the result of a car accident. My daughter's injury was life-threatening, and the diagnosis was immediate, even though the prognosis was not. My injury wasn't diagnosed until we returned home following her in-patient rehabilitation.
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Portrait: Polly
Portrait: Polly
My name is Polly Williamson and in December 2011, aged 42 years, I was kicked in the head by a horse causing a traumatic brain injury. I was in a coma for 11 days and had post traumatic amnesia for two months.
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Portrait: Robbie
Portrait: Robbie
Having suffered with anxiety most of my life, and particularly badly for the past couple of years, the diagnosis of my aneurysm in October 2023 hit me hard. I was already in a bad place with my mental health.
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Portrait: Timofey
Portrait: Timofey
On May 9, 2024, Timofey suffered an ischemic stroke in the brainstem, which then caused a hemorrhagic symptom in the pontine region. This life-altering event has brought numerous challenges, but also moments of profound hope and progress.
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Portrait: Joan
Portrait: Joan
My name is Joan. I’m 49 years old from Sheffield, England. In October 2017, I suffered a subarachnoid haemorrhage. I was fit, healthy and had no symptoms. I simply left my workplace as normal at 5pm on a Friday afternoon, climbed into my car and all I remember is a huge clap of thunder in my head. Then, I found myself looking at the car key in my hand and laughing, thinking, “I don’t know what to do with this!”
This short film tells the stories of brain injury survivors from the survivors themselves
We asked them to tell us how they feel. Some of them have done this for the very first time. We applaud their courage for speaking out. We invite everyone to hear and understand the lived experiences of brain injury and find out what has helped people recover and what is needed to help so many more.
Brain injury doesn’t only happen to the brain…
Brain injury happens to the whole person: body, brain and spirit. So we have developed a range of resources to help you find your SameYou.
