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 normalize 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 realize, 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.

Portrait: Antonio

10 June 2025

Antonio Iannella is a writer and published author. In this exerpt from his memoir, Antonio writes about the impact of stroke. Left paralyzed from the neck down, he navigates the shocking reality of recovery in a foreign country, grappling with the physical, emotional and psychological toll. Through humor, vulnerability and raw honesty, he reflects on the meaning of ‘normality’ and the long road to healing, highlighting both the struggles and the unexpected moments of grace that come with redefining life after a traumatic event.

Portrait: Kyle

10 June 2025

My name is Kyle and I am from a small town on Vancouver Island in Canada. I am a brain injury survivor and part of a marginalized group that has not voiced or spoken out as much as needed.

Portrait: Adam

9 June 2025

I was 15 when my injury happened on December 2, 2005. I collapsed and fractured my skull while out with my family, which was caused by multiple blood clots and bleeds on my brain and skull.

Portrait: David

9 June 2025

In October 2013, after an evening out, I awoke from sleep with a bad headache and feeling sick. I didn’t know at the time, but I was having a subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Portrait: Deya

9 June 2025

My name is Deya. My stroke story starts when I was 28-year-old Dispensing Optician and Practice Manager at an independent opticians in Leicester. I remember sitting and having a really bad headache, one like I've never had before.

Portrait: Laura

3 June 2025

My name is Laura Renner, and I’m a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse and author. I’m sharing my journey of surviving and recovering from a traumatic brain injury, hoping my story can inspire and support others walking a similar path.

Portrait: Nazia

3 June 2025

My name is Nazia, and my brain injury story began at age 45 when I suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm (subarachnoid hemorrhage) and cerebral vasospasm.

Portrait: Valeriia

3 June 2025

My name is Valeriia. I’m a passionate linguist who has recently moved to Berlin. Just a short time ago I was unexpectedly diagnosed with a cerebellar stroke (ischemic stroke in the cerebellum), caused by a tear in one of the arteries in my neck.

Portrait: Kat

3 June 2025

I first started working in mental health at the age of 18 and then gradually climbed the ladder to working within psychiatric secure units across Scotland. I worked with a wide range of individuals - one of the most memorable experiences being the five years I worked for BIRT, now called Brainkind, as a rehabilitation support worker.

Portrait: Julie

27 May 2025

In April 2016 double vision and throbbing headaches forced me to visit an eye specialist. As a technical translator I was permanently working with two computer screens simultaneously. Perhaps I just needed new glasses. Unfortunately, I didn’t get away with it that easily.

Survivor Stories

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