Portrait: Rich
On New Year’s Eve, 2001, I was about to get high on the purest drugs. Sadly, it was in the neurosurgery prep room.
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: Tobias
Tobias is a brain injury survivor who had to learn to walk, eat and talk again after suffering a devastating aneurysm. He spoke of the “moving” moment he crossed the finish line after taking part in SameYou’s Cycle Ibiza challenge.
Portrait: Emily
I got married on 2nd May 2021. My husband and I had been married a whole 16 days before I sustained a TBI.
Portrait: Daniel
At 28, I was leading a healthy, active life. After an optometrist appointment to identify the cause of my persistent headaches, I was handed a sealed envelope and told to go directly to the hospital. What followed, was emergency brain surgery.
Portrait: Aditi
I was diagnosed with Meningitis Brain Tuberculosis in November 2020 that resulted in a brain infection and stroke which hampered my vision, my comprehension and the worst: my 30 years of memory.
Portrait: Georgie
In her early 20s, with no prior symptoms Georgie's stroke came as a huge shock and reminder that you never know what is around the corner.
Portrait: Esther
Aged 32, nothing suggested that I would wake up one day with such an event that turns one's life upside down in a second.
Portrait: Sheila
Sheila had a brain hemorrhage following brain surgery to take out a vascular tumor or cavernoma. Her story provides reassuring advice to those who may have gone through a similar experience.
Portrait: Shan Shan
Shan Shan relates some of the challenges she experienced as a health professional recovering from a traumatic brain injury.
Portrait: Niamh
On 29 April 2021, I experienced a sharp and severe onset of a headache. It was the worst pain I have felt but having not been affected by headaches I thought that it was a migraine.