Portrait: Catherine's mum Mimi
This story is about my mum, Mimi, who sadly passed away in August last year following a long battle with a brain injury.
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: Dave
I had a brain stem bleed in July 2017 at the age of 36, and a TIA 12 months later. Being young, fit and healthy they were both totally unexpected.
Veronique Theberge: My brain injury story
Veronique's brain injury was acquired following a brain infection called viral meningo-encephalitis.
Luke and Ellis Parry: Our Story
A few years ago, my identical twin brother, Luke, suffered a traumatic brain injury. The event would change his life completely but also inspire the work we now dedicate ourselves to. It is a deeply personal story and is central to the company, our ethos and vision.
Covid led to my strokes
When I had two strokes while working in a high-powered job, it stunned everyone who knew me. It was unexpected. I was very fit; swimming outdoors all year, cycling more than 10 hours a week, and a regular gym-goer. I was a scuba diving instructor in my spare time and didn’t imagine that I would be hit by strokes.
Challenging times for my family
The last year few years have been challenging for Eva and her husband Antonio. Two years ago, Eva had a Subarachnoid Hemorrhage due to a brain aneurysm.
I was scared. I didn’t know how I was going to support him.
At 29, Chris was a fit and healthy young man, he had a physical job as a carpenter, played football 3 times a week, and could run a half marathon with no training in less than 2 hours. April 21st 2017; Chris got up and out of bed at 6:30am, and I remember these next moments of our lives like they were 2 minutes ago.
Portrait: Heather
Heather Jarman describes her role as carer to her daughter Abby as feeling like a symphony conductor. Every aspect of Abby's life has to be researched, organized, planned, executed. In this blog, Heather writes about emotional exhaustion, and how you, as a carer, can better hold on to the “same you” you have always been.
Three seconds that changed my life
Brooke was hit by a speeding car in 2007. After 14 years of rehab, he is using his voice and story to increase awareness and understanding of Traumatic Brain Injury.