Real life stories of past and present members on how they became brain injured and how it has effected their lives, how Headway North Lanarkshire (formally Headway Motherwell) helped them become part of our society, and helped them along what can sometimes be a very winding road with barriers at every corner. 

Stories from carers on how the   unsung heroes   of looking after the disabled in our lives, only a carer can know the trials and tribulations of looking after someone and most are 24/7 at Headway North Lanarkshire, so therefore we consider all carers around the world as the experts.

Hi everybody my name is Pamela Shirkie, I am 44 years of age and I had my brain injury in 2007.   

I had suffered from terrible migraines for years, I worked as an Employment Trainer with a company called Right Track.  I woke up at about 5 in the morning with a migraine.  I woke my daughter up,(she was 10 at the time) and we both got a taxi up to my mother’s house. I was obviously very ill with the migraine.  When I arrived I continued to get ready for work with my Parents following me about the house telling me I could not go to work, but I insisted. So I went away on the bus at 7a.m. I arrived at my work about 8.15 still ill and all day long my Trainees looked after me they put a wee cover round me and sat me in a dark room.  My shift ended at 4.30 so I made my way home on the bus. I was very sick I went to bed as soon as I got home and woke up the next morning still ill so I went to my mum and dads again and they phoned to Emergency Department at the Hospital and they told them to bring me right up when I arrived they did a brain scan on me and I got rushed to Southern General after a few weeks I got took back to the Monklands Hospital and they referred me to Murdouston Castle for rehabilitation. I was in there for 4 months, I think they did a great job with me and highly recommend the place to anyone, but I did not like being in there and I could not wait to get home. i got  out on the April from Murdouston castle in 2008 and returned to work in may 2009.  I had a tough job and I was not settling in well at all, so 6 months later I had to go on the sick from work. It is now 2010 and we joined Headway, I think this place gives you great support and I really enjoy coming every week. I have Billy teaching me my ECDL again and we play the WII and draughts. The chatting is good and I really enjoy coming. 

Hi I’m Mary I care for Pamela and have done since 2007 when she had a brain tumour.                                                                       

It has been hard at times for her, she lost a lot of confidence as well as her job, but I see some of her humour returning, especially since she started coming to headway, everybody has been so welcoming and encouraging, which takes some pressure of her dad and i, so headway not only helps clients it helps everyone involved with them. 

Sandra McGinty from Craignuek Wishaw

Hello my name is Sandra and i first became involved with Headway in late 1999 early 2000. i became friends with Robert Lawrie an A.B.I member and it was then i began to realise what an important impact Headway North Lanarkshire has for brain injured people and i then asked myself what i could do as a person to help people with A.B.I, i became more involved and now i help with just about anything i can that is within my power.

the members themselves A.B.I and carers alike are a great bunch of people who never complain about what has happened to them or their disabilities they take each day as it comes and just get on with their complicated lives.

i like going to the group every thursday as it gives you a lift to be able to help people with brain injury.

Lauren Reid from Craignuek, Wishaw

Hi!  

My name is Lauren and I’ve been volunteering with Headway North Lanarkshire for about 7 months now. I graduated this year as a physiotherapist, and after working with people who suffered with A.B.I during my training, I became interested in helping these people out with a hospital setting. I came across Headway North Lanarkshire with the help of The Volunteer Centre in wishaw. We come here every Thursday afternoon and participate in various great activities such as playing the wii, pool tournaments, quizzes and arts and crafts, and recently we had a day out to the Glasgow Science centre. Best of all it’s good to get together and have a wee cup of tea and blether and share each other’s experiences. I can’t believe the level of help and support Headway North Lanarkshire offer its members. The members are so warm and friendly and always make me feel welcome. 

 Jason West. from Airdrie

Hello my name is Jason and this is my story on how i became brain injured and became a member of Headway North Lanarkshire. i worked for a parcel company and really enjoyed my work i also was a member of the TA (territorial army) one day when i finished my work and driving home i was hit by an artic lorry carrying fork lift trucks on the A77 between Edinburgh and Wishaw i ended up in hospital for 1 year and 1 month in total. during this period i was also in Murdouston castle brain injury unit in Bonkle Newmains for 5 months it is in the brain injury unit where i learned about Headway North Lanarkshire and have now been a member for 8 years in total. the group has a lot of activities and we also attend outings on a regular basis and of course the chance to meet other people who have similar brain injuries.

 Mandy Laird. from Shotts

Hi my name is Mandy Laird and i joined Headway North Lanarkshire a 6 months ago and became a Committee member 4 weeks ago, i am also my husband Alans carer after he fell down the stairs in our home, after Alans fall we found out he had a blood clot in his brain.

i care for Alan 24/7 and being a carer is very hard and stressful but i love him and will do what i have to do for him. Headway North Lanarkshire has been brilliant and we love attending every week.

Alan Laird from Shotts.

I had my accident one and a half years ago when i fell down the stairs and had a clot in my brain. i was in hospital for 6 months when i woke up in the hospital i could not walk, talk, or eat and had to learn to do all that over again, i have come along pretty good but i do not like people seeing me like this. the only place i go is Headway North Lanarkshire and it is a great place and the people are so friendly.

Elizabeth Fallon. from Shotts 

Hi everyone, my name is Elizabeth and I’m from Scotland and this is a “short story” of what happened to me in November (2000).

Such are my problems with “writing, reading, spelling, attention span etc,” that I have had to get assistance to write my story.

My Story is as follows, I was knocked down just under (8yrs) ago whilst walking an old gentleman across the road, and unfortunately I suffered some serious injuries culminating in surgery at a local Neurological Hospital to fit a “Peritoneal Shunt”.

On discharge from Hospital, my diagnosis was “Non Organic Mild Head Injury??” despite a “Shunt” being fitted!!”, I was told by the Consultant that I would make a full recovery, Live a Normal life with No further treatment or outside services required “how wrong this was”.

In the subsequent years, I have I’m told, presented many signs and symptoms of someone with “Acquired Brain Injury” and that I have changed beyond recognition, “I know I’m not the same Liz as before!!” and it hurts very much because I want to be “Normal Again like before!!”, a leading Consultant has recently told me, “what you see now is what you get and that I have to learn to live with my life the way it is!!!” “I hate my life now and hate living at times.”

More recently, my husband has taken me to the Local Headway Group where I met with other people who had “Acquired Brain Injuries” they also felt like me and had similar stories to tell.

Over the next few months I gained some confidence to sit in the group and talk about various issues we all have, I have also, learned some computer skills at the group, we have a “Computer Expert” Billy who is very patient with us all and ever mindful of the problems we have, my husband has also been of fantastic help to me and stayed with me through this life changing event, without him, I don’t think I’d be here today he has brought me on so much with hard work and determination, he’s my Guardian Angel      LIZ.

Margaret Williamson. from Holytown

I am the carer for my son Derrick who has an A.B.I because of a very bad car accident in Canada. We attend Headway North Lanarkshire on a Thursday afternoon and enjoy our time there everyone mixes very well. Being a carer can be very stressful and is a really demanding job, but I am glad that I am able to help my son.   

Robert Lawrie. from Wishaw 

My name is Robert I was knocked down in 1969, I was playing in the playground at my local school when I decided to go to the shops I did not make it back to school that day.

I was in a coma for three months and suffered a double fractured skull and was partially paralyzed down one side.

I made a slow recovery and I am know left with an A.B.I, I really enjoy going to Headway North Lanarkshire every week.

Derrick Brown. from Holytown.     

                                    My name is Derrick Brown I lived in Canada for 19 years until I had a very bad car accident on May 9th 1998 and was in a coma for 5 and a half months, I take full blame for it a I had been drinking all day then I drove up to the store to buy cigarettes the only thing that I can be thankful for is that I never hit and maimed or killed anyone else, my tyre blew out and I shot across the road and hit a tree, I wasn’t wearing a seat belt so I was thrown through the windshield and headfirst into the tree, the Dr's didn’t think that I would live at first, but I eventually came out of the coma and when I was released from the hospital I came back to Scotland to live as all my family are over here. At first I didn’t know anything about brain injury and thought that I was the only one and I wouldn’t go outside in case people saw me and would laugh, then one day my social worker told me to go to a headway meeting and when I went it was like a blindfold being taken from my eyes yes there were others like me some worse and some better but I wasn’t alone and it helped to give me a whole new outlook on life there are so many things we can learn and Billy MacGregor who is teaching us how to work the computers is very patient, and it feels like a small victory every time that we accomplish something and makes me even more eager to do the next thing. 

James Elliot. from Cumbernauld

                                                       My name is James Elliot and i am 42 years of age, i acquired a brain injury when i was attacked in Glasgow town centre, i ended up in hospital with a blood clot on my brain. it is hard to get on in life with my brain injury as i am paralysed down the left hand side of my body, but i feel very fortunate to be alive and that probably keeps me going, my family was told i would not survive the night of my attack, so i pray to god that i am still alive and i just get on with my life the best i can and my family are very supportive.

Crawford Fallon from Shotts

                                                 Hello to you and thank-you for taking the time to browse the Headway North Lanarkshire  Web-Site.   

A little About myself, my name is Crawford Fallon, I have been Secretary of “Motherwell Headway” since (2006) until February (2009), I’m also a    “Full Time Carer for my wife Elizabeth” who was knocked down    in (Nov 2000) she sustained an “Acquired Brain Injury”, as you may have noted, Elizabeth’s story is also included in this website.

When such a traumatic event happens in your lives!! Little do you realise at that time, “The Enormity of, The Effects of and the Utter Devastation felt by everyone close to my wife!!” also not realising that the Tragic circumstances of that this Accident would most certainly change our lives for ever.

Having had to give up my Full Time employment (4mths) after the Accident, I never dreamed or gave credence as to just how difficult the roll as a “Full Time Carer” would be!!, In the passing years, it truly has been and still is such, a demanding undertaking both Physically/Mentally with absolutely no “Let Up/ Or Respite from the Care required, it’s also Frightening to think that the roll you now have!!, “will be there for the rest of your Life!!”

Feelings of Despair, Anger, Injustice, Frustration etc, etc, are all too familiar with Carers, who also find themselves in this Unfortunate position and a tremendous amount of Credit should go to Individuals like us in the Caring of our loved ones.

In essence, Headway has helped both my wife and I in many aspects in the aftermath of such an event, our Group continues to grow in a progressive manner with the assistance of the Committee and its members.