The shocking statistic that every 90 seconds someone is admitted to hospital in the UK with a brain injury is the focus of this year’s Action for Brain Injury Week.
Every 90 Seconds is a reminder of how frequently brain injury strikes and how it can affect anyone at any time – and how, despite the fact 350,000 people each year sustain brain injury, resources remain painfully scarce.
Through the annual Action for Brain Injury (ABI) Week, run by brain injury charity Headway, a light is shone on the need for greater awareness and understanding of brain injury and to give a voice to survivors and their loved ones.
To mark ABI Week, Headway is sharing the stories of brain injury survivors and their loved ones, who lay bare the reality of the situation they face after brain injury.
Two of those sharing their story for the Every 90 Seconds campaign are Nigel and his wife Paula.
Nigel enjoyed a creative career as a photographer and filmmaker before his life changed one fateful day six years ago, as he was going to the cinema.
“I was standing at a bus stop,” Nigel recalled. “Beyond that, I have no idea because I woke up in hospital. Absolutely everything changed – instantly.”
While waiting for the bus, Nigel had a stroke and, after his discharge from hospital, was left with many challenges, including memory loss, fatigue and difficulty with his balance.
Sadly, he had a second stroke in 2022, shortly followed by a heart attack.
Thanks to the care of his wife Paula, his family, and Headway, Nigel is now doing well and enjoys attending creative sessions at Headway Devon.
“Headway has been extraordinarily helpful,” Nigel said. “There is so much of life that once you have a stroke, you suddenly lose, and it’s like becoming disconnected from life.
“And coming to Headway, I’ve become connected to all these people, and I’ve become connected to Headway – and it’s belonging again.”
Colin Morris, director of communications at Headway, said: “Every 90 seconds, someone in the UK is admitted to hospital with a brain injury – it’s a startling statistic that I’m sure will stop many of us in our tracks.
“People tend to think these things only happen to other people, but the reality is brain injuries can impact any of us at any time – and it only takes a second for someone’s life to be changed forever.
“During the campaign, we hope people will take a second to learn more about brain injury through powerful stories like Nigel and Paula’s.
“We want people to see how they can support our work to rebuild meaningful lives and to take a second to consider donating their time volunteering with Headway or simply to share our message.”
