Patients & families

A 29-year-old has become the first woman to skateboard across the US, raising $50,000 for spinal cord research. Brooke Johnson completed the 3,266-mile journey in 119 days, travelling from Santa Monica, California, to Virginia Beach, finishing on Friday. Johnson undertook the challenge to raise money for Wings for Life, a nonprofit spinal cord research foundation, [...]

Brain injury survivor Sam’s dream was to visit California – and thanks to the support of his professional team, he was able to do that. Here, we look at the roles of his Deputy, case manager and occupational therapist in enabling Sam to fulfill his ambition Sam suffered a brain haemorrhage when he was born [...]

A retired army captain diagnosed with Parkinson’s is holding a tea party to raise £5,000 for research into the condition. Geoff Hodgson, 62, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in September last year. He and his husband Stephen Garry are organising the fundraiser to support others going through similar experiences. The event will take place at their [...]

More than 350 children and young people will receive support after sustaining life-changing brain injuries, thanks to a £60k grant awarded to the Child Brain Injury Trust (CBIT). The funding, provided by Cambridgeshire Freemasons through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, will help children with acquired brain injuries (ABI) across the East of England and beyond over [...]

A major equestrian event has been renamed in honour of County Durham rider Gemma Potts, who sustained a life-changing spinal injury in 2021. The Glamour Stakes will now raise funds for Potts, from Crook, who underwent emergency spinal surgery at James Cook University Hospital and spent several months in intensive care, followed by three years [...]

A former professional cyclist is suing a driver and passenger for £1m, claiming a car door collision left him with brain damage that derailed his career. James McLaughlin, 34, was riding in a cycle lane in West Wickham, southeast London, in May 2020 when a car passenger opened a door, causing him to crash and [...]

A student who suffered a serious spinal cord injury has graduated from the University of Bristol with a first-class master’s degree in biological sciences. Archie Wills-Johnson was a year into his degree when he was injured during an American football match, describing the moment as feeling like a “big electric shock” down his right arm [...]

A Welsh health board has admitted full responsibility for brain injuries suffered by a boy during his birth in 2019. Swansea Bay University Health Board has admitted liability for brain injuries suffered by six-year-old Gethin Channon during his birth at the maternity unit of Singleton Hospital in Swansea. Gethin sustained severe brain damage and now [...]

David suffered a brain stem stroke on June 20th, 2022. He was initially admitted to Heartlands Hospital, then transferred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for neurosurgery and a stay in the ICU, before returning to Heartlands. Over the following four months, David faced multiple infections, became severely unwell, and had very limited rehabilitation while remaining mostly [...]

A man living in Worcestershire has fulfilled one of his lifelong ambitions to spend an afternoon driving around the Malvern Hills in a beautiful classic sports car, despite living with a complex neurological condition. Mark, 59, who is a resident at the Inspire Neurocare service in Worcester, asked if it would be possible to make [...]