My Story, My Promise, by Warren
My name is Warren and this is my story. When I was six years old I fell off a bus shelter onto my head. I remained unconscious for 10-15 minutes and on the way to the hospital I stopped breathing, but I made a good recovery. Then one day, when I was fourteen, I was taking a fast way home with friends. We had to get over a gate and my ring got caught in the gate and when I jumped, my finger came off. I lost four pints of blood.
I have been in and out of hospital most of my life. I didn't return to school over problems with other pupils saying things about my missing finger. So I just left school. I always wanted to be a fireman but couldn't because I had lost my finger. I do think I still have a finger but I don't. When I tried to pick things up they used to fall through the gap of my hand where my finger used to be. It is hard to cope without it but it does get easier each year.
I used to hang around at the train station in my local area. One evening I was messing around the stairwell of the stairs. I was joking as to what would happen if I fell off the balcony 20 ft high and all of a sudden I slipped and was left hanging on the ledge. But I couldn't hold on as I had a weak right hand with a finger missing, so I fell to the ground and busted my head open. I lost a lot of blood and I was taken to hospital.
I was sent for a scan and they discovered that I had swelling of the brain and two clots. I was put in an induced coma for a week, but I did make a gradual recovery.
I had another fall in April 2008. As other people tell me, we went to the Phoenix Park and climbed the papal cross and somehow I lost my balance and fell down the steps and cracked my head on the concrete. I was taken to Connolly hospital and was in intensive care for 27 days. When I awoke I was unable to move my arm or leg and I was unable to speak.
It was to be a long struggle to get back to myself, if I ever will. The Warren that awoke on that day is a different Warren. I now have to stay off drink in order to control my anger and stay out of situations that I can't control.
I owe my recovery to Headway. It is a long, long road to recovery and there is a glimmer at the end. But I can see it and it will be a light. I have to say a big thank you to my parents and family. I have made their lives hard for the past few years but I will make it up to them by getting the help I need and work hard at it.
This article appeared in the Summer 2010 edition of Making Headway