Read about the impact we have on supporting people with brain injuries and other neurological conditions
Our team across our services are here to answer your queries and questions
Take a look at our different services across the UK, and how they can support you
Read about how our services are having an impact on people’s lives
Learn about brain injuries, the rehabilitation journey, from diagnosis and treatment to the ongoing support and independence.
The Brain Injury Linkworker Service is based on the belief in equal and fair access to neurorehabilitation for all. Learn how we can support your organisation.
Read the latest insights about brain injury rehabilitation from the Brainkind research team
View our research teams published book chapters and articles in peer reviewed publications.
Too Many to Count is the first study in the United Kingdom to explore the prevalence of brain injury in domestic abuse survivors accessing community-based services.
Do you support homeless people and prisoners and ex-offenders who have experienced an acquired brain injury? Our training is designed to give you the tools you need to support people in your service.
Login to view and download our BINI and BISI tools
View our careers page for jobs across all our services.
There are many ways to donate to Brainkind. Your donations will help support people with brain injuries and neurological conditions.
Home / Chris’s story
How rehabilitation changed my life
Chris later returned to rehabilitation services at one of Brainkind’s rehab centres, Daniel Yorath House.
Chris, who now lives in one of our supported living services, The Strand, continues the story:
I had to learn to talk and walk again. I nearly lost my life.Looking back now, I rushed my rehabilitation. I couldn’t walk, talk, or do any little thing… and I rushed my rehabilitation because I wanted to return home to my wife. She’d fallen pregnant at the time. And then, I tried to get home too quickly, and when I did get home, it became clear that I wasn’t ready. I should’ve stayed longer. I wasn’t mentally prepared or ready in any aspect, to be honest.And that’s when I saw my neurologist, Dr Shakespeare – my wife and I asked him about more rehabilitation. And after that conversation, he rang me up and said he’d got me a place in Daniel Yorath House in Leeds. So, I had to pack a suitcase and go there for two years.
I had to learn to talk and walk again. I nearly lost my life.
Looking back now, I rushed my rehabilitation. I couldn’t walk, talk, or do any little thing… and I rushed my rehabilitation because I wanted to return home to my wife. She’d fallen pregnant at the time. And then, I tried to get home too quickly, and when I did get home, it became clear that I wasn’t ready. I should’ve stayed longer. I wasn’t mentally prepared or ready in any aspect, to be honest.
And that’s when I saw my neurologist, Dr Shakespeare – my wife and I asked him about more rehabilitation. And after that conversation, he rang me up and said he’d got me a place in Daniel Yorath House in Leeds. So, I had to pack a suitcase and go there for two years.
During the rehabilitation, Chris experienced some challenges.
It was tough being away from my family at that time. My son had been born, and I was missing him growing up. It was tough.I would have preferred to go somewhere near my family for rehab, but nothing was around here. There was no rehab where I was. I didn’t know any different. The whole thing was new to me.If I could go back and ask for my ideal experience, I would ask for a bigger unit and not so far away.I knew I had to do this for my recovery and life. I thought I’ve got to do this. It’s hard, but I had to do it. Not for me, but for his sake – for my son when he was older.And I did it.Looking back now, I don’t know where I’d be today if I had not done that. It taught me a lot.
It was tough being away from my family at that time. My son had been born, and I was missing him growing up. It was tough.
I would have preferred to go somewhere near my family for rehab, but nothing was around here. There was no rehab where I was. I didn’t know any different. The whole thing was new to me.
If I could go back and ask for my ideal experience, I would ask for a bigger unit and not so far away.
I knew I had to do this for my recovery and life. I thought I’ve got to do this. It’s hard, but I had to do it. Not for me, but for his sake – for my son when he was older.
And I did it.
Looking back now, I don’t know where I’d be today if I had not done that. It taught me a lot.
Chris had to go back to receive rehabilitation for the second time. It was difficult, but something he needed to do:
When I spoke to Dr Shakespeare about accessing more rehab, it was difficult, but I knew I needed it. I couldn’t carry on the way I was living; I wanted to be as well as I could be for my son and make the best recovery possible. If that meant going to Leeds for a year or two, I thought he’d have to visit. It’s a small price to pay if I put the effort into my recovery. Dr Shakespeare got a referral to Daniel Yorath House quite quickly. I wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity. It’s one of the best units in the country.
When I spoke to Dr Shakespeare about accessing more rehab, it was difficult, but I knew I needed it. I couldn’t carry on the way I was living; I wanted to be as well as I could be for my son and make the best recovery possible. If that meant going to Leeds for a year or two, I thought he’d have to visit. It’s a small price to pay if I put the effort into my recovery.
Dr Shakespeare got a referral to Daniel Yorath House quite quickly. I wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity. It’s one of the best units in the country.
Chris is now more hopeful of life and how to overcome setbacks:
I wasn’t a very good person before the rehab. I was a completely different version [of myself]. I wasn’t the best person – effectively, the person I was died, and another person was created after my brain injury. I used to say many things and offend all people – my parents, those closest to me. Rehab helped me with that and made me aware of these things. I take stock before I say things now – I think before I speak.
I wasn’t a very good person before the rehab. I was a completely different version [of myself]. I wasn’t the best person – effectively, the person I was died, and another person was created after my brain injury.
I used to say many things and offend all people – my parents, those closest to me.
Rehab helped me with that and made me aware of these things.
I take stock before I say things now – I think before I speak.
Everyone with brain injuries has unique needs. To help as many people as possible, our network of hospitals, assessment and rehab centres, and community support services are designed to help people live fulfilled lives.