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Proof of a good outcome – Brendan’s Story

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Brendan Daly credits his loving family and support from Laura Ferguson Brain Injury Trust in helping him regain his independence and rebuild his career following a traumatic brain injury and severe nerve damage to his arm. 

Brendan suffered four brain bleeds, four broken ribs, a punctured lung, a crushed artery and a total brachial plexus injury to his left arm when the motorbike he was riding collided with a vintage Jeep on a blind corner near Little River in June 2023. 

The accident occurred on what was meant to be a routine morning ride around Banks Peninsula with his brother-in-law Daryl. Brendan, who had been riding motorbikes since age 13 without serious injury, was thankful to be wearing good safety gear when the crash happened. 

“It was just really, really unfortunate,” he said. “The police were involved, and they’ve said there’s no one at fault here. I really do take a lot of comfort out of that fact because I don’t have to carry any guilt for it.” 

Emergency responders performed a life-saving pneumothorax procedure at the roadside, cutting a hole in Brendan’s chest to relieve pressure from his punctured lung. He was then airlifted to hospital, where he immediately went into cardiac arrest. 

“I don’t think you can really come any closer than that,” he reflected. 

Brendan’s recovery journey began in Christchurch Hospital’s intensive care unit, where he spent four days in a coma. He remained hospitalised for nearly four weeks before being transferred to Wellington’s ABI Rehabilitation Centre. 

Brendan’s traumatic brain injury initially caused severe memory problems and confusion. He recalls waking up in Wellington Hospital at 4am, attempting to leave for the airport to catch a flight that didn’t exist. 

“I would ring my mum in the middle of the night asking, ‘Where am I?’ And she would have to explain where I was and why. ‘You’re 39 years old, and you’re ringing your mum.’” 

He credits his wife Liz who bore much of the strain during those early weeks, staying by his bedside and managing care for their two children while he recovered. Their son Luke had contracted COVID-19, requiring Liz’s mother to move into their home to care for him. 

“I think what a load that is to take,” Brendan said. “How can I repay that? How do you say thanks to that?” 

Community rehab with Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust 

After some time in Wellington, Brendan was able to return home and The Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust became instrumental in his rehabilitation, providing occupational therapy, physiotherapy and psychological rehabilitation and support. Having lost the use of his left arm, team members from the Trust helped him to learn basic skills to foster his independence, including how to tie shoelaces with one hand and to use adaptive cutlery. 

“The Laura Fergusson team meet you where you are, and they never came across as condescending,” he said. “These people were wonderful. They were just fantastic with their approach.” 

 

Gaining independence through driving 

Following great progress with his brain injury, one of Brendan’s most significant challenges was regaining his driving licence, which Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust Occupational Therapist Jarrod Withers helped facilitate through assessments and equipment modifications.  

Jarrod says, “Brendan was able to demonstrate that from a brain injury perspective he had made sufficient recovery to support him in returning to driving and his only remaining challenge was going to be the physical aspect of driving.”  

Most people are unaware of the sort of vehicle modification options available to support with a return to driving. Brendan now uses a spinning knob on his steering wheel to accommodate his limited left arm function.  

Jarrod continues, “Brendan came in, trialed a modification in our assessment vehicle and showed immediate control over the vehicle indicating a return to driving with a simple modification was going to be a feasible and realistic goal.”  

“Jarrod helped me gain my independence back. I took a test with Jarrod to identify obstacles and hazards and have an assessment; he’s a brave man!  

“Not being able to drive was a real loss of independence,” Brendan explains, “I had a lot of help around me, but I wasn’t able to do little things like go and pick up the milk. I was so keen to be able to be mobile again. Being able to drive again, it’s fantastic.”  

 

Gaining strength with physiotherapy 

In December 2023, Brendan underwent a 10.5-hour operation where surgeons grafted nerves from his legs into his neck and shoulder. The procedure has slowly restored some movement to his left arm, though progress remains gradual. 

“My physiotherapists Ciaran and Lizzie have been so encouraging and gave me exercises to help move my arm. You’ve just got to keep going.” 

LFBIT Physiotherapist Lizzie says, “Brendan is an absolute pleasure to work with. He is highly motivated, consistent, realistic and reflective. He has such an inspiring outlook on life, and I know his recovery and lessons learned will inspire others! He’s got a brilliant support unit and every step of the way we’ve been able to collaborate with them.”  

 

Taking care of mental health 

The Trust also connected Brendan with one of the team’s clinical psychologists, which he initially resisted but found transformative.  

“I didn’t think I needed that kind of support, but it was amazing. I liken it to if you’ve got a pack of cards and someone says put them in order – it’s going to be a lot easier if you just spread it out on a table. My psychologist helped me put everything back into some type of order that I could manage.” 

 

Returning to work 

Incredibly, Brendan is now back working four and a half days a week as an insurance broker, a milestone he once thought impossible. 

Returning to work gradually, Brendan started with a few hours per day before building up to his current schedule. The family insurance brokerage he worked in has since merged with a larger firm, where he now manages corporate accounts.  

“They said you need to prepare yourself for the possibility you might never go back to work. To go from that guy to working four and a half days a week full time as an insurance broker, that’s quite satisfying.” 

“I’m quite proud that I’ve been able to return to work in the capacity that I have,” he said. “I also want to acknowledge that without the help that I’ve had, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.” 

 

Finding new ways of doing things 

Despite the trauma from his life altering accident, Brendan has found new ways to continue his passions. He’s teaching his daughter to play bass guitar, an instrument he can no longer play himself due to his arm injury. He’s also purchased a vintage-style motorbike with a sidecar, allowing him to ride again safely with his daughter as a passenger.  

Lizzie has also supported Brendan to get back into road cycling again on an adaptive bike. “It’s been a joy supporting Brendan’s return to the community and especially back into biking with his family,” Lizzie said.  

Brendan reflects, “It’s great to be able to get back to some of my old activities, It’s doing the same things, but in a different way,” 

“Good outcomes can happen” 

Brendan recently visited the Wellington rehabilitation centre where he was treated, encountering one of his former doctors who became emotional upon learning of his recovery. 

“She said, ‘I needed a win today,'” Brendan recalled. “I want to be encouragement to the people that provide the help and the people that need the help that good outcomes can happen.” 

His advice to others facing similar challenges is simple: celebrate your small wins and accept help when it’s offered. 

“It’s actually okay to need help and accept what’s there because it’s all in place to help you have a better outcome,” he said. “It took me a while to grasp that. The tools and equipment that you’ve been given to get better – I wouldn’t have had the recovery without the help.” 

Brendan sums up his experience with heartfelt thanks: “I can’t express how thankful I am to Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust for what they’ve done. To be back up and about, driving, and back at work is a direct result of the work that people like the Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust have put in.” 

LFBIT Breaks Ground on New Zealand’s First Comprehensive Disability and Rehabilitation Hub

The development will provide comprehensive rehabilitation services and specialist housing for 30 Residents in Purpose-Built Accommodation. 

Laura Ferguson Brain Injury Trust is commencing construction on New Zealand’s first comprehensive rehabilitation, recovery and supported housing hub, addressing a critical shortage of accommodation for people with complex disabilities across the South Island. 

The groundbreaking ceremony took place on 21st August, at 126 North Parade, and was attended by Ōtautahi Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger, local iwi leaders, Councillors, Richmond Business Association and Pareawa Banks Avenue School representatives. The day marks the beginning of a transformative development that will replace the organisation’s outdated 1970s facility with purpose-built housing and clinical services designed specifically for today’s complex disability needs. 

“Our existing building was built in the 1970s and today’s more complex needs can no longer be met within this environment,” explains Kathryn Jones, Trust CEO. “The expenditure required to bring it up to standard doesn’t make good financial sense. It was suitable 50 years ago but not for individuals requiring our support today.” 

 

Addressing Critical Housing Shortage for Complex Disabilities 

Co-designed with the Trust’s current residents and their whānau, the new development will feature up to five six-bedroom houses specifically designed for people with high and complex disability needs who require 24-hour care. The Trust currently supports over 1,200 clients at any given time, through residential services and community rehabilitation programmes, making it the only provider of its kind in the South Island and one of only three across New Zealand. 

“There is a significant lack of housing for people with complex disabilities in New Zealand and what we are proposing to provide on this site at 126 North Parade will be purpose designed and built houses to accommodate people with significant disabilities,” Jones stated. 

The development addresses an increasingly urgent need as New Zealand faces a growing prevalence of people with multiple disabilities and complex health conditions, and an aging population within a fragmented health and disability service. 

 

Comprehensive Service Hub Model 

Beyond housing, the project will establish New Zealand’s first integrated disability service hub, combining residential care with clinical rehabilitation and specialist assessment services under one roof. The development includes purpose-built clinics for specialist assessment and rehabilitation services, a gymnasium for community-based client rehabilitation, and dedicated space for the Trust’s social enterprise, Can Do Catering. 

“Our hub will also have a gym proving a dedicated space for rehabilitation for our community based clients,” Jones explained, highlighting the facility’s dual role serving both residential clients and the broader disability community. 

Office space in the hub will follow, to accommodate clinical allied health staff and administration teams, as well as providing meeting and training rooms, creating a comprehensive support ecosystem for clients with traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, and other complex disabilities. 

 

Strategic Location Enhances Community Integration 

The North Parade location was selected for its proximity to community amenities and existing disability support networks. The site sits close to local amenities in Shirley, with strong community support from the Richmond business community and Pareawa Banks Avenue School. 

Existing partnerships enhance the location’s value, including collaboration with the nearby Avon hub, which already provides sporting facilities for people with disabilities in partnership with Parafed Canterbury. 

 

Four Years of Development Culminates in Construction 

The groundbreaking ceremony represents the culmination of four years of intensive planning and regulatory approval processes. The Trust has spent this period developing plans, fundraising, and gaining resource consent to build on the site. 

The first construction phase focuses on “the re-establishment and repair of the bridge onto the site,” with the groundbreaking event marking the commencement of this project. 

Whakawhetai Whenua at North Parade

Today we celebrated an exciting step for Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust, with a whakawhetai whenua marking the beginning of work at 126 North Parade, our future home.   

We were fortunate to host whānau that we serve, mana whenua, Te Taumata Tapu o Ngāi Tūāhuriri, Right Honourable Mayor Phil Mauger and his wife Chrissy,Richmond, Pareawa Banks Avenue School, members of the LFBIT Board, Senior Leadership Members and Kaimahi.  

Charmaine Tukua-Pouwhare commenced the ceremony with a Pao, short impromptu song of welcome, to acknowledge the theme of the day and those present. It was extra special to have Charmaine, as we learnt that her first role out of school was as a support worker at Ilam Road!  

Next, Jacob Harmon, representing Te Taumata Tapu o Ngāi Tuahuriri, delivered a karakia whakatau, followed by all joining to sing Te Aroha. Mayor Phil Mauger delivered a speech to acknowledge all of the hard work it took to get to this day, and what it will mean for the city.  

We were able to whakanoa the process and ended the morning together with morning tea provided by Can Do Catering. 

The blessing on the ground is a significant milestone as it acknowledges physically the often-unseen steps to reach this point. It signals a new phase and acknowledges the collective efforts of those who have contributed to the journey to get here, and those who may have moved on or passed on. The blessing also aims to reaffirm mana whenua’s pivotal role in leading spaces and places at the forefront of process and procedure, which is mana enhancing and culturally in sync with the path we follow. 

LFBIT speak on Checkpoint

We were pleased to feature on RNZ’s Checkpoint highlighting the impact of concussion in low-level sports, and call for consistent protocols when dealing with concussions in school and local sport to prevent debilitating long-term impacts.  

Thank you to LFBIT clients Moses and Georgia for taking the time to speak to RNZ about your recovery; and to Pat Hopkins, Clinical Manager for Community Rehabilitation, for sharing your knowledge.   

Listen to the report by clicking here. 

Congratulations to Leanne Mathews!

We’d love to acknowledge the hard work of Leanne Mathews, Consultant Neuropsychologist at LFBIT, and say congratulations for recently publishing not one, but two articles in the latest issue of the Journal of the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists.

“It was an incredible opportunity to highlight to importance of in-depth neuropsychological assessment to improve the lives of youth in the justice system,” says Leanne. “Neuropsychological assessment allows for more tailored intervention and services as well as increases the implementation of a strengths based approach.”

You can find Leanne’s work at the link below

https://jnzccp.scholasticahq.com/issue/12628

Do Less – Bryony’s Story

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The road to recovery after traumatic brain injury looks different for everyone, and the right pace is the one that works for you. Today, we would like to introduce Bryony Matthews, an Ōtautahi Christchurch-based musician, mother, and someone who has learned how to find the right pace in her recovery after an injury.   

In July 2023, Bryony was knocked off a scooter after colliding with a pedestrian, unaware of their surroundings. While the pedestrian was fine, Bryony fell hard and hit her head on the road. She was rushed to the hospital, where surgeons were called in for emergency surgery after scans revealed bleeding in the brain. Bryony spent two weeks in hospital, with four days in ICU following her surgery.   

Fortunately, Bryony woke with her memory intact. However, after further appointments and surgeries, the challenges that arose from her injury became clear: an overwhelming fatigue that meant help was needed by others for simple tasks, walking became slow and for short bursts; broken bones in her ears led to overwhelming tinnitus and loss of hearing; vertigo and eye fatigue made her feel stuck in a brain fog; sensory overload made places with bright light difficult to be in; and her relationship to socialising was challenged.   

“Socialising sometimes gave me a feeling of heavy depression,” says Bryony. “I was trying so hard to be my old self, but everything was so difficult, and no one could see that on the outside. I found myself trying to explain things to people who would ask me how I was, and that would be incredibly draining and depressing”   

Three weeks after her injury, Bryony was referred to the Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust.   

“When arriving at LFBIT, I was a terrible mess. After talking to my occupational therapist, I came outside and broke into tears out of sheer relief knowing that there were people to help me through everything. I didn’t realise the stress I’d been feeling from trying to figure out how to recover. To this day, I call OT’s angels; they are there to help you through everything from ACC admin to just talking and guiding you through life.”  

Bryony worked with a physiotherapist to help ease challenges around her fractured jaw and eye fatigue, as well as management for vertigo. She also worked with a neuropsychologist, who helped her work through the stress and feelings that come with having to face a new way of life.   

“Knowing that I had them to fall back on took off such a weight. Their kindness and patience with me made me always feel at ease.”  

Two years on, and Bryony is doing very well in her recovery. She is back to work, working reduced hours and many from home to manage fatigue. While she still faces fatigue and finds frustrating moments of forgetfulness or clumsiness, she is living life to the full and has accepted that things may never go back to the way it was.   

“The bittersweet silver lining of this journey is that I was forced to stop and slow down. While working with my neuropsychologist, I took on a new mantra: ‘Do Less.’ This is something I constantly remind myself. I have become aware of how strong, resilient and persistent I am. At times I felt weak and miserable, but I have such an amazing community of family and friends who have made me see how well I have done and am doing, and I know that they are right.”  

Day to day, Bryony loves spending time with her young family, travelling together, and working on music and art. Currently, her focus is on producing a six-song album and live performance to tell the story of her injury. To raise funds, she has recently launched a Kickstarter campaign, which you can find at the bottom of this page. The project aims to help people understand what it is like to go through recovery, as well as give a voice to those with TBI by making the invisible visible to others.  

Being patient, kind and understanding with yourself is advice that Bryony would give to anyone going through recovery.   

“This kind of recovery can be very long and is not linear. You may feel like you are doing so incredibly well, and then crash back to feeling awful; that is ok. It is important to work hard, but also to let yourself rest and surrender to what you cannot instantly fix. Listen to your body, don’t push yourself too hard. Do less, be aware and be grateful for the small, beautiful things that make life wonderful.”

Thank you, Bryony, for taking the time to share your journey. We wish you the very best in your continued recovery and ambitions with your new record! You can find more information about Bryony’s album and Kickstarter campaign below.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bryonymatthews/songs-of-survival-music-from-my-brain-injury-recovery 

Mindfulness and Distress Tolerance Group

We welcome eligible people to join our Mindfulness and Distress Tolerance Group.

This group will introduce basic mindfulness and distress tolerance techniques and focus on how such strategies may be useful to regulate mood, manage fatigue and improve memory.

Each session will consist of shared discussion of different qualities of mindfulness and distress tolerance, along with two exercises and specific strategies that can be used on a daily basis.

There will be six sessions of the mindfulness and distress tolerance group from Tuesday 22nd of July though to the 9th of September – 1:00pm – 2:30pm. If you are interested and to see if you are eligible, please contact Leanne Mathews – leanne.mathews@lfbit.co.nz

Nursing training at Arvida Rest Home

Our talented team provide training and education sessions across a variety of codes.  

Recently, Val Sandston visited Arvida Rest Home for a training session on the use of suprapubic catheters. This was a great opportunity to share knowledge, and the team of nurses were grateful to receive guidance and assurance around correct procedure. 

Thank you Val for heading along and sharing your expertise! If you are interested in booking a training session for your organisation, or want to enquire about a different session from our expert team, please don’t hesitate to contact Katie Hodge, Service Development Manager, at katie.hodge@lfbit.co.nz 

Introducing the Communication Confidence and Competence Group

Offered by the Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust, this group is designed for individuals who have experienced a traumatic brain injury and want to improve their communication skills and confidence. The programme combines education and practical tools to help participants better understand the effects of brain injury on communication, thinking, and emotional regulation. 

Through interactive group sessions, clients explore topics such as social communication, self-awareness, and managing cognitive and emotional changes. The group also supports individuals to develop and work toward their own communication goals, providing a safe and supportive environment to practise strategies and build confidence. 

A key strength of the group is the opportunity to connect with others who have shared similar experiences. Participants benefit from building peer relationships, offering and receiving support, and learning from each other’s insights and strategies. Whether it’s returning to work, reconnecting with friends, or navigating everyday conversations, the group empowers individuals to communicate more effectively and build positive, lasting social relationships. 

Below you can read how great an impact the group has had on participants: 

  • “Actually, to listen to someone saying that [a strategy], whose lived that, it’s quite meaningful… what strategy they’ve put in place to deal with certain things… nice to know others out there [with a TBI] not just me… hearing the others fellows talk, you know it’s not just me, [I] can relate to it…. I hear something [a tip] and I can put it in my pack for later when I need it.” 
  • “I’d advise anyone who has had a brain injury to take part.” 
  • “Opened my eyes and ears to things that I am going through.”  
  • “It was great to meet people on the same level who can offer advice and experiences… Just understanding what I am going through, they have been here as well.”  
  • “I felt listened to… really heard.”  
  • “I learnt a lot about how to work on my relationships with others, I learnt a lot about myself as well.” 
  • “10/10.” 

A Family Perspective – Pat’s Story

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Pat is Clinical Manager Community Rehabilitation for Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust. She is also a physiotherapist who has worked in the traumatic brain injury and concussion field for over 30 years, including vestibular rehabilitation. Her son Rob currently works as a rehabilitation coach for LFBIT, and this story is Pat’s perspective on the concussion injuries he experienced as a teenager.

When Rob had his first concussion in year 9, he called me from the bus back to school from playing school rugby at Hagley Park and said, “I got knocked out … legit knocked out.” Not what I was expecting or wanted to hear. He sounded OK though, so I wasn’t too worried. I knew we could deal with any symptoms he may have. I mean, it’s what I do every day, right?

No one had seen Rob fall and hit his head on the hard ground. He missed the teams playing down to the other end of the field to score a try, and the team and coach only noticed when he remained sitting where he had fallen. They helped him off the field and that was about it. No other attention back on the bus at the end of the game, no contact made with us. Later, the school was made aware of their poor communication.

Rob recovered pretty well really – a few days off school, some vestibular treatment for dizziness and advice from Mum.We witnessed the second concussion for ourselves the next season. Rob was playing for Prebbleton club at the home grounds and had what looked like a glancing clash of cheeks with a teammate. In fact, when he got up and was wobbly on his feet, I thought he had injured his knee. He was distressed and helped to the sideline. Then it was obvious it was not his knee. He could not tell us what the score was, what day it was or where he was. That was scary for him and for us. This time, he had a week off school, returning for half days for another week, before returning full-time. Not too drastic in year 10.

We allowed longer than the recommended time off rugby and followed the return to sport protocols, building up to match fitness without symptoms of any kind.

In the last few minutes of the last game of that season, he was tackled head on, which ended up as a head clash and concussion number three. Fortunately, the effects at the time were not so bad again and Rob didn’t need any time off school. It was the end of the season so he had plenty of time off rugby before playing again the following season.

The fourth concussion was the worst. This time, the phone call was from the referee of the school game in Darfield, who said Rob got his head on the wrong side of a tackle. Rob couldn’t call because he was in an ambulance on the way to Christchurch Hospital. As well as hitting his head, he had no strength or feeling in his hands. My knees went weak as I walked to my car… another concussion and a possible spinal injury.

When I arrived at the hospital, Rob was being wheeled into emergency. He was awake and in a neck collar. He said that some of the feeling was coming back in his hands, which was a huge relief – that was hopeful. After being examined by great doctors, the decision was made to admit him for X-rays and scans. The brain injury did not seem too bad this time. He mainly had a headache at this stage, his memory and cognition appeared pretty good. The main concern was the spinal injury, but he was gaining strength back in his hands by now so that too seemed to be improving. Fingers and toes crossed.

Rob was admitted into the Orthopaedic Trauma Unit rather than a paediatric bed, which meant he could have specialised nursing care for the suspected neck/spinal injury. They weren’t too worried about his head. He was still in a neck collar and was log-rolled by six staff at a time to keep his spine aligned. But they still needed to rule out any spinal cord injury. It was hard to tell if his concussion was significant, as he was lying very still and not doing anything, but he was awake and alert and the headache was manageable, which was all positive.

After a visit from his Dad and sister and a fairly sleepless night, we settled in for the wait for an MRI. Emergency cases kept coming in and beating Rob to it. By now, he was getting frustrated, not being able to move or get comfortable with the neck collar. Finally, he had the MRI. We now had to wait for it to be read and find out whether there was cord damage and what the plan would be. We were hopeful because, by the end of that day, his strength was pretty much back to normal. A nurse told us the specialist was coming in and would look at Rob’s scans and we should know something by late afternoon. By 10pm, Rob was incredibly uncomfortable, and I was tired and turning into a very grumpy “one of those parents”. I needed to know what was happening. Another nurse heard me, calmly asked what the matter was and within an hour we had a registrar there to say the scan was clear, no cord injury. Hallelujah! As it was after 11pm by then, we stayed another night, but Rob was able to take the collar off and get more comfortable.

The next day, Rob was dizzy when he got up, and a physio came to check him out. She thought that it might be dehydration making him dizzy. I thought, “We’ll check that properly when we get home.” Vestibular rehabilitation was and is still not commonly taught in undergrad physio training so often not looked at as part of concussion management in New Zealand hospitals, although this is changing slowly. An occupational therapist came and did some cognitive assessment, which showed some issues with memory and processing speed but nothing too awful. So he could go home. I asked for a referral to the Concussion Service – it was not offered. Again, this is now slowly changing, and referrals for follow-up input are becoming more common.

Dizziness treated, lots of rest, four weeks off school or part days later and Rob was pretty much recovered. We decided that we needed to be parents and not therapists this time, so a colleague completed the concussion service with him and dealt with the school. That was a very good decision and saved a lot of stress for all of us. School staff tend not to understand concussion like they would a broken leg so often need to hear that professional tell them what is needed. Sometimes they don’t listen to a parent the same.

It was by now near the end of the season, and Rob was not going to play again for now. The registrar at the hospital had said, “After four significant concussions, if it was my son, I would recommend for him to not play rugby again.” Rob was not ready to hear that and neither was his Dad, who was also his coach. Around that time, I came across a movie called Crash Reel about an American Olympic snowboarder who had a significant brain injury when training. It followed his recovery and ultimate decision not to compete again for fear of reinjury. Part of the movie shows him visiting another snowboarder who chose to train again after his own brain injury.

Unfortunately, he did have another traumatic brain injury, resulting in significant and permanent cognitive and physical disability. I watched the movie with Rob, who was profoundly affected by this and made his own decision not to play rugby again. This was a huge decision for him as a very good 14-year-old rugby player with great potential. The next season was particularly hard while his mates started playing, but he loved rugby enough to volunteer to help Dad (Kevin) out with coaching his old team and he was water boy on Saturdays. He loved being part of the team still but missed playing hugely. It was incredibly hard for him, and all we wanted to do was to let him play, but each concussion was affecting him more and the risk was too great.

Unfortunately, that was not his last concussion. While standing on the field at school in year 12, one of the other boys ‘tackled’ him and he hit his head on the hard ground. He was dizzy again and developed headaches. So more time off school and more vestibular treatment from me. Thankfully, he made a full recovery after a few weeks.

My advice for any parent of a child who has a concussion is to seek help. Keep asking for help until you get it. Be that demanding parent if you need to be. We had an advantage being ‘in the business’ but we still needed professionals to be involved, especially with the school. And your kids will tend to listen to the professionals about rest and time off devices much more than you! You also need to follow the advice of professionals when it comes to returning to sport – whether it is the timing of that after one injury, i.e. not too soon, or whether to return at all following several concussions. Who knows whether Rob would have been affected more if he had continued to play, but we could see that he certainly was affected significantly every time he did hit his head, even with what looked like glancing blows. One day, research may show why that is, but for now, we do know that all concussions are real and need to be taken seriously and that recovery can look different for everyone.

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