Acquired brain injuries also known as ABI’s, can be life changing depending on how traumatic it is on the brain. A less severe ABI is a concussion. Although it can be difficult to recover from some brain injuries like a brain haemorrhage or a brain bleed.
Rob Barns suffered from a serious brain haemorrhage in 2013. Barns collapsed in a parking lot and was rushed to University Hospital. “It was a normal day, and my head hurt and I got dizzy. The last thing I remember was the ambulance driver talking to me.” He was in the hospital for seven months, most of which he couldn’t remember.
“My language skills are worse, that’s my major problem, and my balance.” Barns’ balance and speech is permanently affected due to the part of the brain that was damaged. He continues to do physiotherapy and speech therapy. Barns has a personal support worker who comes in almost daily to help him with simple daily tasks and to help with his physiotherapy and speech
therapy.
ABI’s effect not only those who have suffered from the but also, the family and people surrounding the person are affected. In some cases, families may have to renovate or move to a wheelchair accessible area for their loved one. Recovering from an ABI is a lifelong process.
