Question:
I returned to science in 1997 - two years after I had a severe brain haemorrhage. I can walk and have no severe physical impairment but my left side is still weak. I have also lost confidence - particularly while travelling. Stairs and escalators terrify me - especially if crowded - and I've experienced severe panic attacks whilst travelling (particularly on the London underground). I have spoken with my superviser about this, but it seems to have gone in one ear and out of the other, and as a result I've had to shy away from travelling to conferences and meetings.

You know Aquired Brain Injury survivors are the real pioneers in science because we're the ones learning how to cope with a problem everybody will face. Your brain dies off as you get older. What are you going to do? Us Aquired Brain Injury Survivors are doing all the leg work to prepare the way and we're not even getting paid for it. Most of us suffer miserably and are often deep in debt like me, to the point where suicide seems like the only viable option rather than go through any moreof the hell that it is. We should at least be thanked for the wonderful work we're doing. Nobody is immune to Aquired Brain Injury. You will all suffer from it if you live long enough.

Answer: I'm afraid my disabilities go a little beyond my head injury too. I used to be a constuction worker, truck driver, mechanic, machinist and have worked with my hands as an engineer. I no longer have those options available to me anymore. Because of me riding my motorcycle so much, I developed Carpal Tunnel Sydrome. It got so bad I had to have one of my hands operated on, where the cut the tendon over the carpal tunnel. I still only have limited use of my hands. I only rarely ride my motorcycle now, only when I have to and which is still easier for me then driving my car. I don't have power steering and can't afford any better. When I work on anything with tools I can only work in 1/2 hour intervals or I lose control of my hands and can't hold on to the tools anymore. The last time I cleaned my bike I did as much as I could until I lost control of my hands then I was in pain for a week. So it's out of a matter of neccesity that I need to learn to live on what's left of my brain. I have little hope of being hired by anybody. I just want to let people know not to give up hope. There are sometimes other options available. I'm hoping I can make a go of it by running my own business. I'm accepting just about any kind of work of a technical nature because I do have the know how and experience.