Juliet's Story
is a brain injury recovery charity that works to develop better mental health treatment for survivors. 1 in 3 people will experience a brain injury in their lifetime. Actor Emilia Clarke MBE (Daenerys Targaryen) survived two life-threatening brain haemorrhages while working on Game of Thrones. "I know from personal experience that brain injury is life changing" and I can only reiterate Emilia's words.This is my story: "In May 2016 I was diagnosed with three cerebral aneurysms. Within just 4 weeks of this diagnosis I was admitted to the Neuroradiological Clinic in Stuttgart, where open brain surgery to clip the aneurysms was performed. Immediately following my discharge from hospital I was sent to a neurological rehab clinic where I started my long journey of recovery and acceptance of the life-changing matters I needed to face. It took over three years and two further visits to rehab clinics, before I was able to partly accept, not only the physical handicaps, but also the psychological effects of this surgical invasion, which take longer to heal than the actual scars. Recovery is still ongoing." In my innocence or ignorance, I assumed that rehabilitation after any traumatic brain injury was a matter of cause. I didn't realise how wrong I was until I chanced on Emilia's charity SAMEYOU. Brain injury doesn't just happen to the brain but to the whole person and due to its invisible nature, once the bandages have been removed and the scars have healed, survivors often feel disorientated and experience social isolation. SAMEYOU’s purpose is for these people to know they haven’t lost the person they were before. I am sure you know someone who has suffered brain injury in their lifetime, be it after a stroke, a traumatic accident, haemorrhage or aneurysm. Your donation will help them on the way to recovery and make their lives worth living again. Together, we can make a difference to the recovery outlook for these people and create the missing emotional and mental health services essential for brain injury survivors.
