As part of Action for Brain Injury Week the Child Brain Injury Trust once again recruited a team of budding young artists to take part in their annual art project. This year’s Action for Brain Injury Week focused on parents, siblings and those who have taken on a carer’s role following a childhood acquired brain injury. These Unsung Heroes were also the subject of our art project.
We are so pleased by the amazing response we had to the project by children supported by the Charity. The paintings will go on display at an art exhibition hosted by Bolt Burdon Kemp Solicitors on Wednesday 22nd July.
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On the 20th February 2014 on the way to David’s birthday party David and his family were all involved in a serious road traffic accident. David was unconscious at the scene, put into an induced coma and flown to Hospital. As the days passed David came out of his coma, now an 11 year old but with the ability of a 6 month old baby. Over the next few months he had to learn everything again, how to sit up, how to stand, how to walk, talk, eat and the list goes on.
Two weeks after the David and his family met the Child Brain Injury Trust’s Support Worker, Caroline. David’s mum recalls:
“I don’t really think I took much in of what she was talking about, I was physically and emotionally exhausted, but she left me some leaflets and a book to read. These provided us with hope and the idea that we were not on our own. Over the next few weeks Caroline would visit us probably once a week in hospital and offer her advice and support. When we were looking at coming home Caroline was there in a meeting to discuss the implications that this would have and what David might need.”
Eventually, within 2 days of each other, both David and my husband, now in a wheelchair were discharged and we could all come home to begin a new ‘normal life’. David had made huge progress in the hospital and when we came home, looked like virtually any other 11 year old boy. Coming home was a massive shock though, no longer did we have the comfort of Doctors and nurses around us to keep an eye on David it was just us. David was pleased to be home, especially to be back with his Dog Buster, but for the people that were close to David this was the reality call that the David we have now is not the same child as the David before the accident.”
David is very passionate about art and chose to paint his dog Buster. “Buster was one of only a handful of things David remembered when he came out of his coma. He was the inspiration for David to re-learn everything and come home from hospital to be with Buster. When David is at home the pair are inseparable going for walks, playing ball or just sitting quietly cuddled up together. Buster can be a good calming influence on David when days are tough.”
We are pleased to display David’s painting alongside our other artists on Wednesday 22nd July at a drinks reception and silent auction to raise much needed funds for the Charity. If you would like to attend the event, please contact Rachel Parsons. [/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]