When I was 23 I suffered my brain injury. I had just started a new job as a mental health nurse at my home in Scotland, and was driving home from work in November 2007 on my motorbike when a drunk pedestrian caused me to swerve and crash.
My crash helmet disintegrated, leaving me with a very serious traumatic brain injury. I was rushed to the nearest hospital in Dundee where I had the right side of my skull removed to reduce the effects of brain swelling.
Thankfully this worked but I was left paralysed down the entire left hand side of my body. I subsequently learned to walk with the help of intensive physio however even now, 18 months after my injury I remain almost totally paralysed in my left arm.
I have been forced to hand in my notice and so lost my job, which I very much enjoyed. Now I struggle day to day with clinical depression, seizures and muscle cramps. I live alone, having separated from my partner.
I am unsure about what the future may hold for me which is not really helping my mood! But I am sometimes hopeful that things can only get better as surely they can’t get worse – or can they?
Tim Collins