On the most recent World Head Injury Awareness Day, I shared something deeply personal – the results of new, advanced brain scans that finally gave me answers about the injury I sustained 15 years ago. What followed was overwhelming. The story was picked up by The Independent, Times Radio, LBC, and many others. I’m proud that the coverage helped raise awareness about what’s possible for people living with the effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI) — especially if they can access the right diagnosis, rehabilitation, and legal support through Coulthursts.
When I had my accident in 2010, I was given a basic MRI scan and told that 85% of people with TBI end up in the divorce courts. Nobody could explain what was really happening inside my head or why I was struggling to cope. For years, my family and I just tried to get by. Working with Coulthursts and Innovision IP, I’ve finally seen the lasting damage of my accident in detail – and, more importantly, understood more about how and why it affects me. If I’d had that understanding earlier, I could have adapted faster, and we could have found solutions rather than just enduring the stress.
Working with Coulthursts has been eye-opening. I expected a law firm to focus solely on the legal process. But what makes Coulthursts unique is that their support starts long before a claim is settled. They’re focused on getting the right diagnosis and rehabilitation from day one. They can cover the costs of treatment early on, so recovery doesn’t have to wait for compensation. It’s a complete service – legal, medical, emotional – all working together to help people rebuild their lives.
Over the past year, I’ve filmed a series of short interviews with Coulthursts and some of the companies that provide expert support to Coulthursts’ clients, including Innovision IP, Hobbs Rehabilitation, and Matrix Neurological, the charity founded by Jan Rock after her son Callum’s incredible recovery from severe TBI. Each story showed me something powerful: that there is hope at every stage. Nobody should settle or accept that where they are now is where they’ll stay. Whether it’s getting the right scan, the right legal advice, or the right therapy, there is help out there.
One of my biggest learnings is also that there’s no “end point” to recovery. Progress can continue years after an injury. With joined-up care, early intervention, and belief, people can achieve far more than they’re often told is possible.
So, my message to anyone affected by brain injury, whether it’s you, a family member, or a friend, is this: take ownership of your recovery. Asking for help is not weakness; it’s strength. The right support can change everything, just as it has for me.
If you or someone you love is living with the effects of brain injury, reach out. There is help, hope and expertise available.
And if you want to be inspired further, then I would encourage you to watch my series of films, all of which can be accessed on the Coulthursts homepage.