A follow-up with Simon's mother, Jane Hales, on how she's been feeling since Simon's accident, and how Simon has come on since making the documentary.
Jane writes:
I hope you enjoyed watching the documentary. It was hard to decide if we should do it when Zac and Clare [the producers] initially got in touch with us, but I feel it really is an accurate record of the past six months. I hope it may help others in similar situations to ours and raise awareness generally of traumatic brain injury.
Since July, when filming finished, Simon has moved into a Community House, still under the 'umbrella' of Oakleaf Care which is a step closer to him being independent and to start the transition for his return home. He shares the house with four other residents and is very much more responsible for himself on a daily basis. It has definitely been a very positive step for him.
Words simply cannot describe how difficult the past 10 months have been, from the initial anxieties of whether Simon would survive the accident at all, to coping and learning to live with the knowledge that he would never be the same person again.
Remaining positive and concentrating on embracing the person who has emerged, rather than dwelling too much on the past has been my way of getting through, together with an amazing amount of support from family, friends, healthcare workers and total strangers.
I am hopeful that in time Simon will be as independent as I would have expected before TBI. The goal posts may have changed slightly, but ultimately a job, house and if he wishes a family of his own to worry him half to death!
I prefer not to think too much of the alternatives yet. We see an improvement in Simon still on a weekly basis and I feel strongly that if we keep positive then Simon will too, which can only help him in his endeavour to get as close as possible to where he was before his foolish accident.
