Minster Law acknowledges Pretty Super people living with brain injury
To coincide with Action for Brain Injury Week, the serious injury team at Minster Law is taking the opportunity to acknowledge the #PrettySuper people living with a serious brain injury, or supporting someone who is, in the UK. The social media campaign invites those who know someone affected by brain injury to highlight the positive achievements they have made or witnessed to raise awareness of the hard work involved in establishing a new ‘normality’ following their injury.
The campaign will culminate in a fundraising day at the London office for the Child Brain Injury Trust and in support of Hats for Headway Day. Members of the Minster Law serious injury team will dress up as Princesses and Superheroes to draw attention to the #PrettySuper people living and working with brain injuries in the UK.
People are encouraged to post social media shout outs to those who deserve recognition and tag in @MinsterLawUK on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtags #PrettySuper and #ABIWeek.
The Minster Law team will also be using the hashtags to acknowledge professionals and clients who have been affected, such as Nottingham-based Ian who suffered a brain injury following a road traffic accident. His mental and physical health weren’t the only things to be affected; his marriage and job were also casualties. However just over five years on from the accident – which left Ian close to death – he is now living a semi-independent life with the help of his mum and support workers, and owns the home that he shares with his son.
Ian, whose experience with brain injury began on 9 November 2009, is among the many people trying to create a greater understanding of brain injuries and their impact on families. He said: “The experience following my accident has been traumatic for my whole family, not just me, because it altered who I was in a lot of ways and I had to accept the realisation that I would never be the same person again, but I feel lucky to have regained the life that I have and look forward to new possibilities and opportunities.”
Minster Law Solicitor Jonathan Bamforth said: “The interesting thing about Ian is that he is an absolutely classic case of someone with the remnants of a severe brain injury who presents very well. It is fair to say that Ian suffered injuries that are among the most severe I’ve seen in a case where the client survived. He was close to death for a significant period of time.”
“If you met him you would probably notice some modest scarring to his head, but other than that you would not think that he had a brain injury. He can hold a perfectly natural conversation about most day to day issues, but if you saw him for seven days on the trot you might have that same conversation with him each time.”
While 45-year-old Ian will not return to work as a pipe fitter, due to issues with sequencing and following processes amongst others, he is keen to tackle the frustration of unemployment through voluntary work and his support workers are helping him to pursue opportunities.
If you know a #PrettySuper person affected by brain injury or supporting someone who is, please take to social media next week and show your support to help raise awareness in #ABIWeek
