Never having been a healthy human being since the first time I had cancer at the ripe old age of 18. It didn't really surprise me, when at 23 yrs old the second round of cancer jumped up and bit me hard.  This time it involved large quantities of Radiotherapy, which, at the time,  was the only alternative to what was then, a high fatality rate Chemotherapy treatment.  It was a fight for life that  would cost me my immune system among other things, but, at least I was still breathing. After several bouts of what has become known as  'technical health issues' (nasty, could be worse, but could still kill you type illnesses) I finally reached the age of  38. Now there is not much that shocks or impresses me in life anymore, but the fact that I  was still breathing definitely did both. 

​On the 14th of April 2008, Whilst walking through a fun fair on the sea front at Littlehampton, I cracked my head open above my left eye. As I swung round to talk to a friend my head collided with a Steal support RSJ  that was attached to the  bumper-car ride.  An Ambulance was called and another trip to hospital in an ambulance was inevitable.  They glued my head back together, gave me some strong painkillers and off home I went and thought nothing more of it.

On the 20th April 2008, I awoke with a feeling of pain, as if I had an infection in my sinus. I spent most of the day in bed not feeling  ill but not feeling right either. It got to 8 pm and I contacted the local midi-doc for some antibiotics. One of the down sides to having no immune system is that colds, flu's and infection attack the body far faster than normal and on  this occasion there was no exception. By 10 pm I was being sick but still coherent. By 11.30 pm, I knew nothing that was happening around me and apparently all I could say was "I can't do it". It seem as if my brain had shut down to try and protect itself from the infection, whilst my subconscious mind was fighting for its life.

An ambulance was called, but as the paramedic tried to prick my finger to carry out a glucose test, something in my subconscious mind panicked resulting in me kicking and punching everyone who came near (I have had a fear of needles since a trip to the dentist at the age of seven). The police were called to assist getting me in the ambulance and off to the hospital I went. They returned to the hospital the following morning to press charges against me for assaulting two officers and two  paramedics. I'm pleased to say that being in a comma at the time of their visit was a good thing and with my brain still in the process of frying from the meningococcal septicaemia meningitis, they decided I could not be  held responsible for my actions in all . This resulted in all charges  brought against me, being dropped. 

​In the A&E that night It had taken nine members of staff, two security guards, four nurses and three doctors to hold me down so the  anaesthetist could  sedate me under general anaesthesia. This was only after they had tried to calm me down with enough tranquilliser that would put an elephant to sleep, had failed. At this point I had reverted to a 'cave girl' ripping things off the walls whilst pacing round the isolation room still grunting 'I can't do this'. 

As the anesthesia  took hold, I slipped into a coma.  Five days later I awoke in the ICU of Mayday Hospital. My eldest son was on the left side of me whilst my mum stood on the right, with a doctor at the end of the bed. He asked me if I knew who these people were? I replied pointing to each one in turn my mum and son. He then proceeded to tell me that he predicted I would have 90% brain damage according to the scans that they had already carried out, but wouldn't be confirmed until further tests were performed. I Don't recall what my answer was, but I'm sure it was disbelieving as I am an optimist.

​It took 3 years and a lot of note books to learn how to do things for myself again, but to this day, at any given time, my entire neurological system can shut down due to infection or stress, rendering me unable to fend for myself. Although in my brain everything is crystal clear, I am unable to walk, talk or do anything that most take for granted in everyday life. 

​Over the past twelve years I have tried different things to reach a level of independence to live a life that is worth going on with. I have learnt to adapt and overcome, to understand my limits and although I have a full time carer who keeps watch over me, I don't give up on anything that I start. (I started this challenge 4 months ago and am only today going live with it) I have come to recognise the warning signs of a total shut-down and have a recovery plan which is slightly unconventional but works and except that only time will allow me to recover fully from each episode. There have been many times that I could have given up, but my past illnesses have taught me that if I focus on something I love, I can overcome anything, even if it takes me years to complete.  My love of motorbikes have always kept me going when I most need it and this is why when it was suggested to me to take on this challenge, I  decided to give it a go. 

For more info please visit: www.braindamagechallenge.co.uk