Making Headway

18 Sep 2003

Media Release - 18 September 2003

As part of Brain Injury Awareness Week, Headway Bendigo will today host a forum to highlight the abilities and achievements of people living with a brain injury.

Special guest at the forum, Bendigo born, Milly Parker, will share the inspirational story of her recovery from the debilitating effects of a car crash ten years ago.

Milly Parker has learnt to accept, and live with, a moderate head injury and depression resulting from her crash.

Since the crash, Ms Parker has built a successful small business, "Happy Yappers", selling gourmet, home-baked dog biscuits through retail outlets in Bendigo and nationally.

"After the accident, my life changed instantly and dramatically," Ms Parker said.

"Virtually overnight, I went from being a gregarious 21 year old student with a social life that would stagger Mick Jagger in his prime, to being afraid to cross the road on my own.

"I had no idea of the consequences of my injuries, nor of the struggle that lay ahead of me.

"I felt betrayed by my own body and mind because I couldn't control them, and I kept wondering when would all this stop so I could go back to being "me" again.

"Many, many years later, after intense inner struggles and immense suffering, I have learnt to accept me. I am proud of who I am, what I have achieved to date and what I will go on to achieve.

"Through my business, I feel that I've become a contributing member of society again.

"The fact that I have an acquired brain injury does not stop me from chasing dreams and achieving goals."

In the Loddon-Mallee region alone, there are more than 5,000 people living with an acquired brain injury of varying severity, and more than 70,000 people in Victoria.

The main causes of an acquired brain injury are trauma, stroke, neurological degeneration and substance abuse.

Don Leversha of Headway Bendigo said it was important to educate the community about the abilities of people with a brain injury and to foster community awareness and understanding about its effects.

"Acquired brain injury (ABI) is known as the 'hidden disability' because many people with an ABI keep it to themselves and don't show any outward appearance of a physical disability," Mr Leversha said.

"The community has little understanding and knowledge about brain injury and its long-term effects.

"As a consequence, the difficulties people with brain injury face may be ignored or misunderstood. They may be seen, even by their friends and family, as lazy or hard to get along with.

"While the long-term effects of an ABI will be different for each person, most people will experience increased fatigue (mental and physical) and some slowing down in the speed with which they can process information.

"They may have difficulty controlling, coordinating and communicating their thoughts and actions.

"The extent of these changes – like being more impulsive or getting lost easily – may only become fully apparent after the person has been living at home for a while."

Brain Injury Awareness Week is coordinated by Headway Victoria, Bear in Mind and the Brain Foundation and is sponsored by the Transport Accident Commission.

A full outline of the Brain Injury Awareness Week activities can be found at www.headwayvictoria.org.au.

Further information:

Zed Ivankovic:1300 65 4329