MCDONALD, S. / LITTLE, A. / ROBINSON, G.
List of figures
List of tables
Series Foreword
Professor Barbara Wilson
Note
Preface
What happened?
Was it that bad?
Coma
Trauma
Who am I now?
Back to work
Life after near-death
Plodding on
Brave neurological world
Index
Rebuilding Life after Brain Injury: Dreamtalk tells the survival story of Sheena McDonald, who in 1999 was hit by a police van and suffered a very severe brain injury. Sheenas story is told from her own, personal standpoint and also from two further unique and invaluable perspectives. Allan Little, a BBC journalist and now Sheenas husband, describes both the physical and mental impact of the injury on himself and on Sheena. Gail Robinson, Sheenas neuropsychological rehabilitation specialist, provides professional commentaries on Sheenas condition, assessment and recovery process.
The word Dreamtalk, created by Allan to describe Sheenas once "hallucinogenic state", sets the tone for this book. It humanises and contextualises the impact of brain injury, providing support and encouragement for patients, professionals and families. It presents exclusive insights into each stage of recovery, spanning coma, altered consciousness, post-traumatic amnesia and rehabilitation; all showing how she has defied conventional clinical expectations and made an exceptional recovery.
This book is valuable reading to those who have suffered a brain injury and also to professionals such as neurologists, neuropsychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists working in the field.
