Francis' Story

In 2009, Francis, now 34, was involved in a car accident that left him in a coma for several weeks. After waking up, doctors realised he had suffered a catastrophic brain injury leaving him unable to read or write. Here, he shares his recovery story.

I had just turned 18 and I was in the car with my girlfriend. I collided with a roadwork ramp that was positioned at the bend of a road with no advanced warning. I have no memory of the accident, but when I woke up, the only way I can explain it, is it was like being a baby all over again.

I had to use diapers, and a walking frame to learn how to walk again. For a period of time I wasn’t able to talk either, although I could still understand people talking to me, I couldn’t communicate with them. It was devastating as before the accident, I had a full time job, a car, life was good.

My life had been turned upside down completely and doctors told my family to there was no hope for my future and suggested they start making plans to put me into a care home.

Things looked bleak for me and it was scary. I didn’t know what the future held for me. But, it was only when my brother brought in my guitar that things began to look brighter.

He handed over the instrument to me while I was still in my hospital bed, No one thought it would come to anything, but bizarrely, as soon as I held the instrument again I was able to play Ben E King’s Stand by Me – which is the first song I ever learnt to play as a kid.

It was an amazing moment for me.

This made everyone realise that if I was able to remember chords and melodies, then there was a lot more going on inside my mind than was apparent to the outside world. Suddenly we were all hopeful that I might recover and the doctors around me were forced to re-evaluate their opinion.

However, recovery was slow and I became frustrated from time to time. But what didn’t change was my determination. I knew that I wanted to become better. I had months of rehab in Ireland before I was eventually admitted to St Andrew’s Healthcare, a specialist mental health charity that has a brain injury service.

I was excited too as I had heard good things about the place. I was admitted in 2014 and started intense daily therapy there. There’s a lot of therapy available, I see neurologists, physiotherapists, psychologists, I also have a speech and language team and an occupational therapist, as well as weekly sessions in the hospital’s dedicated music studio complete with an in-house producer.

I’ve found music helps with my memory recall and coordination, which are two of the issues I am currently living with. Because of my bipolar – which developed after the accident – I sometimes experience some very low moments so when this happens I take myself away and play my guitar, which really helps. 

Music makes the journey better as it’s not all about rehab. I’m still me and there’s a lot of staff here who want to help me be that person.

I’m very grateful that I have regular music sessions too, which gives me focus and something to look forward to. I get to take part in music production and I’ve written a couple of songs which I love to perform.

I thought my life was over. I thought that was it. I am incredibly grateful that I got the chance to come to St Andrew’s Healthcare and receive the type of care that I have. I am walking and talking proof that it’s possible to recover from a brain injury and it is possible to live a happy and meaningful life.

I now want to get back out into the world, maybe have a little bit of support, with someone looking out for me. But, I feel like I can do it. I eventually want to go back to Ireland, maybe get a girlfriend and settle down.

When I think back to how I felt when I woke up in that hospital bed all those years ago, I never dreamt I would be here. Walking, talking and playing music again. I have hope for my future again and that is the most valuable asset to me as a person with a brain injury.