Annette’s life took an unexpected turn when she had a stroke and was found with a reduced level of consciousness at home. She was rushed to hospital for immediate medical treatment as CT scans revealed an aneurysm (bulging artery) and a haemorrhage (bleeding and pressure around the brain).
Following treatment at the Queen’s Medical Centre hospital, Annette’s journey towards recovery began when she was transferred to the Millwood Unit for specialist care at our Nottingham Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre. Upon arrival, Annette initially struggled with fatigue, dizziness, self-esteem and anxiety. Her mobility was severely limited, with no activity in her lower limbs or her left upper limb, and she needed a feeding tube and full assistance with personal care.
By working closely with Annette and being open and honest in their approach, our multi-disciplinary team were able to work on different strategies and explore a variety of beneficial techniques. Physiotherapists and rehab assistants helped to improve Annette’s mobility and sensation, starting with a range of movements, bed exercises and balancing methods. Occupational therapists focused on enhancing Annette’s daily living skills, and speech and language therapists addressed her swallowing difficulties.
Although Annette’s fatigue, anxiety and low mood would at times have an impact on therapy sessions, our team never gave up encouraging Annette to have a go at things and would adapt their approach as needed, while helping her to understand her limitations and rebuild her confidence.
As time went on, Annette made progress, with her sitting tolerance increasing and she regained some movement in her right arm and learned to use a call buzzer and voice-activated devices.
Perhaps most significantly, Annette was able to get around in her wheelchair with reduced assistance and transitioned from tube feeding to a regular diet — both major milestones in her recovery. Beyond physical improvements, Annette’s mood and social engagement flourished. She participated in group activities, and even visited the city centre and the local church coffee mornings with activity coordinators.
After being in our care, Annette has made remarkable progress and has been discharged to live with her husband in their home with a tailored care package. They expressed heartfelt gratitude to our team, whose dedication had not only aided Annette’s physical recovery but also greatly restored her spirit. Reflecting on her time at Nottingham, Annette said, “The service has been a lifeline to me.” She particularly appreciated the friendliness of our team members, which helped her cope and navigate a new way of life.
Annette’s positive journey at Nottingham Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre is a testament to our compassionate approach to patient-centred care, and we are proud of the superb work our team did to help Annette reclaim her independence. As Annette herself says, “Anything is possible.”
For more information about Nottingham Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre, please visit their webpage.
