Caring Lincoln Woman Named Carer Of The Year

Main Category: Neurology / Neuroscience
Article Date: 21 Dec 2007 - 12:00 PDT

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A Lincolnshire woman whose husband suffered a severe brain injury that left him in a coma for three weeks while she was 28-weeks pregnant with their second child has been named Carer of the Year in the annual awards run by Headway - the brain injury association.

Diane Goulden won the award for her strength and determination to help her husband, Stephen, to recover while continuing to care for the couple's young daughter at the same time.

Two years ago, Diane's husband, Stephen, was involved in a road traffic accident. He was in a coma for three weeks with doctors having to remove part of his skull to ease the pressure on his brain. When Stephen began to regain consciousness, he was extremely confused and had to relearn a number of basic life skills such as walking and talking. He also had to come to terms with what had happened and accept that he was no longer the person he used to be. Diane was a constant support to her husband throughout the ordeal, despite being heavily pregnant and looking after their daughter, Hannah, who was only two-years-old at the time of the accident. Diane gave birth to a baby boy named James in December 2005 and two months later Stephen returned home having spent four months in various hospital wards and a rehabilitation centre.

Life was not easy for the family. Like the children, Stephen required full-time care and he needed constant supervision and emotional support to help him come to terms with his new life. Diane also had the added burden of running the household, which included applying for benefits in order to pay the bills.

Stephen gradually began regaining control of his life, thanks largely to the unconditional love of his wife and the support of Headway Lincolnshire, part of the national charity that helps people rebuild their lives after suffering brain injury. Stephen's recovery is such that he recently began driving again and is now able to work two days a week - something that Diane never thought would be possible.

"Brain injuries can have devastating effects not only on the individual but also their families," said Peter McCabe, Chief Executive of Headway UK. "Diane has given her husband constant love and support in what must have been an incredibly tough few years - both physically and emotionally. She is a very worthy winner of this award."

The Headway Annual Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements and contributions of people with brain injuries and those working to support them. Other winners on the day were Nick Bennett from Cambridge (Campaigner of the Year), Kirsty Offord from Nottingham (Achiever of the Year) and Teesside's Sue Moore (Volunteer of the Year).

A special award was also presented to television production company Tiger Aspect for its powerful programme Recovery, starring David Tennant as a man trying to rebuild his life after suffering a brain injury.

http://www.headway.org.uk