Hi there, my name is Laura, and in September 2025, I hit my head on a concrete staircase whilst getting up from my seat and it changed my life.

The first 18 months to 2 years is vital for recovery following a brain injury, however with pressures on the NHS, like never ending waiting lists and not enough staff, it is looking as though going private may be my only option within this time frame.

I am embarrassed to have to ask for help, however after recent events, I no longer have a choice.

The Injury:

I hit my head (just above my right eye) on a low hanging piece of concrete. The impact and severity of this hit, caused my brain to turn inside my skull. This is known as an axonal rotation. Whilst there was no visible physical damage to my brain, this type of injury can cause the brain turn off and turn on again.

(Think of it like a computer running lots of different programmes, if you were to just unplug it without shutting it down properly, the software can become damaged and will struggle to run.)

This is what has happened to me. The software in my brain has been damaged and now doesn’t work properly. It confuses signals and sends the wrong messages, causing issues such as uncontrollable spasms/tremors, speech difficulty, balance issues, mobility problems, fear, confusion, and many more.

Funds:

I have been doing what I can with the help of my medical team, friends, and family, and will take any help I can get.

I am seeking funding for specialist rehabilitation help such as Neuro Occupational Therapy, Neuro Physio Therapy, Neuropsychological assesment, and Psychotherapy.

My former rehabilitation case manager has outlined her recommendations in an immediate needs assessment, however unfortunately the funding for this has not been successful.

The estimated costs for this is around £15,000, however I am seeking to raise £5,000 for the more urgent rehabilitation treatment.

If this estimate is incorrect, or if we surpass the target and there is money left over, I promise to donate it to Headway, a brain injury charity.

The Impact:

I lost my job in January of 2026 as a result of having to come back to work earlier than I should have. As my probation paperwork (which was due to be signed in June 2025) never got officially completed (despite me continuing to work and not being told of any extension to my 6 month probation period ), they told me I was not eligible for company sick pay, and I could only get statutory (SSP). This was significantly less than my usual pay, and due to having recently moved into our home, I could not afford to survive on that alone. With the waitlist for PIP being a few months, I had to return to work earlier than planned just to afford live.

I have desperately been looking for work since losing a job that I truly cared about, and have applied for over 60 positions so far. Most haven’t bothered to get back to me, and the ones that did were rejections. I am now awaiting a work capability assesment in order to see if I am fit to return to work, and if so, what roles I can perform.

I want to work. I want to contribute. I have not been without a job since I was 16 years old, and this is having a large impact on my mental wellbeing. I do not like to be reliant on others, and will happily pay my way where I can.

I have good days and bad days, and due to the nature of my injury and condition, additional stresses greatly impact my symptoms and daily life.

I have been following all advice from my doctors and medical team, and have noticed a great improvement so far. Your donations would enable me to build on this progress, and can bring back some much needed mental clarity and ability.

I have been working hard to improve my mobility, however rely on a stick and rollator at times to get around. There are times when I am unable to leave the house, walk, or even speak on my own. The severity of my tics is causing muscle spasms and tightness, which in turn triggers migraines, and the issues with my memory and attention are exhausting.

If you are able to donate, I will make you a thank you card to explain how much this means to me. Additionally, I plan to document the process to show what your donation has done for my recovery.

Thank you so much for reading my story ✨