AN acquired brain injury or ABI is a brain injury acquired through a stroke, trauma, haemorrhage or bump to the head causing injury to the sensitive tissues and neurological networks in the brain. One thing that I know, following my brain haemorrhage six years ago, is that this type of injury really does mess with your head.

Two weeks ago I wrote about my journey into London which was a terrifying experience for me because it’s so busy and the combination of my visual impairment and semi-paralysis of my left side makes this a very difficult thing to cope with.

So, I think I must’ve been unbelievably daft if not downright stupid to have attempted the same thing again this last weekend. I went to visit my friend Justine in Islington, who tragically suffered a debilitating stroke at the age of 29 leaving her with a condition called Aphasia which means that she has great difficulty communicating orally. Reading and writing are difficult for her too.

In some ways, we are like opposites. Because she has paralysis of her right side and I have paralysis of my left side. We complement each other in the sense that I’m a chatterbox and she has difficulty speaking, so I can often help her out. She can see properly and I can’t see very well so she often looks out for me. I often joke with people that you could build one good one out of the pair of us.

We went on the most amazing journey to Camden market which was an absolute hive of activity with lots and lots of people from all nationalities. Walking through the crowds with my white cane and her looking out for me as well was an amazing experience and I was able to help her out at times when speaking was required.

Even walking for me involves a level of mental concentration that makes seeing even harder because my brain injury prevents such multitasking. I find myself motivating and driving myself on by repeating a mental mantra such as left foot, right foot, flex knee, straight me, and so on. Despite this we had a fantastic day and I didn’t walk into one single person or be hit by a single bike or car.

We also managed to order food together and I was also able to experience talking buses for the first time which we don’t have around this way or if we do I haven’t experienced them in Oxfordshire yet. Every now and again the voice will tell you which bus you are on and where you are going which is surprisingly useful because my brain injury means I’m often forgetful and it’s nice to be reminded of what you’re doing.

Another new experience was the pelican crossings that show a countdown in seconds before the cars are going to begin moving again, which I found useful using the limited vision that I have. I’m also a little slow crossing the road. It’s nice to know if you have still got X amount of seconds left before the cars and buses are going to roar towards you. The more often I undertake such challenges the more my brain will be able to adapt and conquer such things so I can’t wait to go again.

e: disabledspace@oxfordmail.co.uk

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