Different Phil: A brain injury survivor's story
- 02.07.2020
- JessicaMG
- Personal-injury
10 years ago, Phil Allen’s life was changed forever. He survived a severe brain injury in a cycling accident. He spent weeks in a coma and was hospitalised for about 4 months. Subsequently, he has also spent some periods of time in residential rehabilitation, the latter of which was for the largest part of a year.
As with many people who sustain a serious brain injury, the circumstantial, physical and mental effects of Phil’s accident and brain injury are on-going, and affect not only himself, but also his loved ones. Since his accident, Phil considers himself to be a substantially changed person, and has even gone so far as to nickname himself Phil v2.0!
Unfortunately, Phil has regarded Phil v2.0 to be a shadow of his former self and someone he didn’t particularly like. Accordingly, he decided that something had to be done. Fast forward a few years, and after much personal and professional help, the process of rebuilding his life and acceptance of his alteration has begun and is on-going.
Phil has also started a blog in which he hopes to paint a picture of himself, his life and his journey. In doing so, he hopes to provide encouragement and inspiration to other brain injury survivors.
Phil, a former Personal Injury client of ours, says:
"The life of Phil v2.0 is much different to earlier versions. It has been (and remains) an uphill struggle, but I am gradually beginning to appreciate that different isn’t necessarily worse!
"If nothing else, I hope to illustrate that despite a contrary appearance, brain injury isn’t always a full stop; and life, albeit it in a changed form, can still go on – as Michael Stipe of REM said “A three-legged dog is still a dog. It just has to learn to run differently”.
"For someone who is unaffected by brain injury, it will I trust, provide something of an insight into this often “hidden disability”."
You can take a look at Phil’s blog here – we will also be sharing links to Phil’s blog on our social media accounts going forward, so please keep an eye out!