Showing Support For This Year’s Action For Brain Injury Week

A 19-year-old man from Barnsley is hoping to lead a more independent life as he continues to make significant progress in his recovery following a road traffic collision in which he sustained a severe brain injury.

Oliver Brammah, from Hoyland, was just 17 when he was one of four passengers injured when a car collided with a wall.

He was placed in an induced coma due to the severity of his injuries which included a severe traumatic brain injury and a fractured pelvis.

After the crash, Oliver contacted expert serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell who helped him to access specialist rehabilitation and therapy services, and he is now supporting this year’s Action For Brain Injury Week.

Expert Opinion

“Brain injuries can continue to impact on people’s lives many years after they were originally injured.

Action for Brain Injury Week is an important time to raise awareness of the challenges that those affected can face and importantly, of what support is available to them.

Many people with traumatic / acquired brain injuries can go on to lead relatively independent lives with support.”
Rachel Cox - Solicitor, Healthy Mind Advocate & Wellbeing Lead for Sheffield

Oliver suffers from significant cognitive, emotional and behavioural problems following his brain injury. He has problems with short term memory loss, information processing, lapses of concentration and significant fatigue. 

However, he is keen to return to playing football and has started to do so with the support of his multi-disciplinary therapy team. Oliver had to work on his fatigue and stamina in order to do this.

Oliver has now been able to return to football. He progressed from ‘walking football’ and is now able to play adapted football.

He said: “I am determined to get my life back and be able to do things for myself.

“It’s hard because I get really, really tired at times. I get very angry and frustrated and I have no patience now. I wasn’t like that before.

I really struggle with fatigue. I often have to sleep periodically throughout the day. I can’t concentrate for long periods of time because I get confused. If I talk to people when I’m tired, I can see their lips moving but, at times, I have no idea what they are saying.

I know I have to get on with my life and make it the best that I possibly can. I am working hard on that with my therapy team.

Football is my passion and I was gutted when they said I couldn’t play after the crash. I know I can’t head the ball but I have been able to start playing again, even if it’s not in the same way as before. It’s taken a long time but it is worth it.”

Action for Brain Injury Week runs from 20-26 May. Organised by the charity Headway, this year’s theme is ‘Brain Drain – Wake Up To Fatigue!’

Find out more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in handling serious injury cases