Life after brain injury – one small victory at a time.
When I returned to work after treatment for brain cancer, I found it was difficult for others to grasp exactly what had changed for me. I looked fine on the outside, but inside things were much more complicated. I realised that if people understood the nature of my difficulties — and how they could best work with me — then day-to-day life would run far more smoothly for everyone.
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Sir Dave Brailsford, the performance director who transformed British cycling, built his approach around the idea of “marginal gains” — the belief that improving many small things by just one percent can combine to create a dramatic overall improvement. The same principle applies here. My blog isn’t about grand, sweeping solutions, but about small, workable strategies for coping with the daily realities of life after brain injury. Each post offers a modest idea — perhaps trivial on its own — yet together they can make life that little bit easier, steadier, and more manageable over time.
My brain is in the process of healing and repurposing. For years, people believed that once the brain was damaged, that was that — a closed door, a full stop. But the truth, as we now know, is much more hopeful. The brain has a quiet talent for repair. Through neurogenesis (growing new nerve cells) and neuroplasticity (forming new connections), it can rewire itself — not perfectly, but well enough to find new ways of doing old things.
After something like brain surgery or a stroke, this means recovery isn’t simply about waiting. The brain is busy listening, watching, and learning from whatever we do. Every attempt — whether it’s trying to take an even step or coaxing a stubborn hand into movement — sends a message. But beware the catch …
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Half a Mind to .. 