Hi everyone,
I'm Gemma, I work in the Communications team at Headway.
I have been thinking that it would be a nice to put together a feature about how sometimes, small acts of kindness can make a big difference to people.
We'd love you to share any little acts of kindness that have made a difference to you since your brain injury.
If you would like to contribute please add in the comments below, although please don't feel that you have to.
Thanks so much 
Gemma
The friendly smile and help with my bags from the person delivering my shopping. Then casually reminding me that I can ask them to bring them into the kitchen and I can ask without feeling bad as it's their job. I said I would try to do as much as I could but was told, 'we all have those days' and was wished a good week when they left. I don't think some realise how being kind like this has a real impact
Hi 0101,
Thank you for your message on our question about small acts of kindness.
We're looking at putting a feature together using this theme, and wondered if we could use part of your comment along with your name to illustrate the difference this makes to people?
If you could let us know that'd be really helpful, and of course if you need any support from Headway please don't hesitate to get in touch.
Next time you do a food shop, buy a bar of chocolate and give it to the checkout man or woman who served you.
Always makes them smile
My son saying 'just go upstairs and have a rest' when I am getting to be erratic. He will come up and draw the curtains, on some days.
Brought me a jug of water to my bedroom - after having a very long day himself.
It is small - but makes such a difference.
Hi Writeronstack,
Thank you for your message on our question about small acts of kindness.
We're looking at putting a feature together using this theme, and wondered if we could use part of your comment along with your name to illustrate the difference this makes to people?
If you could let us know that'd be really helpful, and of course if you need any support from Headway please don't hesitate to get in touch.
Yes of course - use as much of it as you need to. If you would like a blog post from me at some stage (writing is still a pleasure, if somewhat slow) I would be happy to do that at some stage. I'm happy for you to use writeronstack as my name.
Hi Gemma! A friend who lives near me who can't get her head around my BI but just wants me to be 'ok' popped by the other day with a gift voucher for a pedicure because she knows I can't reach my feet any more... a Made me cry with gratitude as I'm not used to receiving anything. Also I have become a volunteer for Mind Somerset, so that's me wanting to give back after all the help they have given me. I am equally passionate about Headway - you guys and gals are AWESOME! Thank you so very much xx
Hi BeeYou22,
Thank you for your message on our question about small acts of kindness.
We're looking at putting a feature together using this theme, and wondered if we could use part of your comment along with your name to illustrate the difference this makes to people?
If you could let us know that'd be really helpful, and of course if you need any support from Headway please don't hesitate to get in touch.
This is from a few years ago after I'd had a stroke episode. But just having friends randomly popping over to 'catch up.' have a cuppa and make me feel 'normal'. It meant so much to know they cared. One even did some housework for me!
Hi lcd8,
Thank you for your message on our question about small acts of kindness.
We're looking at putting a feature together using this theme, and wondered if we could use part of your comment along with your name to illustrate the difference this makes to people?
If you could let us know that'd be really helpful, and of course if you need any support from Headway please don't hesitate to get in touch.
I want to mention two things.
I was a teacher before my accident in November 2021. I was knocked off my bicycle by a car as I cycled to school and suffered multiple injuries including brain injuries. I was home before Christmas but still in a pretty bad way. I was so sad to be missing out on all the joy of the festivities leading up to Christmas. One evening I was shuffled into the sitting room, wrapped in a blanket and the front door opened. Out in the street stood a group of friends from the school and they sung carols for me in beautiful harmonies. They had met and practiced for an hour before they came. They handed a lantern with a candle in through the door to bring warmth and light into our house. It was just so lovely.
For the next six months (yep, six months) every Thursday a meal would appear on our doorstep prepared by one of the families from the class I was teaching. This was such a special gift, not just for me, but recognised that my whole family was under strain and to have one day that supper was taken care of was such a gift. It was also lovely because you got a taste (apologies) of the kinds of things other families were eating and it helped me feel connected. Top tip: for six weeks I lived on soup and porridge because of surgery I had on my broken jaw. One day lasagne arrived on the doorstep and that was hard to see knowing I couldn’t eat it. Well, it turns out if you blend lasagne into a paste it still tastes goooood!
To be honest, I could go on. We have been so lucky to be a part of a community that just really pull together when crisis hits. Someone contacted me and said they couldn’t fix people but if my bike needed fixing they’d fix that. Someone else said if we needed any diy done, they could do it for us. In the end they came and took some stuff to the tip for us that we had been preparing before my accident.
I recently went out for lunch for the first time in a year. As soon as I sat down music came on. I thought I’d have to leave but my partner called over the waitress and explained the situation and they turned the music down until it was basically off. Most people want to be nice.
It feels good to spend a bit of time on gratitude as there’s plenty to be grumpy about. Thanks for reading and thanks to all those who are still checking in a year later.
Hi Jonty77,
Thank you for sharing your story and highlighting these examples on our question about small acts of kindness.
We're looking at putting a feature together using this theme, and wondered if we could use part of your comment along with your name to illustrate the difference this makes to people?
If you could let us know that'd be really helpful, and of course if you need any support from Headway please don't hesitate to get in touch.
Good morning Gemma
Communication would please me, that is proper communication with/from The Clever People in authority - government and non-government with knowledge!
as a survivor get lots of good virgin bed by helping people in shared experiences, urging people through this difficult time. If I can be of help please contact me through the app. Hope to speak soon!
Hi Gemma. Two years of lockdown made me fearful of joining in with get-togethers, and now a knee injury has kept me semi-housebound since May.
My son & daughter both have families & jobs (son works nights and is also a carer for his disabled partner and my grandson has issues keeping him at home, so daughter is on a tight reign.
But they phone and we talk for ages, and we email with links to songs/dancing dogs & other silly stuff. Daughter doesn't drive but son comes every Friday with extra shopping and naughty chocolatey treats, for a few hours of coffee, cake, stories & laughs.
Last week my niece sent me a lovely rustic plaque illustrated with wild daisies and the words 'May All Your Weeds Be Flowers' (I love my garden). Her note read simply "Love you Auntie E".
All these acts of kindness are reciprocated, but I know how lucky I am......
Cat x
Hi Cat,
Thank you for your lovely message on our question about small acts of kindness.
We're looking at putting a feature together using this theme, and wondered if we could use part of your comment along with your name to illustrate the difference this makes to people?
If you could let us know that'd be really helpful, and of course if you need any support from Headway please don't hesitate to get in touch.
A group of friends sent me a prepared food parcel which fed 3 of us for 2 days. Heaven!
In the early days one friend offered to do our family laundry. I did not say yes as my husband and I could do it however her offer was gratefully appreciated as were her aims to try and help.
My relatives organised themselves to visit me more frequently which has been the most valued support to me, their company and support at a time of personal changes has been invaluable, especially emotional support. They still do this and I count myself as lucky to have this support and wish all survivors had it.
My mum puts my appointments on her own calendar and gives me prompts. This has been very useful. The appointments are also on my calendar but sometimes I forget to read it in the morning and even though I knew about the appointment the day before, my memory does not always carry this knowledge over to the next day so it is forgotten.
I met a man recently who told me he had a brain tumour but would not be operated on as he had no one to take care of him and he could not leave his job for a six month sick leave, therefore he had chosen to monitor it and take the consequences. He had not told anybody else. I do wonder how many people face this situation.
Hi,
Thank you for your lovely message on our question about small acts of kindness.
We're looking at putting a feature together using this theme, and wondered if we could use part of your comment along with your name to illustrate the difference this makes to people?
If you could let us know that'd be really helpful, and of course if you need any support from Headway please don't hesitate to get in touch.
I found what was an enormous help to ensure I didn’t get overloaded and overwhelmed with visitors in the early days of my brain injury, a kind friend volunteered to coordinate my friends who wanted to visit me, so that I didn’t get lots on one day ( wearing my brain out and giving me mental fatigue) and the next day having no visitors . It really was such a valuable service for which I was most grateful .
Hi,
Thank you for your lovely message on our question about small acts of kindness.
We're looking at putting a feature together using this theme, and wondered if we could use part of your comment along with your name to illustrate the difference this makes to people?
If you could let us know that'd be really helpful, and of course if you need any support from Headway please don't hesitate to get in touch.
The lovely friend (we've known each other since college) who always drops in pretty much every week - which helps me feel connected - saw what a mess I was in one day and just cleaned my kitchen and vacuumed my flat for me. I could have wept with gratitude.
Hi,
Thank you for your lovely message on our question about small acts of kindness.
We're looking at putting a feature together using this theme, and wondered if we could use part of your comment along with your name to illustrate the difference this makes to people?
If you could let us know that'd be really helpful, and of course if you need any support from Headway please don't hesitate to get in touch.
Thanks - and yes, that is fine
the first few years where I was finding my way somewhat, I do remember noticing that the public on the whole where kind, be that the woman who sat with me as I was slumped on the train floor unable to reach my seat, I’m sure she had no idea what was up with me, nor did I to be fair!
To various folks who would come to check I was ok, generally on public transport. As even now I struggle at times wit it!
Right at the beginning when I was in hospital very poorly, my husband would visit talking about all the lovely meals, cakes, etc that people had made him and the kids. I was just so relieved someone was looking after him too when I couldn’t, and I could use my energies to recover!
hi. TBI in 2018. It's taken 4 years and anti-depressaNTS, BUT I'M NOW HAPPY WITH MY NEW LIFE (SAVE FOR BEING CLASSED AS DISABLED) and ready to help other survivors find happiness to, if i can. Juliet xxx
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Update on my situation for the kind people who gave me advice 
