For Mrs Balfy and Dorset Charlie...: Ok ladies I am... - Headway

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For Mrs Balfy and Dorset Charlie...

Drusilla profile image
14 Replies

Ok ladies I am going to give it a go....From the day that the volcano went off in my head to say that my life changed is an understatement...Since then my journey has been one of blood sweat and tears, lost friendships ( a lost Mother) and new friendships made. It hasnt been easy but hey the brain injury was mine...I felt it.,earned it and own it...But the people that suffered are my Children and my Grand children.

In that time I have managed to smash up a great deal of my house...cause mayhem everywhere I have been,..not to mention flood my home and try to burn it down a few times...I have also fallen asleep while the kitchen is on fire and been completely oblivious to the events...I have over dosed on my drugs because I couldn't remember if I had taken them, sure that I hadn't ,I took them again,and then again.I spent a good part of two years learning to do the basics again like walk and talk while my sons did all the day to day washing, feeding and dressing required to get Mum back on her feet.When my Mother was to busy and saying things like ,"she will never walk again" my sons however were showing me pictures of motorbikes and saying, " if you want to ride again Mum you have to try harder" ....So I did , Biker Mum tried and tried and tried and in this, my 5th year since surgery, I spent a splendid two weeks on the Isle of Man racing around the island at speeds in excess of 130mph....all be it as a pillion...another feather I can add to my cap since surgery.I have ridden bikes since I was 14 ,but I had never been a pillion before. It was tough ,but what were once my passions are now my addictions..So I will be back on the Rock in may next year for the TT with my new bike buddies because the old ones I had before couldnt cope with the aggressive sometimes violent and down right rude me. But hey ho..My boys did it ,Their strength and unconditional love got me where I am today. We laugh a lot and still cry a lot also...but generally happy tears...,Christmas is always emotional. My first ,post surgery Christmas I spent in A&E having cut off the top of a finger while trying to chop a swede. Have you ever tried to tell a brain injury survivor ,you cant chop a swede when you only have the use of your left arm ..? and most definitely not when she is determined and holding a sharp knife...lol.....let me tell you this ,six stitches to put the top of a finger back on was my Christmas present from the NHS....and it hurt more than the brain surgery..I screamed like a baby while my son videoed it...Lucky for me my pain killing drugs for my head ,I was covered and I was back home to finish cooking dinner ,with the help of my sons this time. Having asked them why they let me do it on my own....I was put down a peg or two by them saying " Mum you have always told us we must learn by our own mistakes" .I didnt try to chop swede again until I had regained some control and strength in my right arm....I think we are quite lucky as a family...as a mum I naturally listen to my children and my children talk to me ,so we kind of had an understanding quite early on regarding our own feelings ..my biggest was the guilt of putting my young family through such trauma...and theirs was having to parent their parent...but we did it and we have accepted the change and not all of that change was bad....We have learned a lot about ourselves and each other and all for the greater good..It hasnt been easy ,its been down right scary at times......But if we can get through it anyone can. Honesty with each other and the help of a talking stick worked for us, along with the help of Dorset Charlie and her (soon to be printed on a T-shirt) oxford street on Christmas Eve blog......

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Drusilla profile image
Drusilla
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14 Replies
brighton88 profile image
brighton88

and Gentlemen

Dorsetcharlie profile image
Dorsetcharlie

Fabulous! You and your amazing boys are gladiators; thank you for sharing your inspiring journey.

Drusilla profile image
Drusilla in reply toDorsetcharlie

Dorset Charlie....i did the easy part...Its the carers of us nightmare patients that I feel for...hang in there ,things do get much better.

in reply toDrusilla

I don't know about Doresetcharlie but every day I wish it were me and not my husband that had to suffer this. I'm sure she'd agree we do it for love, nothing more nothing less - your boys obviously love you more than words can say Drusilla x

Dorsetcharlie profile image
Dorsetcharlie in reply to

Absolutely! I would swap places with him in a heartbeat. If anything, it has made me love him more.

Stanley3 profile image
Stanley3

Wow, what an inspiration, you must be one tough chick!! My hat goes off to you for the TT, even as a pillion.... amazing!!

Drusilla profile image
Drusilla in reply toStanley3

Thank you Stanley but really its my children who are the tough ones...Not only did they have to watch their Mum go through the nightmare of brain surgery ..they also had to deal with the emotional journey of letting Mum get back on a bike. It was tears all round...lol...I cant walk in a straight line most days...but when i am on the bike thats all I am doing..no door bells,no ringing phones ,no distraction to break concentration....Its a blessed relief from my own head.

Stanley3 profile image
Stanley3 in reply toDrusilla

Yes I can completely relate to what you say... I find my focus through walking and my dog. I too love bikes but have only ever ridden pillion with boyfriends, etc. I was knocked over by a motor bike which resulted in my injury and although I have a big desire to find the 'freedom' that so many like minded people find, I think it would drive my parents insane, anyway, these days I ralise that its either a bike or my beloved dog, and he loves his looooong walks in the mountains. Well done you!!

The last time I was riding a motorbike I acquired a TBI! Haven't been on one in the 45 years since.

Drusilla profile image
Drusilla in reply to

I am lucky enough to have some very inspiring friend that have been put in wheel chairs for the rest of their lives due to bike accidents...and if they can still ride ,There was no way that i wasnt going to give it a go....these people are my inspiration...take a look at the BIKE EXPERIENCE ..you can youtube it and meet my friends and the inspiration behind me getting back on two wheels...Its is run by my friend Talan Skeels-Piggins.....it a real inspiration to watch ,Once a biker always a biker.

No offence Drusilla but for me once bitten, twice shy.

As for driving anything I'm excluded thanks to being diagnosed epileptic [not that I've ever had a fit] and my spatial appreciation is not what it should be.

Ride a push bike though :)

Drusilla profile image
Drusilla in reply to

And that is the very reason that i had to give up the throttle and learn to be a pillion....was i going to give up my addiction to brain injury...HELL NO , not once i had learned to walk and talk again..

Brilliant, well done Drusilla and we have something in common. I have also enjoyed the freedom of 137 MPH coming down the bungalow riding pillion on an exup, oh man you brought back some fantastic memories for me there from many MANY years ago! Your blog is great so well done! Looking forward to the next instalment.

Drusilla profile image
Drusilla

Bikes are my life next to my Children and my Grand Children....and the only place now that I can escape...from my own head...because when on the bike its all I have to think about...Interruptions and me just don't get along these days...I have developed an allergy to door bells ,ringing phones and anything that sounds like a crisp packet.....aarrgghhhh !!! TAKE COVER...!

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