Inspire Others
Hi, I’m Daniel.
I’ve had a brain injury from when I was 9 years old.
Here’s a video of my life story.
About me and my brain injury
Since I was born, I am blessed with a wonderful, helpful, beautiful, lovely, caring, precious, disciplinarian, responsible mother that raised me with so much wisdom, taking care of me was such a blessing and she will always be in my heart forever. When I went to nursery, she was helping with my work, taking care of me by guiding me and putting my best interest at heart.
Since my accident in 2007, I have been working on doing my hand exercises with my mum and that really helped relax my right hand and from 2021 I have taken it upon myself to do arm exercises and strengthen it.
Whilst I was in the hospital after my accident, I had to learn how to walk again using my walker in Archie Norman (a centre for disabled kids). Meanwhile I was playing pool with other kids that knew how to walk which I found very exciting.
When I was in Primary School, I started making music and I got a CD.
In Year 9, I did Athletics.
During 6 Form, I went to Aspire at Stanmore and Vale Farm Sports Centre where I did swimming.
Since I have had brain injury; I’ve had to exercise more (when I’ve had time), I’ve had to work on remembering important things such as: before I go on my Inclusion Project; to wear my mask (in covid), to take my medication in the mornings and at 8pm at night, to check that I have my wallet, my keys and my phone before I go Inclusion Project and pray every day.
I have written important things down inside my notes app on my phone so I don’t forget such as: to do my College work on my laptop, to buy aftershave, to keep healthy and do hand exercises.
Nowadays I find it difficult sometimes facing life challenges such as: tidying my room, concentrating on my work without any distractions for example not being able to misplace my possessions anywhere and not to forget to keep everything I need in a safe place including my pouch, wallet, keys, phone and hand sanitizer.
Although I have a right sided hemiplegia, that doesn’t make me disabled because I can do so many things for myself for example I can cook fried rice, when food is in the fridge; I can make a meal. I can tidy up my room, make my bed neat when I wake up in the morning, have a shower when my support has finished for the day.
Advantages: Think carefully of what you do, process information, remembering to do physio on my hand, remembering to do 30 pushups every day, keeping healthy and to do a checklist of what I did every day. Thursday I go physio, when my physiotherapist is doing exercises with me I feel my right arm relaxes. I can hold bags once I have finished shopping and I can use both hands to type on my phone.
Disadvantages: Not being able to grip and release at quick pace with my right hand.
When I stretch my hand I feel it relaxing (in a short space of time it goes stiff.
Since brain injury, my cousins have supported me by doing exercises in the outdoor gym, they have helped me to gain confidence by encouraging me to believe in myself to strive to do my best in everything I do. I’ve been going to the park to play football with my cousins 1 time that we were taking penalties against each other (I really enjoyed it).
How I had to adjust since my injury
. I have been doing my own exercises
(I been going to the park and do workout + playing football)
. Focusing on remembering important chores such as: washing the dishes, hoovering my room, making my room neat and tidying the house when my sister has gone out
. Remembering to take my laundry downstairs once full
Furthermore, I cope with life challenge really well for example getting ready in the mornings, be punctual for College and before my support workers arrive to start my day. From time to time, I read my Bible and pray, always keep hydrated and be healthy.
On weekdays, before I leave my house in the mornings, I make sure I have my pouch, keys, phone and hand sanitizer.
To help me remember what important information I need, I always write it down on my notes app and I check my google calendar every day to see what I’m doing and make plans.
My sister and my nephew help me with important things such as: creaming my left arm and my shoulder, my sister helps me with my laundry, she prepares lunch and dinner for me if there’s no food in the fridge, she takes good care of me and makes sure I’m happy.
I love doing various sports like playing football, hockey, rounders, swimming, badminton and tennis.
I used to go to Arsenal Football Club on Thursdays and to play football with other people that have disabilities which I enjoyed very much.
I help my sister by doing many chores in the house such as: sweeping the hallway, tidying up the sitting room, use the shark to hoover and tidy up the shoes downstairs.
After working with my support workers everyday, I read my book in my free time.
1 of my favourite things to do is to listen to music and make music, I particularly like rapping about God and how he works to make my life better by going to church and reading my bible. I feel motivated because God is looking after me all the time and my family members that have passed away are looking down on me for example my mother who has done so much and will always be in my heart forever. Being spiritual gives me strength to stay motivated to make the best of my ability and to do the best I can in my house and in everything I do. I pray for myself every day and that keeps me going strong throughout the day, I listen to church services on YouTube and that helps me learn more about God and how he looks after me spiritually and he’s always looking down on me.
The more I strive to do the important things in life, the better I feel about it and about myself. Having a brain injury doesn’t stop me achieving my goals for life because I can achieve anything my heart desires as long as I give it 100%.