Nette O. Transcript

Hi there, my name is Nette. It was June 6, 2019. I suffered a concussion when I was playing netball and whilst running fast another player elbowed me in the right side front of my head. It stopped me dead in my tracks. This is not my first concussions as 18 months prior, I sustained a concussion when I suffered a head injury after I came off a knee board at the river. This first concussion lasted approximately six months but the netball injury has rendered me completely disabled. I initially I didn’t stop moving on the court, but everyone told me they were concerned as they had heard the crack when it hit. Apparently everyone was yelling at me, Are you okay? But I have no recollection of this. Soon after, my coach and friend directed me to sit down as she said I looked different. Once I sat down, I felt very unwell. And I lost consciousness briefly. People were talking to me and I have no memory of this. They walked me with two people to the first aid where I deteriorated rapidly. All I remember was wanting to lay down on the floor. I started to lose consciousness so an ambulance was called and taken to the emergency department. I had a CT scan with no abnormalities shown. Concussion protocol assessment determined a concussion and whiplash so I was given pain relief and sent home. 

Here I am three years later still living with a TBI and post concussion syndrome. I have been through many therapies including six months of Brain Injury Rehab at Home program through Hampstead Hospital. I was building consistency and managing my fatigue levels when COVID hit. Then my therapies had to stop. I was an enrolled nurse which I can’t practice anymore. I was active, fit, and energetic. I played sports had a busy, spontaneous fun life and it all changed that day. I could no longer work, play, socialize or even have a coffee at a cafe anymore. Next I lost my driver’s license which was extremely hard. And then I was encouraged to quit my job of 20 years. No final goodbye. Just a simple email saying thanks.

I was devastated by this injury. No more colleague friendships, and everybody disappeared. I now have a few loyal amazing supportive friends who understand my issues, limits, fatigue, and associated seizures. So much has changed. Everything has changed. I’ve lost a lot but not everything. Some things that are great wouldn’t have happened if the injury didn’t happen. I now spend a lot of time managing my fatigue and learning to cope with brain injury and living with the restraints. I find it extremely hard to be isolated and the missed the spontaneousness. I could take to the beach or even just driving to the beach is difficult now. I find it’s very hard to accept the limits now that are put on my body with even walking and talking and holding conversations. It affects me in every way. It’s something you can learn to live with and learn to manage but it’s always a very fine balance of pushing the limit too far. I always say that I would never wish this on my worst enemy. But I know I’m strong and I have to keep fighting the battle to get better.