Mike Barnes: My story & Headway Charity

Mike Barnes, an ex NONSTOPer worked in a Vancouver Ski Resort the season after he completed an 11-week NONSTOP Ski Instructor course.  He was enjoying himself in the park with some mates one day when he went for a kicker and woke up a week later in hospital.  Mike had been in a brain injury induced coma and was told by doctors it would take years to recover.  Mike suggested we use Headway, the charity that has helped him on his road to recovery, as the charity that all profit from NONSTOCK, our annual festival should go to.

Here is Mike’s story…

It is the last day of a great season in Vancouver and I’m feeling very relaxed as I hit the park for the last time…  I wake up in a hospital a week later, with no recall of how I came to be there. I struggle to speak, see and move.

I slowly realised the situation I was in. I had sustained a serious brain injury. My life had paused. I had lost the use of the left side of my body and had double vision.  I’ve been told since that getting over this injury would probably be the longest and hardest journey I would ever have to undertake. All my plans for the future were shelved for now. Recovering became the only priority.

One year on, and I’m doing well! I can now walk, talk and eat normally. My eyesight has been   improved with the aid of glasses with special lenses and mentally, I’m still Mike!  With the help offered by the charity Headway I know that, should I need additional support, they are there to help me.

Headway is a charity that aims to help improve life after brain injury through many different means. From providing support and information to people with brain injuries and their relatives, to occupational therapy and help with getting back to work. They even offer a Befriending Scheme that tries to partner together volunteers and clients for long term support

After reading about some of the people Headway has helped, I realise that I’m one of the luckier ones. Headway has helped loads of people going through the hell of a brain injury to come out the other side and live as normal a life as possible.

It’s not the easiest of journey’s to take but Headway offer plenty of  support and with time, patience and their help, things will improve.

I am so grateful

that charities like Headway exist to help. Instead of being lost right now, I’m on the mend, determined, undeterred, and ready for the next challenge. BRING IT ON.

Mike Barnes (21)