"It gave me a future”.
"Looking back now, I often say that I am a product of rehabilitation. It didn't give me back the person I once was. It gave me something different”. "It gave me a future”.
Nicholas Cass, BASRaT Registered Sport Rehabilitator, speaks to us about his life after a brain injury and presenting at the recent Brain Injury Conference:
“Last week I had the privilege of speaking at an adult brain injury conference by Brain Injury Group, sharing my journey as both a brain injury survivor and a Sport Rehabilitator.
When I was hit by a car during my university studies, I woke from a coma with no understanding of what had happened to me. I had multiple fractures to my spine and face, a brain injury I did not know I had and a future that suddenly looked very different from the one I had planned.
What followed was not just physical recovery.
I returned to university, completed my degree, and graduated with a 2:1. On paper, it looked like a success story. The reality was very different. I was struggling with cognitive fatigue, emotional dysregulation, overstimulation, social isolation and a growing sense of inadequacy. I was trying desperately to be the person I was before my injury.
The turning point came when rehabilitation entered my life.
For the first time, I began to understand that I wasn't failing as a person. I had sustained a brain injury. The support from incredible professionals helped me understand the challenges I faced, develop strategies and build a future. Looking back now, I often say that I am a product of rehabilitation. It didn't give me back the person I once was. It gave me something different. It gave me a future.
Another major turning point was becoming part of the brain injury community through Heads Up Therapies and CB Fitness. Meeting other survivors who understood fatigue, cognitive overload, emotional changes and the invisible challenges of brain injury had a massive impact on my mental health and wellbeing. I lost many friendships after my injury. Now my friends all have brain injuries! That experience continues to shape my work through Life Works Rehabilitation.
As a brain injury survivor, I understand that rehabilitation is rarely straight forward and that fatigue, unpredictability and overstimulation can be significant barriers to participation. That's why Life Works Rehabilitation has been designed around the needs of ABI survivors, with flexible appointment structures, built-in cognitive fatigue breaks, a calm and low-stimulation environment and close alignment with wider multidisciplinary rehabilitation goals.
My goal is simple: To help people achieve sustainable participation in meaningful activities through movement, exercise, manual therapy, rehabilitation and support.
Thank you to everyone who attended, listened, asked questions and continues to advocate for people living with acquired brain injury.
The greatest lesson my injury taught me is that rehabilitation isn't always about getting someone back to where they were before, sometimes it's about helping them build the life they want to live.”