Rebuilding Life after Brain Injury: Dreamtalk tells the survival story
of Sheena McDonald, who in 1999 was hit by a police van and suffered a
very severe brain injury. Sheena's story is told from her own, personal
standpoint and also from two further unique and invaluable perspectives.
Allan Little, a BBC journalist and now Sheena's husband, describes both
the physical and mental impact of the injury on himself and on Sheena.
Gail Robinson, Sheena's neuropsychological rehabilitation specialist,
provides professional commentaries on Sheena's condition, assessment and
recovery process.
The word Dreamtalk, created by Allan to describe Sheena's once
"hallucinogenic state", sets the tone for this book. It humanises and
contextualises the impact of brain injury, providing support and
encouragement for patients, professionals and families. It presents
exclusive insights into each stage of recovery, spanning coma, altered
consciousness, post-traumatic amnesia and rehabilitation; all showing
how she has defied conventional clinical expectations and made an
exceptional recovery.
This book is valuable reading to those who have suffered a brain injury
and also to professionals such as neurologists, neuropsychologists,
physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists working
in the field.