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Surviving Brain Damage After Assault: From Vegetative State to Meaningful Life
At the age of twenty eight Gary was assaulted by a gang with baseball bats and a hammer, resulting in several skull fractures and severe brain damage. For nineteen months he had little awareness of his surroundings before he started to show some recovery. This inspirational book documents his exceptional journey. The book presents a series of interviews with Gary, his mother Wendie, who never gave up, the medical team who initially treated him, and the therapists who worked with him over a period of three years. Through their testimony we learn about the devastating effects which can follow a serious assault to the head, and the long process of recovery over several years. With specialist rehabilitation and continuing family support Gary has exceeded expectations and, apart from some minor physical problems, he is now a normal young man. Surviving Brain Damage after Assault shows that, contrary to popular belief, considerable gains can be made by people who have experienced a long period of reduced consciousness. The book will be of great value to all professionals working in rehabilitation - psychologists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, social workers and rehabilitation doctors, and to people who have sustained a brain injury and their families.
172 pages, Paperback
First published November 20, 2015
1 person is currently reading
282 people want to read
About the author
Barbara A. Wilson
40 books6 followersBarbara Wilson qualified as a clinical psychologist in 1977 and since 1979 she has worked in Brain Injury Rehabilitation, first at Rivermead Rehabilitation Centre in Oxford, then at Charing Cross Hospital, London and at The University of Southampton Medical School. Since 1990 she has been employed as a Senior Scientist at The Medical Research Council’s Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge.
In 1996 she established The Oliver Zangwill Centre for Neuropsychological Rehabilitation in Ely, which is founded on a partnership between East Cambs and Fenland Primary Care Trust (formerly Lifespan) and the Medical Research Council. Dr Wilson is Director of Research at this centre. She is also visiting Professor of Rehabilitation Studies at the University of Southampton.
Barbara Wilson specialises in helping people with non progressive brain injury to compensate for cognitive difficulties and cope in everyday life. She believes in combining research with clinical practice and her research is in three main areas:
The development of new assessment techniques to measure the everyday problems of people with brain injury. In this capacity Barbara Wilson has published several tests including: The Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test, The Behavioural Inattention Test, The Behavioural Assessment of The Dysexecutive Syndrome and The Wessex Head Injury Matrix.
The development of new treatment techniques to help reduce the everyday problems of people with brain injury. In this area Dr Wilson has published several studies on errorless learning to help people with memory problems learn more efficiently and has also evaluated NeuroPage, a paging system to help memory impaired people cope with everyday tasks.
The nature of recovery of people who have sustained a severe injury to the brain. Here Barbara is interested in patterns of recovery after brain injury, recovery from post traumatic amnesia and recovery in people who are unaware of their surroundings for long periods of time. Barbara Wilson has published 16 books, mostly on rehabilitation, 7 widely-used neuropsychological tests, and over 250 journal articles and chapters, again mostly on rehabilitation.
Barbara is the Editor of the journal Neuropsychological Rehabilitation (established in 1990); sits on several national committees; and has been on the governing board of The International Neuropsychological Society. Dr. Wilson lectures throughout the world, particularly in Europe, North and South America, Australia and Hong Kong.
In 1984 she was awarded The May Davidson Award for outstanding contributions to Clinical Psychology within 10 years of qualification. In 1998 she was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Years Honours List for services to medical rehabilitation. In 2000 she was awarded a Distinguished Scientist Award from the British Psychological Society; in 2002 she was awarded the Professional of the Year award by The Encephalitis Society; and in 2003 she won The British Psychological Society’s annual Book of the Year Award for her book 'Case Studies in Neuropsychological Rehabilitation'.
In 2004 she was awarded an honorary doctorate from The University of East Anglia. She is a Fellow of The British Psychological Society, The Academy of Medical Sciences and The Academy of Learned Societies in the Social Sciences.
In 1996 she established The Oliver Zangwill Centre for Neuropsychological Rehabilitation in Ely, which is founded on a partnership between East Cambs and Fenland Primary Care Trust (formerly Lifespan) and the Medical Research Council. Dr Wilson is Director of Research at this centre. She is also visiting Professor of Rehabilitation Studies at the University of Southampton.
Barbara Wilson specialises in helping people with non progressive brain injury to compensate for cognitive difficulties and cope in everyday life. She believes in combining research with clinical practice and her research is in three main areas:
The development of new assessment techniques to measure the everyday problems of people with brain injury. In this capacity Barbara Wilson has published several tests including: The Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test, The Behavioural Inattention Test, The Behavioural Assessment of The Dysexecutive Syndrome and The Wessex Head Injury Matrix.
The development of new treatment techniques to help reduce the everyday problems of people with brain injury. In this area Dr Wilson has published several studies on errorless learning to help people with memory problems learn more efficiently and has also evaluated NeuroPage, a paging system to help memory impaired people cope with everyday tasks.
The nature of recovery of people who have sustained a severe injury to the brain. Here Barbara is interested in patterns of recovery after brain injury, recovery from post traumatic amnesia and recovery in people who are unaware of their surroundings for long periods of time. Barbara Wilson has published 16 books, mostly on rehabilitation, 7 widely-used neuropsychological tests, and over 250 journal articles and chapters, again mostly on rehabilitation.
Barbara is the Editor of the journal Neuropsychological Rehabilitation (established in 1990); sits on several national committees; and has been on the governing board of The International Neuropsychological Society. Dr. Wilson lectures throughout the world, particularly in Europe, North and South America, Australia and Hong Kong.
In 1984 she was awarded The May Davidson Award for outstanding contributions to Clinical Psychology within 10 years of qualification. In 1998 she was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Years Honours List for services to medical rehabilitation. In 2000 she was awarded a Distinguished Scientist Award from the British Psychological Society; in 2002 she was awarded the Professional of the Year award by The Encephalitis Society; and in 2003 she won The British Psychological Society’s annual Book of the Year Award for her book 'Case Studies in Neuropsychological Rehabilitation'.
In 2004 she was awarded an honorary doctorate from The University of East Anglia. She is a Fellow of The British Psychological Society, The Academy of Medical Sciences and The Academy of Learned Societies in the Social Sciences.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 9, 2025
Surviving Brain Damage After Assault: From Vegetative State to Meaningful Life is an inspiring and thought-provoking account of Gary's remarkable recovery after a brutal assault left him with severe brain damage.
At 28, Gary was viciously attacked, resulting in skull fractures and extensive brain injury, leaving him in a vegetative state for nearly two years. This book documents his gradual recovery, driven by an unwavering support system and exceptional medical care.
The narrative is built on a series of interviews, which include insights from Gary, his mother Wendie, the medical team, and the therapists who played key roles in his rehabilitation.
Their testimonies provide a deeply personal look at the devastating impact of the assault and the years of painstaking recovery that followed. The book highlights the importance of continuous care and rehabilitation, emphasising the potential for recovery in individuals who have suffered long periods of reduced consciousness. It is a powerful reminder that significant progress is possible with dedication and the right support, as Gary's journey demonstrates.
While the book offers a moving and inspiring story, it also delves into a considerable amount of academic background and theoretical information about brain injury and rehabilitation.
This aspect is quite detailed, almost resembling a literature review, and while it is undoubtedly valuable for professionals in the field, it can be overwhelming for those more interested in the personal side of Gary's story.
As a nurse, I found the technical information fascinating, but I was more drawn to the narrative of Gary's resilience and recovery. His story truly captures the spirit of determination and hope, which makes the academic side feel secondary in comparison.
This book would be a valuable resource for rehabilitation professionals and families affected by brain injury. It offers not only insights into the science of recovery but also a testament to the power of human resilience and the importance of family and community support.
Read more at The Secret Book Review.
At 28, Gary was viciously attacked, resulting in skull fractures and extensive brain injury, leaving him in a vegetative state for nearly two years. This book documents his gradual recovery, driven by an unwavering support system and exceptional medical care.
The narrative is built on a series of interviews, which include insights from Gary, his mother Wendie, the medical team, and the therapists who played key roles in his rehabilitation.
Their testimonies provide a deeply personal look at the devastating impact of the assault and the years of painstaking recovery that followed. The book highlights the importance of continuous care and rehabilitation, emphasising the potential for recovery in individuals who have suffered long periods of reduced consciousness. It is a powerful reminder that significant progress is possible with dedication and the right support, as Gary's journey demonstrates.
While the book offers a moving and inspiring story, it also delves into a considerable amount of academic background and theoretical information about brain injury and rehabilitation.
This aspect is quite detailed, almost resembling a literature review, and while it is undoubtedly valuable for professionals in the field, it can be overwhelming for those more interested in the personal side of Gary's story.
As a nurse, I found the technical information fascinating, but I was more drawn to the narrative of Gary's resilience and recovery. His story truly captures the spirit of determination and hope, which makes the academic side feel secondary in comparison.
This book would be a valuable resource for rehabilitation professionals and families affected by brain injury. It offers not only insights into the science of recovery but also a testament to the power of human resilience and the importance of family and community support.
Read more at The Secret Book Review.
Displaying 1 of 1 review