Follow us: hu Improving life after brain injury Need to talk? 0808 800 2244 Donate Home About brain injury Individuals Brain injury and me Veronica Woods Share your story Share your story with us to help others affected by brain injury Veronica Woods I could understand what my patients had been going through and how they were feeling. Doctor Veronica Woods was well-versed in spotting the signs of stroke, but when she sustained a near-fatal bleed on the brain in 2012, she ignored the voice in her head telling her to prepare for the worst. Veronica had been visiting a friend after work when she began to feel unwell with a headache and sickness. “It had been an ordinary day at work and I was looking forward to seeing my beautiful family that evening,” recalled Veronica. Her husband, who was also a GP, knew that something was seriously wrong. He rushed Veronica to A&E where she was told the devastating news that she had a bleed on the brain. She said: “I was terrified. I felt so dizzy and confused and had a terrible headache. It actually crossed my mind that I could’ve been experiencing a brain haemorrhage, but there were no indicators or risk factors so I just ignored the loud voice in my head which told me I was dying. “I was a keen runner, 36-years old, fit and healthy and in the prime of my life – I never expected to have a brain haemorrhage. I had spent my whole career looking after my patients and suddenly everything changed – I was the one who needed looking after.” Veronica underwent a series of brain scans before having surgery to stabilise her condition. She said: “Recovering from the brain haemorrhage was hard work. I was terrified. I couldn’t walk or do anything by myself anymore.” Veronica found that following her brain injury, she begun to understand some of the struggles of her patients. She said: “I could understand what my patients had been going through and how they were feeling. I couldn’t do much more than watch The Real Housewives of New York City all day. Everything was exhausting and overwhelming. “My life at home was completely different to how it had been before. I used to run and now I could barely walk. I was dizzy and tired all the time, and utterly terrified. “Nothing felt normal – I didn’t know if what I was experiencing was the condition getting worse, or whether this was just the new normal for me. “I had so many unanswered questions. How could I live up to who I was? How could I work as GP again? How could I run? What was life without these things?” It was during this difficult time that Veronica and her family decided to call the Headway helpline. She said: “The effects of my injury caused a lot of disruption to my family and I felt like no one understood – but then we found Headway. My husband and I both called the helpline and they gave us strategies to help cope with everything going on. “They understood immediately what we were going though and recommended counselling for the family. I felt lucky to pick up the phone and hear a comforting voice on the other line. I was so pleased my husband found Headway too – I don’t know where we’d be without that support. Veronica’s has since used her experience to support others by sitting on a stroke research committee where she shares her honest account of life after brain injury. She said: “My input into the committee is always truthful because I’ve experienced firsthand what it’s like to have a stroke. Unless you’ve been through that experience you can’t imagine what it would be like. “My haemorrhage changed my life completely and I will never be the person I was but I have recovered and, more importantly, grown.” Back to stories index Helpline The Headway helpline is a free, confidential service available to anyone with a question about brain injury - from survivors and carers to students and professionals. Find out more Stroke A stroke is an emergency condition in which there is a disruption of blood supply to part of the brain, leading to brain injury. Find out more Brain injury and me Find out more Related resources Rehabilitation after brain injury Returning to work after brain injury The effects of brain injury and how to help Friends of Headway Individual membership Join/Renew Contact Us t: 0115 924 0800 e: enquiries@headway.org.uk Help us improve life after brain injury. Donate Improving life after brain injury 0808 800 2244 Call our free helpline 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday. Or email helpline@headway.org.uk Join our online Community 27k Likes 25k Followers 3k Subscribers Privacy policy Cookies Terms & Conditions Accessibility Contact Us Resource centre Find a Headway Approved care providers Charity shops Fundraising comments, feedback and complaints Vacancies Join our mailing list Headway - the brain injury association is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (Charity no. 1025852) and the Office of the Scottish Regulator (Charity no. SC 039992). Headway is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England no. 2346893. © Copyright Headway 2021 - Site designed and developed by MEDIAmaker By clicking 'Accept All Cookies’ you agree to the storing of cookies on your device. This will help us to offer the best possible experience and develop more of the information you need. Accept All Cookies Cookies Settings