Follow us: hu Improving life after brain injury Need to talk? 0808 800 2244 Donate Home About brain injury Individuals Brain injury and me Q&A: Emma Linnell Share your story Share your story with us to help others affected by brain injury Q&A: Emma Linnell The bond of our family is stronger than ever after everything thrown our way this year. A Q&A with brain injury survivor Emma Linnell. What makes you happy? Being with my children, husband and close friends. Feeling safe at home. What is your proudest moment? Being able to walk down the aisle to say 'I do' nine months after suffering the brain infection and missing our original wedding planned for February. I can remember the whole day! Who in your life understands your brain injury the best? My husband Stefan, and my closet friends, Jilly, Cathy and Jodie. What is the most frustrating thing about your brain injury? Not feeling like me, feeling lost, waking up feeling nauseous, having headaches – I never suffered with them before the brain infection. I get very emotional now as that is the part of my brain that was infected. One day I feel full of life, the next I struggle to function like I used to. I also lost my photographic memory. How has Headway helped you? I have found the papers on cognitive functions, managing fatigue and executive dysfunction very helpful, even if I did burst into tears reading them. It’s hard to find anyone, anywhere, who understands what has happened but reading these papers it felt good to know everything I am going through is 'normal'. What is the most important lesson life has taught you? Life is precious so do not take anything for granted. I am stronger than I ever knew possible. From now on it’s okay for life to slow down. Have there been any positives to come from your brain injury? The bond of our family is stronger than ever after everything thrown our way this year. What advice would you give to fellow brain injury survivors? Take time to understand your new normal. The brain is very complicated, and everyone recovers at different rates. You cannot rush recovery and it is hard sometimes as people cannot see how poorly we have been or still are. Back to stories index Brain injury and me Find out more Supporting you From local groups or branches, our Emergency Fund, Brain Injury Identity Card, helpline and much more, find out how Headway can support you after brain injury. Find out more Get involved Help us to provide vital resources and support to individuals and families affected by brain injury. Find out more Related resources Brain injury: a guide for friends Parenting after brain injury The effects of brain injury 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