Follow us: hu Improving life after brain injury Need to talk? 0808 800 2244 Donate Home About brain injury Individuals Brain injury and me Michelle Hay Share your story Share your story with us to help others affected by brain injury Michelle Hay Life is different now, but I am very fortunate to be alive. At 46-years old Michelle Hay sustained a hypoxic brain injury, caused by a partial interruption of the oxygen supply, after she suffered a cardiac arrest. Life before her brain injury was very different to how it is now. Michelle led an extremely busy life – she worked full time as a trainer and administrator for the NHS, spent time with her husband, their 15-year old son and dog and was a regular gym-goer. But ever since that fateful day in December 2019, Michelle has been forced to come to terms with a new way of living. She said: Life is different now, but I am very fortunate to be alive. I’m starting to get used to my new brain and the new me, but sometimes I can still get frustrated. Recalling the day of the brain injury, Michelle, from Auchnagatt, said: “I had a cardiac arrest at home whilst in bed. It happened after I had done a home gym exercise. I ended up having a hypoxic brain injury because of the lack of oxygen given to my brain.” Michelle’s husband, David and son, Lewis were quick to react, giving her CPR and calling an ambulance. She spent three months in hospital while doctors worked to stabilise her condition, moving from ward to ward. “The first few days in hospital were very frightening,” said Michelle. “I couldn’t remember my own name and was basically in a vegetative state for two weeks.” Whilst in hospital, Michelle began to notice difficulties recalling the names of objects she once knew, and she was diagnosed with visual agnosia. Alongside this, she now has difficulties with her short-term memory and fatigue, but she’s slowly starting to make improvements. She said: “If I forget a word then I just take a minute to let my brain reshuffle and find the word I’m looking for. Hopefully over time the words will come back to me quicker, but I am proud of myself and how far I’ve come.” When asked what advice she would give to others going through a similar experience, Michelle said: Everyone’s brain is different so there is no definitive answer to how each person will recover. My advice is to stay positive and laugh as much as you can. Back to stories index Hypoxic and anoxic brain injury If the oxygen supply is interrupted, the functioning of the brain is disturbed immediately and irreversible damage can quickly follow. Find out more Relationships after brain injury 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 Related resources Brain injury: a guide for partners Hypoxic 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