A dad has spoken about how the support from a brain injury service has helped him get his life back on track after a devastating aneurysm.
Dougie Mackenzie’s life changed dramatically when he suffered a brain injury in June 2017 which caused him to fall down the stairs at his Renfrew home.
He wasn’t discovered until the next day when his mum saw him unconscious and called an ambulance which took him to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.
The following day, Dougie was transferred to intensive care at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital where he remained in a coma for two weeks, before he was transferred to high dependency for a further two weeks.
Don't miss the latest headlines from around Renfrewshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
Doctors discovered Dougie had suffered a life-altering Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and as a result, he stayed in different hospitals for another nine months to receive specialist treatment.
Dougie, 36, credits the NHS for saving his life, but said he was in a dark place once he was discharged as the reality of his ‘new normal’ set in and he struggled to cope.
Dougie said: “When I was first discharged from hospital, my speech and mobility had been hugely impacted by my injury.
“I was reliant on other people for almost everything, and my living situation only made things harder as I couldn’t access day-to-day facilities.
“The worst of it was that I couldn’t look after my daughter alone, who I share custody of after parting ways with her mother in 2015.”
Dougie, born and raised in Renfrew, first came into contact with Quarriers Renfrewshire Head Injury Service in 2018 and he credits the support he has received with giving him a second chance at life.
Quarriers visited him at home and set the ball in motion for further support, resulting in another six months in a facility specialising in brain injury rehabilitation.
Dougie said: “Quarriers has been behind me every step of the way through my recovery and has helped me learn to live with my injury, through their advice and encouragement.
“They helped organise moving to a flat that’s much better suited to my needs, which has hugely increased my sense of independence and freedom, and my mobility and speech is improving a little bit more each and every day.
“Best of all, thanks to their support I’m now able to see my daughter Sophie three times a week.
“Quarriers organises days out for us, financed by the Quarriers’ Children’s Fund, so we can spend quality time together as a family - we recently got to visit Edinburgh Zoo and see Sophie’s favourite animal, the Red Panda.”
Quarriers currently supports 71 people living with an acquired head injury from the ages of 16 to 65 in the Renfrewshire Council area.
Over the years the service has expanded to offer support to carers and family members who play a major role in the rehabilitation and care of loved ones with a head injury.
The service also offers group support through The Sunshine Club which aims to reduce isolation and provide a positive, safe, community space where people with a head injury can form friendships and meet others with similar life experiences.
Jaclyn Mulheron, Dougie’s support worker who is also his neighbour, said she’s seen “remarkable” growth in Dougie.
“Often when tragedy strikes as it did in Dougie’s case, people are unaware of the help and entitlement that exists to support them and so they can feel quite lost,” she said.
“The Renfrewshire Head Injury Service is a place that people can come to, without fear of judgement, where they’ll be welcomed, loved and accepted.
“We help those we care for achieve their short-term and long-term goals whether that’s through group sessions, one-to-one support or through our training awareness services.”
Dougie, who was a distribution supervisor before his injury, is currently pursuing his passion for photography and is completing a HNC in Photography at West of Scotland College, after which he hopes to go on to achieve his HND.
Dougie said: “When I first suffered my injury, I went completely in on myself and focused on the negatives of my situation. Being unable to work left me feeling lost, with no purpose.
“Before my injury, I didn’t dedicate enough time towards my passion whereas now, I’m pursuing a career in photography through my college course and I’m learning so many new techniques and skills.”
Dougie added: “What happened to me made me really appreciate life and how lucky I’ve been to get one, let alone two, shots at it.
“In some ways I now look at my injury as a blessing in disguise as it’s allowed me the chance to dedicate my time to the most important areas of my life, which has only been possible thanks to the care and support I’ve received from Quarriers.”
For more information about Quarriers Renfrewshire Head Injury Service please phone 0141 848 1701 or email headinjuryservice@quarriers.org.uk
Download the FREE Renfrewshire Live app now for all the latest news, features and sport in your area. Available on both Android and Apple. Download here: smarturl.it/RenfrewLiveSocial
