‘I don’t know where I would be without them’ – mam Ruth
By Maddie Mueller.
ACQUIRED Brain Injury Ireland (ABII), a nonprofit that provides neuro-rehabilitation services to over 1,100 people across Ireland every year, celebrated its 21st birthday last week.
There are 19,000 new brain injuries acquired in Ireland every year and can occur following a traumatic event like a car crash, or as a result of a serious medical issue like a stroke or a concussion.
Ruth Carroll has been receiving support from Acquired Brain Injury Ireland
A day after her son, Bobby, was born, Ruth Carroll suffered a stroke as a result of a brain tumor. She was instantly paralyzed on the left side of her body and spent seven months in hospital and another four months at the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH).
She and her family live in Templeogue, where her husband, Dave, was born and raised. When she first left the hospital he had to help her with simple tasks like getting out of bed and using the bathroom.
“It wasn’t easy really coming home,” said Ruth.
Ruth, who worked in marketing for ten years, now sees her full-time job as recovering. Her left hand and arm are still paralysed but she does physical therapy at home and even recently started driving again.
During her stay in the NRH, Ruth was connected with Anne O’Leary, a worker at ABII who has been helping her to recover and reach her goals through frequent home visits and outings. ,
With the help of Anne, Ruth has been going to a gym as part of her recovery and aims to take Bobby along with her, as one of her main goals is to strengthen their bond. She said Anne acts as her “safety net” when she goes out to make sure that nothing goes wrong.
“I don’t know where I would be without them,” said Ruth of ABII, “they’ve been quite clever in terms of support.”
For those who may not have family or friends nearby for support, ABII acts as sort of lifeline. The organisation has been offering a variety of virtual courses and events during the pandemic, such as a six week wellness and self-care program over Zoom.
In addition to providing extensive at-home support, ABII also operates 16 different rehabilitation residences for patients who otherwise may have inappropriately ended up in nursing homes.
ABII’s services are completely free for those who need them, and the organisation has been invaluable to Ruth and her family.
“I have to say they’re brilliant,” she said.
