My family has been to hell and back

By Sharon Dobson

In 2019, I was in a car crash, with my husband and youngest daughter. It was through no fault of our own, but I received a head injury which resulted in a catastrophic stroke.

I was on life support initially, then in a coma for three weeks. My memories of the crash are hazy at best, and I have no memory of the early weeks in the hospital.

But when I woke up, I was like a baby. I couldn’t walk, talk or feed myself. I was terrified and so was my family.

I was in hospital for another three months, relearning life's most basic activities, like going to the toilet, lifting a spoon to my mouth and brushing my hair.

Honestly, I didn’t know my body anymore. Where had I disappeared too? What was my life going to be like?

After three months as an in-patient, I discharged myself because I was so lonely, and I needed to get back to my family.

But, every day since the stroke has been a hard slog. Like walking on wet cement, it’s slow and disorientating, and you can easily get stuck.

Grief has impacted us all. My husband blames himself, he shouldn’t as he could not have done a thing about it, but he does.

All my children still suffer with nightmares from that day, especially my youngest daughter, who was in the car. The sound of a big car crash is something I believe you can never forget – it's excruciating.

So, where do we find ourselves three and a bit years later? Still coming to terms with what happened. My daughter was my full-time carer, I am more independent now, and my family has filled in many of the gaps in my memory.

I am moving better, even with hemiplegia, and my speech has improved. I have terrible anxiety and my personality is different. I really am a new Sharon.

What I am working on now is acceptance. Easy to say and hard to do as it takes a lot of effort and persistence. I have good days and bad days, but I am here with my family, and I have much to contribute.

I want to dedicate this blog to the people who saved my life, and in many ways continue to do so every day.

Thank you to Chris, my husband, for being with me every step of the way.

Thank you to my children, Sarah, Ally and Matthew who support us and each other to rebuild our lives. I am so proud of you all.

Thank you to all my close friends who check in on me as much as possible.

Thank you to my fantastic trainer Cliff for getting my body working again.

And, finally, thank you to me for never giving up. I may be a new Sharon, but the fight, love and compassion of the old Sharon is still here.