Co Antrim man: "There's life after brain injury"
Tony Peacock was left unable to walk or talk after an accident
A County Antrim man has told Downtown Cool FM how he turned his life around after a brain injury left him unable to walk, talk or taste.
26-year-old Tony Peacock fell from a window at a New Year's Eve party and was in a coma for four weeks.
The former mechanical engineer had to learn to walk and talk again at a specialist rehabilitation unit at Musgrave hospital.
He has shared his story in a bid to help raise awareness of the condition and inspire others suffering.
Tony recalled the night of the accident and told us about his physical injuries:
"I landed on the steps and shattered my femur in two so it's pinned together.
"It's over-healed, the bone which doesn't allow movement in my hips so I can't walk too far, can't run, can't tie my own shoelace, can't put my own sock on."
He said he could never have predicted the impact that accident would have on his life:
"Whenever I first came out of the coma, I can't remember it vividly but I can just remember wee dribs and drabs because I was in and out.
"I remember just coming round and I didn't actually know what was wrong with me, my family and my wife had told me I had just broke my leg.
"That's all I thought I was in hospital for I'd broke my leg, little did I know I couldn't really speak, I thought I was speaking but all I was saying was noises."
Tony underwent an intense rehabilitation programme at Musgrave Park and says he was determined to be back walking and talking as soon as possible.
He paid tribute to the staff and facilities at the hospital:
"I had daily physiotherapy, daily speech therapy, daily occupational therapy, everything, everyday.
"If I was in any other hospital and I didn't have that everyday, I'm pretty sure I'd still be in a wheelchair."
In addition to the severe physical injuries, Tony also suffered serious mental health problems as a direct result of the acquired brain injury.
He told us he suffered anxiety, sleeping difficulties, suicidal thoughts, depression and flashes of anger.
"I was in a really bad place, suicidal thoughts were a problem, then I had to go and see a counsellor.
"That mixed with the anxiety tablets the doctors were able to give me for my sleep, it all pretty much vanished.
"It wasn't overnight but with sleep and talking to people."
He urged others suffering with mental health issues to seek help:
"I found it very hard to accept that I couldn't speak right or couldn't walk too far, or couldn't even walk correctly at that stage.
"Once I actually accepted that and knew that was my starting point, I could work from there.
"As far as mental health goes, take notice of it and do something about it, even just talking to somebody about it, helps get it off your shoulders.
"Don't ignore it."
Tony explained that many patients are not aware that brain injuries can cause them to become angry quickly and said he struggled to accept that aspect of the condition.
The 26-year-old said he was always of a laid back nature and his rages were uncharacteristic.
It was only when his wife Roisin videoed him when during one of his outbursts that he finally accepted he needed help:
"Because of all the frustration and because of the brain injury, I have a ridiculously fast temper.
"That was the main...aspect with my family, it got to the stage where I had to actually go and see a therapist to get that in check.
"It took for my wife to video me, for me to...realise...this isn't right, this isn't normal and then I was able to go and see a therapist."
Tony told us he did not think he had a problem until he saw himself in action:
"Even people telling me I had a bad temper, I didn't take heed of it.
"It took for me to actually see whenever I was losing my temper to actually realise."
After the accident Tony could not return to his old career and had to rebuild his life again from scratch.
"At the start I had no confidence in any aspect of life at all, I was questioning myself in everything.
"I had very little to no memory so I was always questioning whether I even turned a plug off.
"That mixed with the fact that I had to accept that I had just come out of a coma and I weigh nine stone, that's whenever I was able to make changes."
He has now set up his own personal training business and has had a number of successful clients.
Tony said he was inspired to start the venture after his first trip to the gym since coming out of the coma:
"My head was in a really bad place, that's when I went to the gym for the first time since my accident.
"I came back and I actually just broke down in tears to my wife and I said 'I'm actually happy.'
"That's whenever it sunk in how big of an impact exercise in general can have on your mental health and your physical health.
"Once I came out of hospital and out of rehab, what excited me was something completely different just helping people.
"That's made me excited knowing what I could do and help people with."
You can access help and support with the symptoms brain injury here.