A LYMM woman who survived a brain haemorrhage is to star in a national BBC TV appeal – presented by Sir Michael Palin.
The Brain Charity’s Lifeline appeal, airing on BBC One at 1.45pm on December 20th, tells the stories of three people who have benefitted from the Liverpool-based charity’s support – Rachel, Lindsey and Sammee.
The eight-minute film features former classroom assistant Rachel, 46, from Lymm, who spent two weeks in a coma and had to learn to walk and talk again after experiencing a brain haemorrhage.
After an operation to remove the tangle of blood vessels which had cause the haemorrhage, Rachel began to make a physical recovery but struggled mentally.
She found it difficult to leave the house due to low confidence around her speech, which had been affected, and experiencing debilitating night terrors that she was back in intensive care.
In May 2020, she was offered six weeks of free counselling from The Brain Charity – which she said was a lifeline. She has since decided to give back by becoming a volunteer phone befriender.
Rachel said: “There have been times I’ve been really frustrated and angry with myself as I haven’t been able to get my words out.
“Being able to talk to people who had already gone through what I had gone through years before showed me I had a future.
“The Brain Charity has been a lifeline, particularly during COVID-19.
“It means a great deal to me to be in touch with people like me. It shows me that I’m not alone.
“My phone befriending role gives me a purpose.
“I enjoy getting to know new people, some of whom I have experiences in common with – meaning I can relate to them very well.”
The Lifeline appeal also features mum-of-three Lindsey, from Dunbar, Scotland, who was diagnosed with secondary progressive MS in her brain in October 2020.
Finally, the programme will focus on 18-year-old Sammee, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and recently moved to Liverpool from London.
Sir Michael Palin donated his time to present The Brain Charity’s appeal due to personal experience of the impact of neurological conditions – his wife was diagnosed with a benign brain tumour more than 25 years ago, and he saw his Monty Python colleague Terry Jones face the effects of dementia before his death last year.
He said: “Neurological conditions have the potential to wreak havoc on the lives of those they affect; something my family and I can relate to.
“My wife was diagnosed with a benign brain tumour more than 25 years ago, and it was a worrying and frightening time for our family.
“That’s why the important work of The Brain Charity is a cause very close to my heart.
“I am delighted to support them by presenting their Lifeline appeal, and hope the film encourages many much-needed donations for such a worthwhile cause.”
The Brain Charity’s Lifeline appeal airs on BBC One at 1.45pm on Monday, December 20th. The programme will then repeat on BBC Two at 8.10am on Tuesday, December 21st.
After December 20th, it will also be available to watch on BBC iPlayer: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0012v7q
All funds raised from the Lifeline appeal will go towards The Brain Charity’s Sixmas appeal, which is raising £60,000 for urgent mental health support for the 1 in 6 people left out in the cold to deal with their neurological condition alone this Christmas. Make a donation or find out more at www.thebraincharity.org.uk/sixmas
