Russell takes on his toughest challenge

Nov 14 2007 by Audrey Barton, The Journal

RUSSELL Bowman was an adventurous soul.

Snow boarding, scuba diving and motorbike riding were among his favourite ways to spend time outside of his job as a children’s radiographer at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.

But then an accident changed his life forever when it left him with a brain injury.

Five years ago the 41-year-old from Throckley, Newcastle, was hit by a taxi in the city centre when the driver didn’t see him on his motorbike.

He suffered a brain injury, a broken pelvis and spent three months in a coma at Newcastle General Hospital where doctors battled to save his life.

“I owe those doctors my life,” says Russell.

“I had to learn to do everything again. I couldn’t walk or talk when I came out of the coma and I had to use a wheelchair.”

During this time he had intensive physiotherapy sessions at Hunters Moor Hospital, in Spital Tongues, Newcastle, where he was helped to walk again.

He still had problems pronouncing words and was given a ‘light writer’, a portable write and speak machine to help him communicate.

Russell returned home at the end of 2003 and had home care to help look after him. He continued to return to hospital for treatment as an outpatient.

“I had to adapt to many things,” he says. “I had to learn almost everything as well as aspects of daily living.

“When you are at home you only have your own company.

“I was determined to return to my job as I loved it.”

Russell’s social worker referred him to Rehab UK in Newcastle, a charity offering rehabilitation to get people with brain injuries back into work and to become socially and economically independent.

Russell spent months on the assessment, training and development programmes and achieved his dream of returning to work in the NHS in less than a year.

“Now he spends three days a week at the Freeman Hospital reading X-rays.

“I could chalk a goal off my list as it was a big step. I felt different going back. it was a big relief.”

Russell has recovered most of his brain function and is held back only by a communication barrier and some mobility problems.

Now he brings hope to others in his position by giving talks about his experiences.

He also works as a volunteer at the Discovery Museum, Newcastle, looking after archives and databases.

Still adventurous, he counts archery as a weekly hobby.

Russell’s steely determination and wicked sense of humour have helped him on the long road to recovery and eventually turn his life around.

“I couldn’t have done it on my own,” he says. “I still come to Rehab UK and use the computers as I’m doing a qualification. I’m learning all the time. You can never have enough goals.”

Rehab UK’s regional manager John Soulsby said: “When Russell first came to us there was real frustration as he couldn’t communicate.

“His confidence and self esteem grew and we’ve seen a real difference in him. What he has achieved is amazing.”

Alan Armstrong, community services manager added: “He is living proof there is life after a brain injury and a shining example of what you can achieve.”