A DEDICATED mum spent nearly £10,000 over lockdown as she fought to recover
from a brain injury.
Pamela Jack suffered multiple life-changing injuries after being struck by a
tractor while on a training run with a friend.
The mum-of-two had been on the B786 single track road near Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, on 27 October 2019 during a Sunday morning run, when she was hit by a tractor.
However, after being treated in hospital the lockdown measures of COVID-19 meant the
47 year-old runner from Houston, Renfrewshire runner had no access to NHS physiotherapy.
Bills soon began to rack up as she sourced independent gyms, taxis and specialist sessions to aid her recovery.
Pamela spent 17 days as an inpatient at the high dependency unit at Queen Elizabeth
University Hospital in Govan, Glasgow.
She was treated for a moderate-to-severe brain injury, a fractured pelvis, six fractured
ribs, two fractures to her left knee, damaged teeth and temporary sight loss in her left
eye.
After multiple surgeries, recruitment manager Pamela was left with two metal plates
in her left hip and seven pins in her knee.
In addition to this, she also needed a Zimmer frame for months after being released home and relied on a walking stick for nearly two years.
When COVID-19 hit in early 2020, however, it halted Pamela’s physiotherapy.
Digby Brown Solicitors, who has supported Pamela since her accident, helped make
private socially-distanced arrangements to aid her recovery.
This also included setting up a taxi account, accessing a personal trainer, a private gym
and a hydrotherapy tank.
Pamela’s inspirational attitude and to her recovery has led to her being invited as a
guest speaker at the Head Injury Information Day in Glasgow next week – a
networking event that brings together brain injury survivors and healthcare experts.
Speaking today, the mum-of-two said: “I’ve always been committed to whatever I set my mind on and being hit by a tractor didn’t change that side of me.
“I don’t remember anything about the impact itself.
“I wasn’t going to sit back and be a victim to my injury so Covid and a lack of
physios weren’t going to stop me.
“The way I see it is your health should mean more than any cost. I had the option of waiting for NHS services to reopen but I had no idea how long that would take during lockdown.
“I know how important the early days are for having a positive, lasting impact on my
future recover so I was keen to do whatever was needed.
“No one was going to do the recovery for me – I knew I had to put in the work and I
knew an early start was key.
“It’s my body, my brain injury and my life so I made my recovery my responsibility.
“So lockdown or not, I was determined.
“I was a marathon runner, worked four days a week and was a hands-on mother to two young boys.
“The physical injuries were tough as I had to learn to walk again and that felt harder
than running a marathon.
“But the brain injury is what changed my life as it impacts your emotions, personality,
patience with others and leaves me fatigued.
“I also lost my driving license for a year until I was cleared to drive again.
“The total costs of sorting my own physio work came to about £10,000 – it will be
deducted from a future legal settlement but I’d rather invest in my health now so I can
stay an active wife and mum.
“But I’m lucky to be here and I am committed to working hard each day.
“I don’t want to waste time mourning my past when I could instead focus on a
positive future.”
Chris Stewart, Partner at Digby Brown which hosts the event, said: “When you
consider the extent of Pamela’s injuries it makes it all the more remarkable when you
consider the way she has responded to those injuries.
“If even one person feels inspired from hearing Pamela’s journey then maybe it can
help create a more positive future for another family.”
