Returning to his passions and…rediscovering the will to live

With the support of the IRGLM, David Brown rebuilt his life from scratch.

In May 2020, my life was turned upside down in a matter of seconds when my car smashed into another vehicle. After that, I blacked out—I don’t remember a thing.

It was the middle of the pandemic, and I was admitted to hospital with severe head trauma and a serious leg injury. I was in critical condition so they put me in an induced coma for seven days. During the month I spent in hospital, the conditions were very difficult because the healthcare staff was completely overworked and overwhelmed. What a relief when I was transferred to the Institut de réadaptation Gingras-Lindsay-de-Montréal (IRGLM)! I was greeted with open arms and I knew that my rehabilitation would finally begin.

“Little by little, I started to rediscover my old body.”

When I got there, my body was shattered. It was very hard for me to move or talk. I had to start from scratch and regain control of my body. With the help of various professionals, I felt hopeful that this could happen. Supported by neuropsychologist Geneviève Migneault, I worked on accepting my new life, turning my negative thoughts into positive ones and taking control of the “new me.” My head trauma caused serious speech problems. I couldn’t express myself clearly. Speech therapist Adalie Le Nguyen guided me so that I could find certain words again and formulate complete sentences.

“Without the services and care I received, I wouldn’t have been able to return to my passion and spend quality time with by teenage son.”

A long-time baseball player, it was critical to me that I get back in shape and start to move normally. Thanks to physiotherapist Maria Carangelo, I started enjoying working out again and, above all, I regained some of my physical strength. Little by little, I started to rediscover my old body.

After three-and-a-half months at the IRGLM, I walked out in one piece! I started playing baseball again and even coached my 15-year-old son’s team. Without the services and care I received, I wouldn’t have been able to return to my passion and spend quality time with by teenage son. And above all, I wouldn’t have found the will to live.

David Brown
Cranial trauma following a car accident – 2020