Surviving Brain Damage After Assault

Barbara A Wilson is a clinical neuropsychologist who has worked in brain injury rehabilitation for nearly 40 years. She has won many awards for her work including an OBE for services to rehabilitation and three lifetime achievement awards, one from the British Psychological Society, one from the International Neuropsychological Society and one from the National Academy of Neuropsychology. The Division of Neuropsychology has named a prize after her, "The Barbara A Wilson prize for distinguished contributions to neuropsychology." She is honorary professor at the University of Hong Kong, the University of Sydney and the University of East Anglia.Samira Kashinath Dhamapurkar is an Occupational Therapist. Her special interest is in working with people in low awareness states. She worked in India at the Masina Hospital on a psychiatric/drug addiction unit and in a special school for autistic children before coming to the United Kingdom. For the past four years she has worked in the area of neurorehabilitation In addition to her clinical work, she is also involved in research involving people with disorders of consciousness.Anita Rose is a Consultant Neuropsychologist. She works at the Raphael Medical Centre in Tonbridge and also works as an independent Consultant Neuropsychologist across the globe. She provides significant input in the field of multiple sclerosis via her clinical work, research publications, booklets and consultancy to the MS groups in the UK. She is Vice Chair for the European Neuropsychology Special Interest Group in MS, and acts as a clinical advisor to the MS Society in South Africa.

This is a most valuable and detailed account of delayed, gradual and continuing recovery after a very severe traumatic brain injury. The authors' thoughtful and detailed discussion of the reasons for such unexpected and prolonged improvement will be crucially important in the planning of rehabilitation research and in developing health service provision. - Lindsay McLellan, Formerly Europe Professor of Rehabilitation, University of Southampton, UK and Medical Adviser to the Brain Injury GroupWilson, Dhamapurkar and Rose present a fascinating, thought provoking yet scientific account of late recovery from the Minimally Conscious State. This challenges the concept of ‘cut-off’ after which recovery is unlikely. Family and client perspectives enhance the account. This informative book will be of interest to all working with people with long term Disorders of Consciousness. - Agnes Shiel, Professor of Occupational Therapy, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland

• 1. Introduction to Brain Damage Part One 2. Introduction to Brain Damage Part Two 3. Imaging procedures in understanding brain injury 4. The assault: as described by Wendie, Gary’s mum, and other members of the family 5. Early days in Hospital 6. Admission to the Raphael Medical Centre 7. Assessments While Gary was Vegetative and Minimally Conscious 8. Cranioplasty 9. Waking up 10. Rehabilitation Through Music Therapy (With a contribution from Melanie Cornell, Music Therapist) 11. Ongoing Rehabilitation 12. Home Evaluation 13. Gary today 14. Why did Gary do so well?