Wednesday 19^th April 2000 was the day that changed my life – it was the day that my mischievous, troublesome 16 year old brother had an accident at college, leaving him paralysed from the neck down and confined to a wheelchair. I remember it as if it were yesterday. I remember receiving the phone call at work and I rushed to the hospital in a blur, I don’t remember much of the journey in. I had no change for parking and couldn’t contact my mum and dad. When I arrived at A & E the nurses told me not to panic but he would be arriving by air ambulance. Of course, the moment I heard that, my heart started beating really fast and I started to panic! I wanted my mum to be there but she was stuck at work. I was alone, scared and wondering what the hell I was going to say to him when I saw him. Seeing the helicopter land, I raced over to him and asked him if he was alright. I can’t repeat his answer, but for those who know my brother I can tell you it contained a few swear words.

To readr more of his story click here