11.08.2014
Faiza Siddiqui, a pseudonym, was driving in Oxford in 2009 when she hit a van head on – leaving her with frontal lobe brain damage.
After spending six weeks in a coma, the 32-year-old former secondary school science teacher began her recovery.
But although she now has limited use of one arm, she has no memory of 2007 to 2009, leaving her regularly asking her husband questions - causing her to become frustrated about the amnesia she experiences.
To combat this, the woman wrote Diary of a Headcase, which was developed in partnership with her partner Ben.
The book details intimate aspects of her life, including some of the most frustrating aspects of attempting to regain lost memories.
Speaking to the BBC's 'Ouch' blog, which has been praised for its well-written content aimed at people with disabilities, Mrs Siddiqui detailed how hard it has been for her to take care of her children while recovering.
"Annabelle (her four-month-old child) is a good sleeper, which is very important for me because once I get tired, I go a bit weird. I can't walk straight, I lose my balance and I make stupid judgments," she said.
"All the disability forums say that babies adapt, and she has got used to not being held very securely. I would never drop her, but I have to dig my thumbs in."
Diary of a Headcase is available for purchase online. The book has been published in partnership with head injury charity Headway, which will receive part of the profits generated from its sales.
A Woman With A Serious Brain Injury Has Made Headlines Across The UK By Publishing Her Diary
A woman with a serious brain injury has written and published a memoir so that she can keep track of her life before an accident that left her with memory loss.Faiza Siddiqui, a pseudonym, was driving in Oxford in 2009 when she hit a van head on – leaving her with frontal lobe brain damage.
After spending six weeks in a coma, the 32-year-old former secondary school science teacher began her recovery.
But although she now has limited use of one arm, she has no memory of 2007 to 2009, leaving her regularly asking her husband questions - causing her to become frustrated about the amnesia she experiences.
To combat this, the woman wrote Diary of a Headcase, which was developed in partnership with her partner Ben.
The book details intimate aspects of her life, including some of the most frustrating aspects of attempting to regain lost memories.
Speaking to the BBC's 'Ouch' blog, which has been praised for its well-written content aimed at people with disabilities, Mrs Siddiqui detailed how hard it has been for her to take care of her children while recovering.
"Annabelle (her four-month-old child) is a good sleeper, which is very important for me because once I get tired, I go a bit weird. I can't walk straight, I lose my balance and I make stupid judgments," she said.
"All the disability forums say that babies adapt, and she has got used to not being held very securely. I would never drop her, but I have to dig my thumbs in."
Diary of a Headcase is available for purchase online. The book has been published in partnership with head injury charity Headway, which will receive part of the profits generated from its sales.
Expert Opinion
Through our work we see the life-changing impact a serious brain injury can have on individuals, with many people suffering symptoms of memory loss and communication difficulties. Books such as this one help to illustrate the long-lasting problems those who suffer brain injuries can encounter and raises awareness of the need for the provision of help and support for those affected, as well as their family and friends. <br/> <br/>“It is vital that further research is carried out into the conditions that can develop following serious head injuries with the ultimate aim of ensuring injured victims can get the best and most effective support available." Stephen Nye - Partner
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