Young mum suffers life-changing brain injury in Nottinghamshire collision   

The family of a young mum seriously injured in a crash have revealed the impact the incident has had on her life - as they support a major brain injury awareness campaign.

Libby Jacobs suffered a catalogue of injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, torn aorta, perforated bowel and liver as well as a ruptured spleen when the car she was a passenger in was involved in a collision near Normanton-on-the-Wolds, Nottinghamshire.

The 24-year-old, of Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, was taken to Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham.  She spent several weeks in intensive care. At the end of February, Libby was transferred to a specialist brain injury unit where she remains nearly five months after the collision.

Libby's family asks serious injury lawyers for help

Her parents Yvonne and Simon, aged 50 and 56, have instructed expert serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to help secure the specialist rehabilitation and therapies Libby requires.

The family are now using Action for Brain Injury Week to speak for the first time about how they hope being able to get a rehab package in place will allow Libby to return home to her five-year-old son, Hunter, and continue her recovery.

Georgie Wilson is the specialist serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Libby’s family.

“The last few months has been incredibly emotional for Libby and the rest of her family.

“While medics have stabilised Libby’s condition, she still faces an uncertain future and many challenges to overcome her injuries.

 

“Yvonne and Simon’s focus is now on ensuring an appropriate care package can be put in place allowing Libby to return home.

 

“In the meantime, we join them in supporting Action for Brain Injury Week. Through our work we often see how those who have suffered a traumatic brain injury are left requiring specialist support long after initial medical treatment and how access to such rehab is key in maximising their recovery.”

Serious injury: Libby Jacobs' story

Libby, who has four sisters and two brothers, was a passenger in a Vauxhall Astra when it was involved in a collision with a Vauxhall Mokka on the A606 Melton Road at around 8.20pm on 27 December.

At the time she was nearing the end of her two-year front of house and kitchen management apprenticeship at The Flying Childers pub in Kirby Bellars.

Libby's family speak out as they support Action for Brain Injury Week

Yvonne said: “It’s almost impossible to find the words to describe what the last few months have been liked for our family.

 

“Seeing Libby in hospital after the crash was absolutely awful. We were just hoping she would pull through, and we’re so thankful that she has.

 

“However, she struggled to speak and was unable to do anything for herself. While Libby has started making some progress and can now do some basic things most people take for granted, such as washing her face and brushing her teeth, if she spends any time out of bed it’s only for a few minutes before she starts suffering with fatigue.

 

“Before the collision Libby was working hard to provide a future for Hunter. Her world revolved around him, so for them to be apart for so long has been incredibly difficult.

 

“When Libby started making some progress we let Hunter visit her in hospital and you could see straight away the difference it made. It was like a switch had been turned on and Libby started responding more.

 

“We spend as much time as we can at hospital with Libby, but she faces many hours alone and really struggles with the isolation especially being away from Hunter.

 

“As a family we’re really close and are all rallying round to try and help Libby and try and keep Hunter’s routine as normal as we can. However, it’s difficult given Libby is a long way from the person she was before.

 

“All we want now is to get Libby home and a care package in place as we feel that will really benefit her ongoing recovery.”

Following the collision well-wishers set up a Go Fund Me page to support the family, including helping to fund the cost of travel and parking at hospital each day. The page has raised more than £3,000.

Nottinghamshire Police is investigating the circumstances of the collision.

Action For Brain Injury Week, organised by the charity Headway, runs from 18-24 May, and aims to highlight the challenges faced by survivors and their families. This year’s theme focuses on the isolation people can face following a brain injury.