I have worked in IT for more than 20 years of my life. After starting my career as a secretary, I soon moved into IT and learnt as much as I could, on the job. It was a field I felt drawn to. Over the years, I have successfully...
Hydrocephalus
The hard reality of living with a brain injury…
***TRIGGER WARNING: This post touches on suicidal thoughts and death*** When you sustain a brain injury, in the prime of your life, things change in an instant. It hits harder still if you’re a high functioning person, independent and always doing everything for everyone else. Nothing can prepare you...
Reclaim your power
It’s easy to feel powerless when you’re diagnosed with an incurable and invisible condition like Hydrocephalus. And, having to learn to navigate life with a brain injury. When life changes within the blink of an eye and your circumstances are unrecognisable. When the person staring back at you in...
Brain injury changes the trajectory of your life…
That’s it for me. I’ll be closing my social media accounts and blog over the next few weeks. But, before I go, know this: Skyewaters has been a lifeline for me these past few years. Living with an invisible and incurable condition, is a challenge on SO many levels....
Brain injury requires reducing your cognitive load
My brain can literally feel like a hornets nest (most of the time). A muddled space where thoughts, memories and information, go to die (a slow death). One coping strategy, that works (for me), is to reduce my cognitive load. I’ve had to learn a few and continue to...
Phoenix rising
It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything on my website. I’ve slowed down to a crawl BUT, as long as I have words left in me, I’ll continue to speak out about the effects of Hydrocephalus and Brain injury. To bring you up to speed in a nutshell;...
Have you found your tribe?
When I was diagnosed with Hydrocephalus, 16 years ago now, I had to find my tribe: People who knew and understood what I was going through, because they shared the same diagnosis. Support groups on Facebook were great but, starting my blog, Skyewaters.com, was a step in the right...
Brain surgery: What you may not have considered…
Concussion, based on a true story, is currently playing on Netflix (until 9 June). It’s scary how being able to relate to something, so serious, can hit you so hard. Despite it being centred around the National Football League (NFL), the bottom line of this movie, and how it...
Brain bleeds are serious and need attention
2 years ago I posted this: There’s always risk with any operation. Despite having a brain bleed during surgery last week, the reason for the blood in my CSF, I feel fortunate to just wait it out and have the blood clear. The discomfort and side effects of nausea,...
No one asks for a brain injury.
There are so many reasons why this happens to people: Concussions, domestic violence, sports injuries, motor vehicle accidents, etc. And yes, even brain surgery. You (literally) go from one moment to the next…injured beyond your own understanding. Like a butterfly, you have a rebirth of sorts. Becoming someone else...