Written by a Service User
I am 25 now and have spent the last four and a half years at Kemsley.
My life up to the age of 19 was great; I had everything I ever wanted. I had two jobs, a girlfriend and had just passed my driving test. I was happy with life.
However, in the early hours of 19th May 2002, this changed. I was out with friends at a local night club and on leaving the club we met another group of lads. A fight broke out and I was badly beaten and put into a comatose state. Following this vicious attack I was in a coma for four and half months and lost four stone in weight. When I came out of the coma I could not walk or talk; I had to re-learn to read and write. I was messed up and not the person I used to be. The local news channel attempted to interview me; it was embarrassing and not my finest moment.
Rehabilitation has been a long road; I had lost all my functional skills and abilities. I became low and depressed, and my mood and temper changed and I became aggressive toward my family. As I look back, I am so ashamed of what I did.
I received rehabilitation from many different units and relearned the skills I had lost. However at this point I did not appreciate the help I was receiving, I did not co-operate or help myself. My behaviour broke down many placements and each time I was discharged things got worse. I lacked support and structure and became more and more unmanageable. My aggression reached its peak at this point and I put my family through hell.
On admission to Kemsley, I was 31 stone and suicidal. I was difficult and aggressive towards staff and constantly wanted to leave. I was out of control and needed help I just did not know it at the time.
I feel that my admission to Kemsley has given me back my life. I now have manners and am sociably acceptable. My bad language, aggression and weight are under control, I go home every weekend to my family and friends. I can see how far I have come since admission and although I still have minor problems, that’s part of me now and I can live with it.
I can see a future.