'My life changed forever when I fell over after playing paintball'

David White, 32, from Rogerstone, was out paint-balling with friends when he tripped, fell and hit his head. The fall was so severe that part of his skull broke, causing him to be put into a coma for several weeks

A man's life took a dramatic turn when a fun-filled day playing paintball with friends turned into a nightmare.

David White had been out paintballing with his friends four years ago when he suffered a fall on his way back to the car park that resulted in I'm having a seizure. "I remember up until about lunchtime that day and then I don't remember anything for the next several weeks after," he said.

The details of what he hit his head on remain unclear, but the impact was so severe it fractured part of the right side of his skull. He was plunged into a coma for several weeks, underwent two surgeries, and had a titanium plate inserted into his skull.

Upon regaining consciousness, David was diagnosed with left-sided hemiparesis and faced the daunting task of relearning basic skills like walking, sitting, and using his left arm.

David, who was 28 at the time and is now 32, embarked on a long journey of rehabilitation and battled serious mental health issues. Today, he is committed to helping others navigate the often intimidating reality of living with a brain or spinal injury, reports Wales Online.

"I can start to remember little snippets of being in hospital," shared David, hailing from Rogerstone, "from when I was in the Heath, getting ready to transfer over to Rookwood. But I don't remember much at all. Lots of it is kind of second-hand information that has been handed on to me."

David recalls the traumatic experience vividly: "September 13 is when I had the accident itself. An air ambulance came out to get me but they couldn't lift me over a hedge to get me into it, so I went back in the on-road ambulance. They did surgery on me that night to take pressure out of my head and then I don't really know what happened for the next five or six weeks."

Battling through his recovery in hospital was challenging for David, not just because of the injury's impact on his mental well-being but also due to the visitor restrictions triggered by Covid. Reflecting on that period, he shared, "The times I do remember are when I went over to the Rookwood hospital for rehab," and pointed out, "Then it was a very very difficult time - I was stuck in hospital for another four months or so."

The journey took a toll on his mental health, as David confessed, "In all honesty I went into a bit of a mess mentally. There are times I said I wish I never woke up from the accident, wished that I was dead. That's all in the past now but at the time it was very difficult."

His road to recovery was arduous and filled with hurdles he never imagined facing. "I don't remember the times when I couldn't sit up straight but I remember when I couldn't use my left hand and had to learn to walk. I am still improving on the walking to this day. It was just very frustrating and heart-breaking to realise you can't do the things that you want to do."

David acknowledged the difficulty he had in recognising his own progress, admitting: "I used to get told a lot by people that it's a marathon not a sprint - my dad loves that saying. But I never really took it in - I thought I wasn't seeing any changes, stuff wasn't happening, wasn't working. I wish I told myself: 'You might not see these little changes coming on but over time it does add up and does work out.'".

He revealed his desire for guidance during his recovery from a brain injury, expressing regret that there was nobody to outline the journey ahead. In response to this void, David has founded NeuroBuds, forging a support network through a website and Facebook page designed to assist patients and their kin facing comparable challenges.

David reflected on his family's sentiments, sharing: "My family say they wish there was someone who had been through brain injury and the other side to say 'I've been through your situation' and explain what was happening. Ideally I want to make a community for people with spinal and brain injuries to get together, ask any questions we have to each other, and I can signpost them to different services and charities they can go to."

Despite the complexity of his own medical hurdles including a significant right-sided acute subdural haematoma, right-sided acute subarachnoid haemorrhage, multiple haemorrhagic contusions and comminuted skull fracture David is committed to supporting a broader community. His journey has also led him to volunteer at the brain injury unit now located in Llandough.

David, who required home modifications after his return, expressed his altruistic intentions: "Ideally I want to go out and raise money for people who may need money raised. I know there's a lot of people in hospitals who need adaptations to houses before they come home. They can't always get the money, so I just want to help people."