Daily challenge
Veteran of Afghanistan war says support system needed for brain injury survivors
Simon Micklethwaite once fought for Canada — now he battles to get through each day.
His life took a dramatic, downward turn in 2009 while on tour in Afghanistan.
Serving as a corporal, Micklethwaite was in an armoured military vehicle called a Cougar as it drove over an improvised explosive device (IED).
He was thrown high in the air. He suffered a concussion that caused a brain injury that has made life a major struggle ever since for the 48-year-old Hazelbrook resident.
“So, it’s a challenge every day just to do the basic stuff,’’ he says.
“I get pissed off with myself at least once or twice a day.’’
His brain injury, which is to the frontal lobe, has left him with frequent headaches. He tires easily.
He has great difficulty focusing and concentrating.
His short-term memory is faulty.
He also has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
He was released from the military on a medical discharge in 2014 – the year he moved to Prince Edward Island.
Following the accident, Micklethwaite became aggressive towards his wife, Gloria, and the couple’s two children.
He made their life miserable. One night, he almost unintentionally ended Gloria’s life.
He awoke during a nightmare to find he had his hands around his wife’s neck.
“It was scary because he wasn’t even awake when he was doing it,’’ says Gloria, who has remained by her husband’s side, serving as both spouse and caregiver.
The pair, though, has been sleeping in separate rooms since the frightening incident because Micklethwaite continues to have nightmares and commonly wakes up to a bed that looks like it has come under siege.
He is on a slew of medication for his brain injury and to combat pain.
The side effects are numerous and unpleasant, including dry mouth, restless leg syndrome and erectile dysfunction.
Micklethwaite has found strong support in the Brain Injury Association of Prince Edward Island (BIAPEI) that has been run by Kenneth Murnaghan for the past decade.
Micklethwaite has served as president for the past three years, helping with fundraising and programs.
He has faithfully attended the support group meetings held twice a month.
“Since I’ve found the brain injury group, it’s helped immensely,’’ he says.
The BIAPEI, however, is in jeopardy of folding with Murnaghan recently announcing his plan to step down as executive director at the end of the month.
Micklethwaite says he simply does not have the energy to take over from Murnaghan, but he wants the association to carry on and he wants to continue to contribute to it and benefit from it.
Micklethwaite will speak about his struggles of living with a brain injury at a one-day conference in Charlottetown on Oct. 27. The conference will include discussions on the physical and emotional changes after suffering a brain injury and share new techniques for rehabilitation.
“I guess the big message I want to give is I have come through this, there is light at the end of the tunnel and there are people who care,’’ he says.
“Living with a brain injury every day is not easy. Having that support system out there is necessary.’’