Recovery after two concussions
People are too loud, lights are too bright, her head is too heavy and emotions, uncontrollable.
This is the daily reality for Queenstown woman Kerry Manahi, who has had two serious concussions.
Last week her Iron Maidens icehockey team raised more than $500 at a concussion awareness event, with funds going toward new ice hockey helmets for Queenstown Ice Arena users.
Manahi shared her story of how she moved from Christchurch three years ago and started the allfemale Ice Maidens. She has since played with and coached the team and coaches the roller derby club.
During ice hockey practice in 2015 Manahi’s skate blade caught an edge and she landed head-first on the board and concussed herself without knowing.
It was diagnosed about a week later and she was advised to stay away from ice hockey.
Instead she picked up waka canoeing - a less aggressive sport - but hit her head during training in February 2016.
She went on to compete and climbed Ben Lamond a few days later.
A second brain injury was confirmed after undergoing tests and brain scans three weeks later.
‘‘They [concussions] were so close together and that’s why the second one gave me so much grief,’’ she said.
As a result of the concussions Manahi now wears tinted glasses as brightness causes her pain.
Manahi is expected to mostly recover but is worried she will not be the same athlete as before.
‘‘Am I going to be that strong, aggressive player who throws herself around like she used to or am I going to be just skating around being scared?‘‘
Having an invisible injury made it hard for others to accept her lifestyle changes.
‘‘You can either sit around or get on with it and I chose to get on with it because I’m worth having a good life.’’