A YEAR AFTER TRAGIC ROAD ACCIDENT, 21-YR-OLD STRUGGLES TO REGAIN LIFE
Asmart, funny, independent, sensitive and outgoing 21-year-old girl, Reem’s life came to a drastic standstill when she met a horrible accident last June that caused a traumatic brain injury and changed her into a different person.
“She knew what she wanted in life and always knew how to have a good time doing it,” said her sister Fatima Saleh Abdulla Omar. “She was kind and loved by all.”
The accident happened during Ramadan last year. “Reem was invited for Suhoor in one of her friend’s house. As per the video footage the driver was speeding in the Sheikh Zayed Tunnel and didn’t notice a right turn going towards the city,” explained Fatima. Both of them were found outside of the car because they weren’t wearing their seatbelts.
The impact of the accident was so severe that though Reem survived, she is now bed-ridden and her personality has undergone tremendous change.
Life has changed for the family since the accident. “Reem is a changed person, behaviour wise too. She has become very sensitive to the simplest of things and has become very needy,” said Fatima.
Dr Vaqas Farooqui, consultant of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Amana Healthcare, Abu Dhabi, where Reem is now undergoing rehabilitation after being in ICU for six months said: “Reem was admitted in bed-ridden state. She was unable to sit due to truncal weakness and required full nursing help to transfer her and even for turning in bed.”
“She was incontinent with no awareness of her continence needs which was managed by using pads,” he explained. “Cognitively she had very slow processing speed. It would take a lot of time for her to understand the conversation and participate in it. Although her memory was not that bad and she was able to report factual information very well,” he said.
Reem also had severe pain in her hands and legs.
“At Amana Healthcare, she was provided with 3-5 hours of therapies by specialist physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and rehabilitation nursing as well as excellent support by family. Reem made good recovery even when she had severe disability,” he explained.
Dr Vaqas said that all this happened after many months after the injury, which reduces the prospect of Reem’s future recovery.
Today, Reem is able to turn in bed by herself, sit out and transfer with the assistance of one person to her wheelchair. “During her last week she had attempted to take steps and walk with the therapists and is able to eat independently and dress and shower herself with some help,” he said.
“She is alert and oriented while the processing speed has improved significantly. Reem is able to make her decisions and plan activities with her family,” added Dr Vaqas.
Fatima said that the family were hands-on from the days in the ICU and until now. “We knew Reem more than anyone and we knew having us around with her 24/7 will improve and motivate her to getting better faster,” she said.
“It’s hard work and at times, straining,” said Fatima, adding, “I took the decision to resign and dedicate my time to Reem and my family. We also had to move house so we could have
She was provided therapies by specialist physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and rehabilitation nursing.” Dr Vaqas Farooqui, consultant of physical medicine and rehabilitation, Amana Healthcare, Abu Dhabi
the space and access to accommodate Reem when she’s home.”
Giving advice to all motorists, Fatima said, “My advice to all drivers out there is that it’s no use driving fast because you are late for something, it’s better reaching safely than being sorry later. Added to that, not wearing a seat belt costs lives,” she said.
According to Dr Vaqas, typically traumatic brain injury patients to continue to improve and make meaningful gains but at slower pace after discharge.
“We recommend that they keep on engaging in intensive outpatient rehabilitation for 12-18 months even after they are discharged home,” he said.
“Reem is still making ongoing improvements and has a lot of goals to work on such as complete independence in transfers and personal care,” he added.
Dr Vaqas also said that if Reem is provided with intensive therapies in the outpatient including physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy, she is likely to continue with her improvements.
“After a severe traumatic brain injury, patients have to find the new normal in their lives,” he explained.
The role of rehabilitation is to make the patients as much independent as they can become so their quality of life is improved. “Reem has achieved good results. She has more to achieve such as independent transfers and mobility.”
“Typically brain injury rehabilitation programmes may last up till nine months or so but the insurers
Reem is a changed person, behaviour wise too. She has become very sensitive to the simplest of things and has become very needy.” Fatima, Reem’s sister
have no mechanisms to fund the long-term programmes,” he said.
There are limited resources in community for brain injury patients to have better quality of life such as provision of ongoing extensive speech therapy, neuropsychology and proper wheelchair accessible taxis.
Outpatient programmes with availability of transport are necessary to facilitate treatments. In the absence of dedicated outpatient brain injury rehabilitation programme that could still offer intensive therapies, many brain injury patients miss out on the treatment that can potentially make them independent and productive in their life roles. These issues require more discussions and advocacy, he added.