Boxer fights back thanks to music

AAMIR MOHAMMED Reporter A TEENAGE boxer who suffered such a severe brain injury that he almost died has produced a rap song detailing his struggles.

The 18-year-old was in a coma for a fortnight and in hospital for 18 months after suffering a brain haemorrhage during a boxing match.

Now Nathan Davies is battling back and expressing his journey through music, thanks to the musical support of a Swansea brain injury service.

“Music gave me the ability to express myself,” said Nathan, from North Cornelly, near Bridgend.

“My rap, Nathan’s Journey, is about what happened and what I have been through.”

In his rap, he says: “I got hit with a boom, boom pow, then I went down, down to the Royal Gwent, then over to the Heath I went.

“I would always win, they would have to take it on the chin.”

Speaking of his fight for life, Nathan added: “I have a very positive attitude,

“I can and I will, I always have that in my head.

“I hope to get to college to do car maintenance in the future.”

In particular, he has revealed how music and the Traumatic Brain Injury Service (TBIS) at Morriston Hospital supported him throughout the journey.

Jo Humphreys, a music therapist with the charity Nordoff Robbins met Nathan when he was bed- bound, where he was only able to talk or sing in a whisper.

She said: “Initially, Nathan was in isolation, so he didn’t have a lot of company.

“I was able to go in with my sterilised guitar, my gloves and apron, and we would have a little session at his bedside.

“We would enjoy making up songs together. Nathan was having a lot of things done to him, but in music, he was able to take the lead.

“At every stage of his rehab, music could meet him where he was, and celebrate how far he’d come.” The 18-year-old is a fan of rapper Eminem, along with other artists, and has continued working with Jo at TBIS following his discharge.

Using cymbals and even the arm of a wheelchair, Nathan has accompanied Jo on percussion while she plays the keyboard, a practice which has helped him develop his co-ordination and concentration skills.

Ahead of his 18th birthday in May, Nathan and his carer asked friends to donate money into buckets, rather than buy him presents.

They raised £70 to support services at TBIS, where Nathan continues his rehabilitation. Nathan with his mum and dad Martin and Alison, and, left, in his boxing days, and after the injury

Paul Amphlett, Nathan’s carer, said: “I have been a carer for 10 years now and I have never met anyone like Nathan, who is happy every morning.

“He’s remarkable, especially after all that has happened to him. I have never known someone as positive.”

Jo, who is already planning a followup to the rap with Nathan, added: “Nathan’s decision to donate all the fundraising he did at his 18th birthday party was incredibly touching for us as a service because it means we can carry on delivering rehab to people in a range of innovative ways.

“I wasn’t surprised because I have got to know Nathan over the past couple of years and I know he’s such a generous and positive person, I knew he’d want to help other people.”