Me and my new brain.

This programme follows Charlie, who suffered a brain contusion after a snowboarding accident. It follows her journey retracing her steps from accident to rehabilitation. Charlie visits Neurologist Dr Ron Behrens at Innsbruck Hospital, Austria, who exhibits the initial brain scans from her accident. Neuropsychiatrist Dr Mike Dilley explains what happens to the brain during trauma. Behrens exhibits equipment for reducing inflammation on the brain after trauma. Charlie recounts waking up from an induced coma. She visits Dr Lakshmanan Sekaran at Luton & Dunstable Hospital, who oversaw her rehabilitation. He analyses new brain scans to see Charlie’s progress. Physiotherapist Jennifer Greenwood recounts events from Charlie’s rehabilitation. Charlie visits Hannah - a brain injury patient undergoing rehabilitation at the Regional Rehabilitation Unit, Northwick Park Hospital. Dilley explains aphasia, a condition brought about by Hannah’s accident. Physiotherapist Aideen Coleman explains muscle spasticity, another result of Hannah’s brain injury. Charlie’s friend Callum revisits the scene of a car accident, from which he suffered a major fracture to his skull. He recounts the affect his injuries have had on his memory and mood. Dilley discusses the potential non-physical side-effects of trauma-induced brain injury, including difficulties in maintaining relationships, due to the cognitive effort it takes to sustain a friendship. The programme introduces Tai, a friend of Charlie’s who suffered a serious brain injury after a skiing accident. Tai and Charlie discuss the emotional and physical effects of intense social situations. Tai recalls feelings of depression and being suicidal. Charlie attends the Adaptive Snowboard Course at Tamworth Snow Dome. She is assessed on her skills at Bucketing – assisted sit-ski snowboarding. Charlie visits Dilley at the Lishman Unit, Bethlem Royal Hospital to assess the residual cognitive and emotional side-effects of her brain injury. Hannah visits the Neurological Rehabilitation Centre at Edgware Community Hospital, where she begins to learn to walk again. Neuropsychologist Sebastian Potter and Speech & Language Therapist Anna Volkmer discuss the results of Charlie’s most recent tests.